Leslie Charleson, the “General Hospital” star who played cardiologist-turned-mobster Monica Quartermaine on the ABC daytime drama, has died. She was 79 years old.
The soap opera legend's death was announced Sunday by “General Hospital” executive producer Frank Valentini, who confirmed that he passed away in a post on the show's official Instagram account.
“It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, @lesliecharleson,” Valentini wrote. “Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years at @GeneralHospital alone, and just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaine family, Leslie was a beloved matriarch to the entire cast and crew. I will miss our daily chats, his quick wit, and his incredible presence on set. “On behalf of everyone at #GeneralHospital, my deepest condolences to your loved ones during this difficult time.”
The cause of death was not immediately known, but Variety and ABC News reported that Charleson had died after a long illness. Representatives for Charleson did not immediately respond Monday to The Times' request for comment.
Charleson was hospitalized last week after a recent fall, Variety said. His health problems recently reduced his time at the “General Hospital”; She had appeared in more than 2,000 episodes, making her one of the longest-serving soap opera stars on American daytime television. Charleson last appeared on the long-running soap opera in December 2023.
The Kansas City, Missouri, native, born February 22, 1945, joined the cast of “General Hospital” in 1977, replacing Patsy Rahn, who originated the role of Monica Quartermaine in 1976. “General Hospital” is the script of longer duration. Longest-running American drama and soap opera still in production. The series created by Doris and Frank Hursley debuted in 1963 and remains ABC's only remaining soap opera after the network's other daytime dramas concluded.
Around the time “General Hospital” premiered, Charleson and her sister Kate arrived in Hollywood to launch their acting careers. Charleson made her daytime drama debut in “A Flame in the Wind” in 1965 and later appeared in “As the World Turns” and “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing.”
Her other television roles include guest appearances on “The Wild Wild West,” “The Rookies,” “Marcus Welby, MD,” “Happy Days,” “The Rockford Files” and “Friends.”
As cardiologist Dr. Monica Quartermaine, Charleson played the wealthy matriarch of the Quartermaine family and earned four Daytime Emmy nominations for the role. He also moved on to “Port Charles.” Her character's love triangles, her affairs with fellow doctors, and her affair led to long-standing problems with her on-screen husband Alan Quartermaine, spawning popular storylines in the '80s and '90s. Alan gifted Monica the historic Quartermaine Mansion as a wedding gift and often threatened to throw his family out of this luxurious accommodation.
According to Variety, Charleson was yanked from her contract and reduced to a recurring role in 2010. She was briefly rehired when injuries and other health issues prevented her from performing. Her character is still present in the show even if she is off-screen, and she is sometimes referred to as being upstairs at the Quartermaine mansion when her family is gathered there.
When Monica battled breast cancer on the show in the 1990s, Charleson was the one who suggested it and appreciated the authenticity of the story: a doctor who was also going through cancer.
“When I started doing soap operas, a long time ago, we were restricted,” he told The Times in 1994. “You couldn't say words like abortion. You can't be political. You couldn't be current. You couldn't cause any kind of controversy. I always felt it was a mistake. They see us in people's living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms five days a week. “We have a responsibility (to address) real problems.”
