Leslie Charleson health issues explored as General Hospital star dies aged 79

Well-known actress Leslie Charleson, 79, passed away on January 12, 2025. She was mostly known for playing Monica Quartermine in the famous TV series, General Hospital. Information about the circumstances leading to her death is yet to be officially released.

A report by Variety stated that Leslie suffered many falls over the years, which negatively impacted her work. She was taken to the hospital last week after she had a fall, and she required a walker.

The news of Leslie Charleson's death was revealed through the official Instagram handle of General Hospital. It included a photo of Leslie alongside a statement from the show's executive producer Frank Valentini. The caption reads in part:

"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."

Leslie Charleson was a part of the ABC soap opera for a long time, and had even addressed her experience of being a part of it on different occasions. Back in November 2020, Charleson appeared for an interview with FBJFit where she opened up on a storyline that was the most memorable and significant for her.

"Monica's battle with breast cancer was just so incredibly fulfilling. At the time, General Hospital had a strong female administration with a female executive producer and head writer, and together, each one of us had been touched by breast cancer in our own lives," she said.

Leslie said that the storyline received a positive response from everyone, and that she met many women at fundraiser events who shared their experiences with her.

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Leslie Charleson had to take a break from her work after a fall

The Kansas City, Missouri native accumulated a huge fanbase after being cast in different films and TV shows. She was mostly appreciated for her work in General Hospital. While her character continued being a part of the series since 1977, she had a fall in 2018 due to which she had to step away from the show for a brief period.

According to The Sun, Leslie Charleson was walking her dog when she had an injury, forcing her to take a break for almost two months. The news was additionally confirmed through the official page of General Hospital on X (formerly Twitter).

A report by UPI stated at the time that Leslie's character would be played by Patty McCormack until the former recovers from the injury. Leslie later posted a statement through X the same year where she expressed gratitude to everyone for their comments and well wishes after the fall.

"I'll do my best to heal quickly because there's nothing more I'd like to do than to get back on my horse and back in the Quartermaine living room!" she wrote.

As per Closer Weekly's report in October 2024, Leslie Charleson returned to the series in July 2018. According to Deadline, Leslie was last seen as Monica in General Hospital in December 2023 and did not return.

On the other hand, a source for Closer Weekly claimed in October 2024 that Leslie was having trouble recovering from her health problems, specifically due to her age. The same month, Charleson was spotted going out for lunch in Los Angeles and was accompanied by an anonymous person who was taking care of her.

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Apart from General Hospital, Leslie Charleson had three films in her credits, including A Lovely Way to Die, The Day of the Dolphin, and Cheering Section. She was also known for her appearances on shows such as Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, Port Charles, The Rookies, Medical Center, and Cannon, among others.