Leslie Charleson — a well-known soap opera star — has died … according to an announcement on the official “General Hospital” Instagram account.
Frank Valentini — an executive producer on the long-running soap — wrote the statement … highlighting Charleson's lasting legacy after more than 50 years on the show.
Valentini writes that just as Leslie's character was the heart of the Quartermaine family on the show, she was also a matriarch to the cast and crew… and we will miss her deeply. Frank did not give a cause of death.
diversity reports that she passed away on Sunday morning after a long illness.
Charleson began acting professionally in 1965 at just 19 years old in the series “A Flame in the Wind”… and went on to appear in episodes of “Mannix”, “The Wild Wild West”, “Marcus Welby, MD”. ““Happy Days,” “Cannon,” “Barnaby Jones” and more.
But it wasn't until 1977 that she had her big breakthrough: she appeared for the first time in the role of Dr. Monica Quartermaine appeared in “General Hospital” and took over the role of Monica Bard from the actress Patsy Rahn.
From 1977 to 2023, Leslie appeared in 2,079 episodes of the series, becoming the longest-serving cast member in “GH” history. Current health issues, including multiple falls, prevented her from appearing on the show in 2024.
Leslie was 79 years old.
REST IN PEACE