Leslie Charleson, famous for portraying Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital, passed away at 79. The news was confirmed via the show’s official social media on Sunday evening.
‘General Hospital’ Honors Leslie Charleson
Frank Valentini, the executive producer of General Hospital, paid tribute to Charleson. He shared, “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.”
Though the cause of her death remains undisclosed, The Hollywood Reporter stated that Charleson had been “battling an illness for some time.”
A Storied Career in Acting
Charleson, born in Kansas City, Missouri, began acting in her childhood. She later pursued theater studies at Bennett College in New York.
She joined General Hospital nearly 50 years ago and appeared in over 2,000 episodes of the soap. The show, which premiered in 1963, has aired over 15,000 episodes across 62 seasons.
Recognition for Her Talent
In addition to her work on General Hospital, Charleson was also known for her role as Iris Donnelly on Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing in the 1960s.
Throughout her career, she earned multiple accolades, including four Daytime Emmy Award nominations, four Soap Opera Digest Award nominations, and two Soap Hub Award nominations.