Leslie Charleson, best known for her nearly 50-year portrayal of Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital, has passed away at the age of 79. The actress’s death was confirmed by a representative from the show to Entertainment Weekly on January 12.
The official General Hospital Instagram page shared a tribute, featuring a photo of Charleson smiling, accompanied by a message from the show’s executive producer, Frank Valenti.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” Valenti wrote. “Her legacy on General Hospital has spanned nearly five decades, and just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaine family, Leslie was a beloved matriarch to the entire cast and crew.”
Valenti added, “I will miss our daily chats, her sharp wit, and her incredible presence on set. On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”
Charleson began her role as Monica Quartermaine in 1977, at the age of 32, already an experienced daytime TV actress with roles on As The World Turns, The Wild Wild West, and other short-lived soaps. She stayed with General Hospital until December 2023, making her the longest-tenured actor on the show.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1945, Charleson was the sister of actress Kate Charleson, known for her role in Terms of Endearment. In a 2020 interview, Charleson shared that after her time on Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, she had no plans to return to soap operas. However, she was persuaded by Tom Donovan, a producer on both soaps, to join General Hospital in 1977. Reflecting on her career, she said, “I never could have envisioned the impact this job would have on my life.”
Monica Quartermaine became an iconic character on General Hospital. As the matriarch of the influential Quartermaine family, Monica was deeply involved in the show’s central storylines. She faced numerous dramatic challenges, including surviving explosions, murder attempts, and even battling breast cancer. One of the most notable arcs in the series, Monica’s battle with breast cancer from 1994 to 2000, was especially impactful. Charleson worked closely with writers and producers, many of whom had been personally affected by the disease, to ensure the storyline was portrayed with authenticity.
“We had all women — women writers, a woman producer — and they had all been affected by breast cancer, including me. My mother had it,” Charleson explained in a 2022 interview with co-star Maurice Benard. “We wanted to be honest, so we made a special effort to ensure it was done properly.”
Throughout her career, Charleson received four nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the Daytime Emmy Awards in 1980, 1982, 1983, and 1995.
In addition to her work on General Hospital, Charleson appeared in several other TV shows, including Dharma & Greg, Diagnosis: Murder, and a 2004 guest appearance on Friends, where she competed against Joey (Matt LeBlanc) on a game show. In 1993, she starred in the TV movie Woman on the Ledge alongside fellow soap stars Deidre Hall and Colleen Zenk.
Charleson’s death marks the end of an era for General Hospital, where she was a central figure for almost five decades.
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