Beloved soap opera star Leslie Charleson died on the morning of Jan. 12 at the age of 79 after battling a long illness.
The long-time “General Hospital” star played the role of Monica Quartermaine on the show. Executive producer Frank Valentini announced her death in a heartfelt statement.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” Valentini said, according to Variety. “Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on ‘General Hospital’ alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew.”
Leslie Charleson during The 11th Annual Daytime Television Salutes St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at Marriott Marquis in New York, New York, United States. (Photo by Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic) Getty Images
Valentini paid tribute to Charleson, saying, “I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set.”
“On behalf of everyone at ‘General Hospital,’ my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time,” he said, according to Variety.
Charleson joined the ABC soap opera in 1977 and appeared on her last episode in December 2023.
She experienced a series of medical setbacks over the years, including several falls that affected her mobility. She used a walker and managed to maintain high spirits despite her challenges. Charleson was hospitalized after a fall approximately one week before she passed away, according to Variety.
Leslie Charleson of “General Hospital” during 12th Annual Hollywood Charity Horse Show Hosted By William Shatner at Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, California, United States. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage) Getty Images
Charleson’s daytime soap opera career began with appearances on “A Flame in the Wind,” followed by “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing,” “The Rockford Files,” “The Wild Wild West,” “The Streets of San Francisco,” “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Mannix,” “Ironside” and “Happy Days.”
The famous actress starred opposite Shelley Winters in the film “The Day of the Dolphin” and ended up falling in love with dolphins as a result.
Here are clips of Leslie Charleson’s final scenes as Dr. Monica Quartermaine that aired on December 21, 2023. 💔 (Part 1 of 2) 🧵 #RIPLeslieCharleson #GH #GeneralHospital pic.twitter.com/2c2QetfGcP
— Brett (@vicksvapor77) January 13, 2025
Her more recent credits include, “Dharma & Greg,” “Diagnosis: Murder” and “Friends.” Charleson was cast along with the soap stars Deidre Hall from “Days of Our Lives” and Colleen Zenk in the 1993 film “Woman on the Ledge,” which was produced for television.
The star spent more than 40 years on the set of “General Hospital” as part of the infamous love triangle between characters Rick, Monica and Alan. Charleson clinched four Daytime Emmy nominations for outstanding lead actress. She is being remembered as an integral part of the show. (RELATED: Peter Yarrow, Singer Of Legendary Hits, Dead At 86)
Fans and loved ones are paying their final respects on social media as they say goodbye to the talented star.
