Leslie Charleson, ‘General Hospital’s’ long-serving Monica Quartermaine, dead at 79

Actress Leslie Charleson, renowned for her role as Monica Quartermaine, a former cardiologist turned mob enforcer on the long-running ABC soap opera “General Hospital,” has passed away at the age of 79.

On Sunday, it was announced through the official Instagram account of “General Hospital” by its executive producer, Frank Valentini, that the legendary soap opera star had passed away. He shared this information in a post, confirming that she had died.

I sadly share the news that my cherished friend and coworker, Leslie Charleson, has passed away. For almost half a century, she left an indelible mark on @GeneralHospital and, much like Monica was the cornerstone of the Quartermaine family, Leslie was an adored matriarch to the entire cast and team. I’ll dearly miss our frequent conversations, her sharp humor, and her magnetic energy on set. Sending heartfelt condolences to her family during this challenging period – we at #GeneralHospital share in their grief.

Information about the exact reason behind Charleson’s death was not readily accessible, but according to Variety and ABC News, he passed away following a protracted illness. Regrettably, representatives for Charleson did not provide an immediate response on Monday when The Times reached out for comments.

Television

Actor Chad Duell, who portrayed Michael Corinthos III for 14 years on the popular ABC daytime drama ‘General Hospital’, has announced his departure from the show.

Last week, Sophia Charleson was admitted to the hospital due to a recent fall, as reported by Variety. Her health problems have been affecting her work schedule on “General Hospital,” where she has starred for over 2,000 episodes, making her one of the most enduring soap opera actors in American daytime television. She last appeared on this long-running series in December 2023.

A person hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, born on February 22, 1945, made their debut on the “General Hospital” cast in 1977, taking over the Monica Quartermaine role that had been played by Patsy Rahn since 1976. Notably, “General Hospital” is the longest-running scripted drama and American soap opera still being produced, having first aired on ABC in 1963. This series was created by Doris and Frank Hursley, and it remains ABC’s only surviving daytime soap opera after the cancellation of their other dramas.

As “General Hospital” was first broadcast, Charlotte Charleson and her sister Kate moved to Hollywood to kick-start their acting journeys. Charlotte made her mark in daytime dramas with her debut on “A Flame in the Wind” in 1965, followed by roles in “As the World Turns” and “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing.

In addition to her main TV appearances, she also made brief appearances on shows such as “The Wild Wild West,” “The Rookies,” “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Happy Days,” “The Rockford Files,” and “Friends.

Television

78-year-old Ron Hale, known for his roles as Mike Corbin in ‘General Hospital’ and Dr. Rodger Coleridge on ‘Ryan’s Hope,’ has passed away, having acted in soap operas.

This sentence maintains the original information but is rephrased to sound more conversational and easy to read.

As Dr. Monica Quartermaine, Charleson portrayed the affluent matriarch of the Quartermaine clan, receiving four Daytime Emmy nominations for her performance. She additionally appeared in “Port Charles.” Her character’s love triangles, extramarital affairs with fellow doctors, and love child caused ongoing conflicts with her on-screen husband Alan Quartermaine, fueling popular storylines during the ’80s and ’90s. Monica was bestowed the legendary Quartermaine estate by Alan as a wedding gift and frequently threatened to evict her family from their luxurious abode.

Based on Variety’s report, Charleston had her contract terminated and was demoted to a recurring role in 2010. Despite this, she temporarily reprised her character due to health issues preventing her from regular performances. Her character continues to be significant on the show, even when not visible, occasionally mentioned as being upstairs in the Quartermaine mansion when her family is present there.

During the ’90s TV show, it was Sarah Charleson who proposed the storyline about Monica’s battle with breast cancer and appreciated its genuine depiction – given that the character was portrayed by an actress who had personal experience with the disease.

In 1994, she shared with The Times that when she began making soaps many years prior, there were limitations. Terms like “abortion” couldn’t be used, political statements were off-limits, and discussing current events was forbidden. This restriction on controversy always felt wrong to her because soap operas are present in people’s homes, kitchens, and bedrooms five days a week. She believed we had a duty to address genuine issues.

Television

In the beginning, when Leslie Charleson began creating soaps (many years back), we had certain limitations,” says Leslie Charleson, portraying Monica Quartermaine on “General Hospital.

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2025-01-13 22:31

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