Very sad news.
Leslie Charleson, star of “General Hospital” since 1977, has died at age 79. She would have turned 80 next month.
Three years ago Charleson was said to have fallen or to have had a series of falls that prevented her from returning to the show. She probably had a stroke, but it was kept secret.
She finally returned in 2023 for two short appearances in which she was seated and could barely speak. They would be her last shows.
Charleson played Dr. Monica Quartermaine, who was beautiful, smart, sarcastic and a little promiscuous. In the early 80s, Monica became a cult character after husband Alan Quartermaine (Stuart Damon) tried to kill her and her lover. The Quartermaines reunited, but had many affairs, divorces, and reunions until Damon was written off the show.
Charleson was the longest running cast member of “General Hospital,” although she took over the role of Monica from another actress. She had a long list of TV credits by 1977. It’s always fun to see her turn up in reruns of “Medical Center” or “Mannix,” or “The Streets of San Francisco.” She even had a small role in the great film, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” Before “General Hospital,” she was on CBS’s soap, “Love is a Many Splendored Thing.”
She left an indelible impression for soap fans of a certain age, anyone who was in college in the late 70s would know her on sight.
Condolences to family and friends.
