‘General Hospital’ Star Passes Away At 79

Leslie Charleson, known for her recurring role on “General Hospital,” has died at 79.

On the show, Charleson portrayed cardiologist Monica Quartermaine, the widow of Alan Quartermaine and founder of the namesake hospital. News of the Daytime Emmy-winning actress’s death was confirmed by the show’s former executive director. “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” Frank Valentini wrote on the show’s Instagram page. “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. 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.” No cause of death has been announced.

At 62 seasons, “General Hospital” is the longest-running television drama in history, and Charleson played no small part in helping propel the show through some of its most formative years. She began working at the ABC drama in 1977 and appeared in more than 2,000 episodes, according to a biography maintained by IMDb. Her role as Dr. Quartermaine also continued on the spinoff programs “General Hospital: Night Shift” and “Port Charles.” Charleson, who worked up until her death, cut her final scenes in December of 2023, ones which fans were quick to share online as they offered their heartfelt tributes to the daytime TV icon.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1945, Charleson took up acting as a child, appearing in high school plays and later honing her craft at Bennett College in upstate New York. In 1964, she was cast in “A Flame in the Wind” and several years later in “As the World Turns.” She eventually found her first long-term home at CBS’s “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing,” appearing in more than 1,400 episodes until her departure in 1970. During her 14 years on the show, she caught the eye of the “Happy Days” director, appearing as the love interest to Ron Howard’s character Richie Cunningham. Other credits to Charleson’s name include “The Streets of San Francisco,” “Owen Marshall,” “Counselor at Law, McMillan & Wife,” and “The Rockford Files.” She starred in the 1971 made-to-TV horror movie “Revenge!,” People reported.

Speaking about her time on “General Hospital” in a 2019 interview, Charleson explained she was brought in by Valentini to prop up a show sagging in the rating after a dozen years on TV already and struggling to produce compelling new storylines. Her character replaced Monica Bard Webber, the unmarried former portrayal of Dr. Monica Quartermaine, played by Patsy Rahn. Charleson said she enjoyed bringing a bad-girl attitude to the show through Quartermaine. “I only signed on for two years, and I don’t know what happened,” she told Digital Journal in 2019. “Back then, there weren’t a lot of good female roles that had that. It was an amazing time, and it was strong material to act.”

“She’s interesting, dedicated in all areas,” Charleson told Soap Opera Digest in 1981. “Her dedication in her social life can be a bit over the top, but it’s true. When she loves, it’s passionately. She puts her effort into it, sometimes at the expense of others.” After four seasons, Charleson said she was happy to see how her character was growing and helping introduce the show to a new audience of viewers. “I’m delighted with the progress she’s made, her sense of humor,” she said. “As an actress I enjoy Monica because she can wear any hat, go any place, do any thing.” Of her character’s reputation, she added, “When you’re all good, you’re boring. And nobody is just ‘good,’ unless she’s a saint.”

The “General Hospital” cast has lost a number of notable figures over the past year. Ron Hale, the affable 78-year-old actor who played Mike Corbin on “General Hospital,” passed away in August of 2024. In March, Robyn Bernard, who played a lead role as Terry Brock, was found dead in a field behind a business in San Jacinto, California, leaving detectives and fans alike speculating about the circumstances of the 64-year-old’s death. Then, in May, Johnny Wactor, the actor who appeared in 160 episodes of the long-running medical drama, was shot and killed in downtown Los Angeles in the early hours of Saturday morning. That same month, the GH family lost Elizabeth “Betsy” MacRae Halsey, who passed away at 88.

WATCH:

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