Leslie Charleson, better known as Monica Quartermaine on “General Hospital,” has died.

She was 79.

Variety reported that Charleson died following “a long illness.”

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” “General Hospital” executive producer Frank Valentini announced. “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. On behalf of everyone at ‘General Hospital,’ my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”

Variety reported that Charleson began work on the show in 1977 but had not appeared on air since December 2023. Variety she has battled “health ups and downs” since then, including “several falls that prevented her from getting around.”

The site said she was hospitalized last week after one such fall.

Charleson was a native of Kansas City, Missouri.

She began her acting career in 1964 on another daytime soap, “A Flame in the Wind.” She was on the cast of “As the World Turns,” in 1966 and appeared in “The Wild Wild West” in 1968.

She had a long list of credits, but was best known for her near 50-yeqr run on General Hospital.