Leslie Charleson, Actress Who Starred on General Hospital, Dead at 79

The soap opera community is mourning the loss of a mainstay.

After spending almost half a century on the cherished series, “General Hospital,” it has been confirmed by its executive producer, Frank Valentini, that Leslie Charleson, who was 79 years old, passed away.

I sadly share the news that my cherished friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson, has passed away. On January 12th, I expressed this sadness on social media. Over almost half a century, her impact has been profoundly felt, particularly on ‘General Hospital’, where her enduring legacy continues to shine brightly. Just as Monica was the soul of the Quartermaines, Leslie was an adored matriarch for our entire cast and crew.

He went on saying, “Our daily conversations, her sharp humor, and the extraordinary aura she brought to set will be deeply missed. I extend my sincere condolences to her family from all of us at General Hospital, during these challenging times.

Originating from Kansas City, Missouri, Charlezon spent her teenage years acting and later pursued a degree in theater at Bennett College, located in upstate New York.

As a seasoned lifestyle guide, I embarked on my acting journey in the captivating realm of daytime dramas. I graced the screens with my presence in shows like “A Flame in the Wind,” “As the World Turns,” and CBS’s enchanting “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing.” From then until 1970, these series became my artistic home.

After departing from the series, she made numerous guest appearances; however, it wasn’t until her introduction as Monica Bard Webber (later Monica Quartermaine) on General Hospital in 1977 that she truly found her professional home.

In 2019, she explained to Digital Journal that she initially agreed to join the cast for just two years. She admitted she wasn’t aware of what might have transpired afterward. At that time, there weren’t many compelling roles for women available. She added that it was a remarkable period and the material she got to act with was powerful.

Charleson frequently expressed warm affection for her career and time spent on the series. Given that she became part of General Hospital in 1977 and remained a key player until 2023, albeit with fewer appearances in recent years due to multiple falls as reported by Variety, she holds the record for the longest tenure among all cast members.

In 2001, she expressed her deep affection for this job by saying, ‘Imagine having a role where every day starts with waking up, stepping out of bed casually, having someone help with your appearance, wardrobe, and even what you say. Could anyone ask for more satisfaction?’

As she summed it up, “Not bad, not bad at all.”

On the television series, her tumultuous yet beloved partnership with character Alan Quartermaine, portrayed by Stuart Damon, was a hit among viewers, providing ample opportunities for the actors to inject humor into their performances.

Charleson, who was married to Bill Demms from 1988 to 1991, admitted to People magazine in 2023 during the series’ 60th anniversary celebration that their on-screen fights were quite real. “Stuart was always worried I might poke his eye out,” Charleson joked. “During dress rehearsals, I would pretend to slap him, but once we started taping, all pretense went away.

On the show, despite Monica being characterized as a rebellious character, Charleston frequently expressed that playing her role was deeply satisfying. This sentiment was particularly strong after Monica’s on-screen diagnosis with breast cancer in 1994.

Charleson stated on FBJ Fit in 2020 that Monica’s fight against breast cancer was an immensely rewarding experience for him. He felt a strong sense of pride in tackling a genuine problem that affects countless women and their families, as it allowed him to portray the struggles they face. Despite the physical and emotional toll it took, he found the positive feedback on the storyline to be deeply moving.

Charleson frequently expressed warm affection for her career and her time on the series. Given that she first joined General Hospital in 1977 and remained a mainstay until 2023, albeit with fewer appearances in recent years following multiple falls as reported by Variety, she held the longest tenure of any cast member.

Back in 2001, I couldn’t help but express my heartfelt affection to Soap Opera Digest. Here’s the thing – can anyone imagine a better gig than waking up, stepping out of bed, casually getting dressed, and then having someone handle your appearance, wardrobe, and dialogue? I mean, how thankful could one be for such a dream come true?

As she summed it up, “Not bad, not bad at all.”

2025-01-13 16:17

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