In a heart-wrenching loss for the world of daytime television, General Hospital legend Leslie Charleson, best known for her nearly five-decade portrayal of Monica Quartermaine, has passed away at the age of 79. The veteran actress, a staple of the iconic ABC soap opera since 1977, died peacefully on Sunday, January 12, following a prolonged illness.

As fans of the long-running series mourn the departure of a cornerstone of Port Charles, Charleson’s legacy as Monica Quartermaine will live on—etched into the very DNA of General Hospital.

A Life on Screen: Leslie Charleson’s Rise to Daytime Fame

Leslie Charleson’s career in television began in the 1960s with early roles on ABC’s A Flame in the Wind and CBS’s As the World Turns. Her talent quickly propelled her to Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, where she held a prominent role from 1967 to 1970.

But it was in 1977 that Charleson stepped into the role that would define her career—and touch the lives of millions. Cast as the ambitious and compassionate Dr. Monica Bard, who later became Monica Quartermaine, Charleson brought grace, gravitas, and complexity to a role that would evolve into one of daytime’s most beloved characters.

Over 48 years, Monica became the emotional anchor of General Hospital’s powerful Quartermaine dynasty—wife to the tormented Alan Quartermaine, mother to a tangled family of biological, adopted, and lost children, and Chief of Staff at the hospital that gives the show its name. Through love affairs, medical crises, betrayals, deaths, and impossible resurrections, Charleson imbued Monica with unwavering strength and empathy.

Monica Quartermaine: The Heart of Port Charles

For many fans, Monica Quartermaine wasn’t just a soap opera character—she was family. She was there through the darkest and brightest moments of the series.

Her on-screen love story with Dr. Alan Quartermaine (played by Stuart Damon) was one of the show’s most enduring relationships—passionate, tumultuous, and deeply human. Together they had a son, AJ Quartermaine, whose life was plagued by addiction and tragedy, eventually ending in heartbreak. Monica also adopted Alan’s illegitimate son Jason Morgan, unknowingly raising a future mob enforcer with unwavering maternal devotion. Later, she welcomed Jason’s long-lost twin Drew Cain, and Emily Quartermaine, a young girl orphaned by cancer, whom Monica took under her wing as her own.

Monica herself battled breast cancer in a storyline that showcased some of Leslie Charleson’s most compelling work—earning her multiple Daytime Emmy nominations (1980, 1982, 1983, and 1995), though shockingly, she never took home the trophy. For fans and colleagues alike, her performances needed no gold statue to be considered iconic.

Health Struggles and Final Days

Fans last saw Charleson on screen as Monica in December 2023, during Dr. Hamilton Finn’s malpractice hearing. Observant viewers noticed that the actress appeared frail, with scenes shot while she was seated or using a wheelchair. In the show’s storyline, Monica was said to be recovering from an injury—but many suspected something more serious was unfolding off-camera.

Over the years, Charleson endured several falls, including two in 2018 and 2022, which required temporary recasts for Monica’s character. Her declining health became more evident in October 2024, when she was spotted lunching with a friend in Los Angeles, assisted by a caregiver and using a walker. Despite her physical challenges, those close to her reported that she remained upbeat and socially active.

Tragically, her health took a sharp turn in early January 2025, when she suffered another fall that led to hospitalization. Just days later, the beloved actress passed away—leaving behind a legacy that few can match.

Love Beyond the Set: A Real-Life Romance

While Leslie Charleson never had children, she did experience a real-life love story worthy of any soap plot. In 1988, she reunited with a high school friend, William Dems, at her 20th class reunion in Connecticut. Though they had never dated as teens, sparks flew immediately. Within weeks, Bill was flying to California every weekend to see her. They married on April Fool’s Day in 1989, a whirlwind romance that gave Charleson a brief chapter of off-screen happiness. Though their marriage ended a few years later, she would later refer to Bill as her best friend.

The Showrunner’s Tribute

General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini broke the news of her passing on social media, writing:

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague Leslie Charleson. Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on General Hospital alone. Just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaine family, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew. I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit, and her incredible presence on set. On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”

What’s Next for Monica Quartermaine?

Charleson’s death leaves General Hospital fans with one pressing question: What will become of Monica Quartermaine?

At the time of her final appearance, the show had written Monica off-screen with explanations that she was attending medical conferences or recovering. Following Charleson’s passing, sources close to the show suggest there will be no recast of the role—a move that respects both the character’s and the actress’s irreplaceable contributions.

Historically, General Hospital has taken its time addressing the deaths of legacy actors. When Jacklyn Zeman (Bobbie Spencer) died suddenly in May 2023, her character’s death and funeral weren’t addressed on the show until January 2024, a seven-month delay. Fans should expect a similar timeline for Monica’s farewell.

A tribute episode is reportedly in the works, though no official airdate has been announced. Given Monica’s pivotal role in the Quartermaine saga, fans are hoping for a heartfelt sendoff that honors both the character’s storied past and the actress’s immense talent.

Farewell to a Legend

For nearly five decades, Leslie Charleson stood as a pillar of General Hospital. Her portrayal of Monica Quartermaine gave us strength, sorrow, joy, and inspiration. She guided viewers through deeply human storylines—loss, survival, forgiveness, and love.

Whether confronting her own cancer diagnosis on screen, or holding the chaotic Quartermaine family together, Charleson brought unwavering dignity to a genre often underestimated.

She may be gone from our screens, but Leslie Charleson’s Monica Quartermaine will forever be a part of General Hospital’s beating heart—and part of soap opera history.

Rest in peace, Leslie. You were truly one of a kind.