5 things you didn’t know about General Hospital star Kelly Monaco

General Hospital is set in the fictional city of Port Charles, New York. The show premiered on the ABC television network on April 1, 1963, and has won over 14 Daytime Emmy Awards.

The show revolves around the lives of residents of Port Charles. Over the decades since its release, the show has witnessed the entry and exits of various actors, actresses, and characters. Kelly Monaco debuted as Sam McCall in 2003 and continues to play the character to date. However, Lindsay Hartley has also briefly played Sam in 2020, 2022, and 2024.

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Some interesting facts about General Hospital star Kelly Monaco

Kelly was born on May 23, 1976, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She has been in the entertainment industry since 1997 and is not only an actress but also a model and dancer.

Kelly is best known for her portrayal of Sam McCall on General Hospital. However, there are some interesting facts about her that are unknown. Some are as follows:

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1) Kelly is the winner of Dancing with the Stars season 1

Kelly Monaco (Image via Instagram/@kelly_m23)

Dancing with the Stars is an American dance competition that premiered on ABC on June 1, 2005. In the show, celebrities are paired with professional dancers and are judged by judges' points and audience votes.

Kelly was paired with Alec Mazo. Although her performance was not well received by the judges and the audience at the beginning of the show. However, she maintained a positive attitude and eventually won the title.

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2) Kelly was Playmate of the Month for Playboy Magazine

In April 1997, Kelly Monaco was announced as Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month.

Playboy is a magazine that features Playmate, a female model featured in the centerfold/gatefold of the magazine. It is a pictorial, which includes nude photographs and a centerfold poster of the model, including a brief pictorial biography.

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3) Kelly judged the 2009 Miss USA pageant

Miss USA 2009, the 58th Miss USA pageant, was held at the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 19, 2009. The event was hosted by Billy Bush from Access Hollywood and actress Nadine Velazquez.

In March 2009, Kelly was selected by Donald Trump and Paula Shugart to be one of the judges for the 2009 Miss USA pageant.

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4) Participated in Feed the Children charity work

In 2009, Kelly and several other daytime celebrities traveled to Kenya as part of the Feed the Children program, delivering food and other supplies, and visiting schools and orphanages built by Feed the Children.

Feed the Children is a non-profit organization committed to ending childhood hunger. They provide food, shelter, and other necessities to children and families in the U.S. and across the world.

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5) Daytime Emmy Award nomination

Kelly Monaco at Daytime Emmy Awards (Image via Instagram/@kelly_m23)

Kelly as Sam on General Hospital has been widely praised by audiences. She is the only actor who has played the role from the very beginning and continues to do so to date.

She has received two Daytime Emmy Award nominations: one in 2003 for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and another in 2006 for Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

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A brief about Kelly's character Sam McCall on General Hospital

Kelly Monaco, as Sam McCall, was introduced to General Hospital in 2003. She arrived in town as a private investigator/ex-con artist. Most notably, Sam has aligned herself with mobster Jason Morgan, finding herself at the heart and esteem of many mob-related stories.

Sam's struggle and strife have included a battle with cancer, the loss of a daughter, and finding her supposedly long-dead son, Danny. She has been pulled into many high-end adventures, the exposure of secrets, and the protection of the people she values most. Sam is resilient and determined, and these characteristics make her a key person in Port Charles.

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Fans can enjoy watching General Hospital on the ABC television network.