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Actress Leslie Charleson, best known for her work on General Hospital, has died at the age of 79. The news was announced by the executive producer Frank Valentini on the show's official Instagram account on Sunday, January 12, 2025, writing:
"It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague," adding, "I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set."
Charleson played Monica Quartermaine, a cardiologist at the eponymous hospital on ABC's soap General Hospital, for nearly 50 years. She replaced Patsy Rahn (originally cast) in 1977, making her the longest-running cast member. Valentini continued:
"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."
Details surrounding her cause of death have not been made public at the time of this writing. According to an article by The Hollywood Reporter, she had been battling illness for some time.
Leslie Charleson has appeared on General Hospital spin-offs Port Charles and General Hospital: Night Shift.
According to Leslie Charleson's profile on Soaps, she was born on February 22, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri. She is the elder sister of actress Kate Charleson.
Charleson began her TV career appearing in a small role on the short-lived ABC show A Flame in the Wind. She starred in several shows like As the World Turns, Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Rookies, and The Rockford Files, among others.
In 1977, Leslie Charleson replaced Patsy Rahn's character, Monica Quartermaine, on General Hospital. She was a series regular until 2010 when she was demoted to a recurring position. The actress also reprised her role in the spin-offs Port Charles and General Hospital: Night Shift.
In an April 2019 interview with Digital Journal, Leslie Charleson explained:
"I only signed on for two years, and I don’t know what happened. I like her spunk, independence and everything about her. Back then, there weren’t a lot of good female roles that had that. It was an amazing time and it was strong material to act."
Her work on the show has earned her several accolades, including four Daytime Emmy Award nominations, two Soap Hub nominations, and four Soap Opera Digest nominations.
Charleson has starred in the movies The Day of the Dolphin (1973), Revenge! (1971), and Woman on the Ledge (1993). Per Soaps, she has appeared in numerous commercials throughout her career. She has also guest-starred as herself on Friends.
According to Soaps, Leslie Charleson has advocated for breast cancer, cystic fibrosis, and other AIDS-related charities. Further, she was frequently seen riding her Andalusian horse named Andarra. During her interview with Digital Journal, the actress explained that riding and being around horses was a "cathartic" experience.
According to a report by Forbes, Charleson married Bill Demms in 1988 and divorced in 1991.
