Leslie Charleson ‘General Hospital’ star passes away

Leslie Charleson, a veteran cast member of General Hospital, passed away at the age of 79.

The actress, who was renowned for her role as Monica Quartermaine on the soap opera, with her portrayal beginning in 1977, it made her the longest cast member on the show.

Frank Valentini, General Hospital‘s executive producer, confirmed the four-time Daytime Emmy nominee via the official Instagram page of the show.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” he wrote in the beginning of his note.

He 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.”

“I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set,” Valentini further added.

“On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time,” he concluded his note.

For the unversed, back in 1977, Leslie Charleson, was casted as Monica Bard Webber (later Monica Quartermaine) replacing Patsy Rahn.

In 2019, she opened up about how much she loved her General Hospital role, telling Digital Journal, “I only signed on for two years, and I don’t know what happened. 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.”