Very sad news from the television world this week:
Leslie Charleson, General Hospital’s longest-serving cast member, has died. She was 79 years old.
Nominated for an Emmy four times, Charleson was best known for portraying the character of Dr. Monica Quartermaine on the soap opera, a role she began playing in 1977.
General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini confirmed Charleson’s death on the show’s official Instagram page on Sunday, January 12.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” he said.
“Her enduring legacy spans nearly 50 years on General Hospital alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was the beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew. I will miss our daily conversations, his quick wit and incredible presence on set.
“On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time.”
A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Charleson got her big break in 1964 when she landed a recurring role on the daytime drama A Flame in the Wind.
Two years later, she became a regular on As the World Turns as Don Hughes’ stepdaughter, Alice Whipple.
From there, she was on the program Love Is a Many Splendored Thing from 1967-1970, before she bounced around a bit and then ended up on General Hospital.
“I only signed for two years, and I don’t know what happened,” the actress told Digital Journal in 2019.
“At that time, there were not a lot of good female roles. It was a wonderful time, and it was strong material for acting.”
As Monica, Monica Charleson made a name for herself by forming a super-couple with the late Stuart Damon, who played her better half, fellow doctor Alan Quartermaine.
There was also a famous breast cancer story and a casual relationship with her nephew, Ned.
“Monica’s battle with breast cancer was incredibly gratifying,” Charleson told FBJ Fit in 2020.
“Dealing with a real-life issue that many women and their families suffer from and being able to show their struggles and issues, was something I am very proud of. It was exhausting and incredibly difficult work, but the response to the story was truly humbling.
While appearing on General Hospital, Charleson was still able to make occasional guest appearances on shows such as Friends and Dharma & Greg. She also made headlines in the TV movie Woman on the Ledge.
Reminiscing about her tenure on General Hospital, the late actress told Soap Opera Digest in 2001:
“I really love this work. Look at it this way – what better thing can you do than wake up in the morning, get out of bed, put something on and then let someone take care of how you look, how you dress and what you say. ?
“How much more grateful can you possibly be? Not bad, not bad at all.”
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