At the age of 79, Leslie Charleson, a well-liked actress who was best known for her long-running role as Dr. Monica Quartermaine on the ABC soap opera General Hospital, has gone away. As a result of her passing on January 12, fans of General Hospital have experienced the conclusion of an era, and the entertainment industry has suffered the loss of a really great talent.
The news of her departure on Sunday morning has left her admirers, friends, family, and coworkers in a state of profound sadness. Frank Valentini, the executive producer of General Hospital, is one of the people who is mourning her passing. He sent a touching homage to her on the official Instagram account for the show. Valentini expressed her sorrow by writing, “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson.” “Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly half a century 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. Her legacy will live on forever.” Our daily conversations, her quick humor, and her great presence on set are all things that I will miss. I would like to express my deepest condolences to her family and friends during this trying time on behalf of everyone at General Hospital.
Since joining General Hospital in 1977, Leslie Charleson had been experiencing difficulties with her mobility due to the fact that she had fallen several times in recent years. In spite of the fact that the official reason of her death has not yet been announced, her most recent fall resulted in her being admitted to the hospital just one week before she passed away. In spite of the physical difficulties she faced, Charleson never wavered in her commitment to her profession and remained a treasured member of the General Hospital family until the time of her final appearance in December 2023.
The daughter of a publishing executive, Leslie was born on February 22, 1945 in Kansas City, Missouri. She was raised in a privileged home because her father was in the publishing industry. Leslie’s road into acting was made somewhat easier by the fact that her neighbor was the president of ABC, which helped her establish a connection to the entertainment world quite early on. In 1964, when she was only 19 years old, she made her acting debut on the ABC daytime soap opera A Flame in the Wind, which was only on the air for a brief period of time. Her ability began to shine very immediately after that, and she was soon cast in a role on the television show As the World Turns, which further solidified her career.
Throughout her career as an actress, Leslie’s path was defined not just by her own determination but also by the assistance of more experienced mentors. In 1993, she recalled the words of wisdom that she had received from Roy Poole, a veteran of the soap opera industry. He had previously advised her, “Don’t think of the 9 million people who are watching.” And you shouldn’t be concerned about your hands.” When Leslie was given the advise, she laughed heartily and recalled how she had a difficult time figuring out what to do with her hands at first. However, as time went on, she got more at ease in her roles, and the worry that she had about her hands gradually disappeared.
When Charleson joined General Hospital in 1977, she played the role of Dr. Monica Quartermaine, which is considered to be her most noteworthy role. The character of Monica endured a number of challenges throughout the course of her life, including the surrender of a child for adoption, being held as a hostage, and battling breast cancer. The battle that Monica fought against breast cancer, which ran from 1994 to 2000, was one of the most significant narratives that followed her throughout her career. Leslie revealed her personal link to the plot in an interview that took place in 2022 with her co-star on General Hospital, Maurice Benard. She stated, “We had all women—women writers, a woman producer—and they had all been affected by breast cancer, including me.” It was in my mother’s possession.” She also disclosed that she went to Wellness Hospitals in order to guarantee that the depiction of breast cancer was as exact and realistic as feasible. This exemplifies the team’s dedication to producing a story that is genuine.
Leslie received a great deal of praise for her performance as Monica Quartermaine, which resulted in her being nominated for four Daytime Emmys in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series throughout the years 1980, 1982, 1983, and 1995. Alongside Deidre Hall and Colleen Zenk, she also made an appearance in the television movie Woman on the Ledge, which was released in 1993. When Leslie thought back on her time spent working on General Hospital, she lovingly recalled the enchantment that occurred throughout the 1980s under the direction of producer Gloria Monty. While she was thinking back on the golden years of the program, she recalled that there was a great deal of excitement all around.
In addition to her renowned part on General Hospital, Leslie Charleson had a spectacular career that also included other roles. In addition, she made appearances in the spinoffs Port Charles (1997–2001) and General Hospital: Night Shift (2008), further solidifying her position as a legendary figure in the world of soap operas. She became one of the most acclaimed actors in the industry as a result of her ability to adapt to new situations and her dedication to her work. Leslie revealed her thoughts on what had contributed to her long and successful career in an interview that was conducted in 2019 with Digital Journal. She stated, “Interest in the material is what keeps you around and relationships.” “I am the only actor on the show that doesn’t have another soap opera to talk about because I have never done another soap opera, while almost everybody else has,” she said, referring to a remarkable feature of her career. She also mentioned that she has never participated in any soap opera.
The passing of Leslie Charleson has left a hole in the hearts of millions of people, including fans, members of the General Hospital cast, and anybody else who valued her work. Her legacy will continue to be carried on by the characters that she brought to life, particularly Monica Quartermaine, whose influence on the program and the people who watch it cannot be denied. The passing of Leslie signifies the conclusion of a period of time for both General Hospital and the realm of daytime television. We want the family and friends of Leslie Charleson, as well as the cast and crew of General Hospital, to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers. May God grant her eternal rest.