Soap veteran Leslie Charleson, best known for playing Monica Quartermaine on "General Hospital" for nearly 50 years, died aged 79 after a long illness.
The actor's death was confirmed by "General Hospital" executive producer Frank Valentini on Sunday.
"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 and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew," Valentini wrote in an Instagram post. "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."
Charleson first appeared in the role in 1977 and held down the part until her death.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, she launched her acting career as a child, initially appearing as a regular on the ABC daytime series "A Time for Us," according to Soap Central.
Following her time on "As the World Turns," Charleson spent nearly three years on CBS' "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing," where she earned her first Emmy nomination for portraying Iris Donelly Garrison. Her television career continued with guest roles on series such as "Adam 12," "Barnaby Jones," "Marcus Welby, M.D.," "Ironside," "Kung Fu," and "The Rockford Files."
In addition to her television roles, she also appeared in several commercials throughout her career.
In a 2020 interview, Charleson spoke about her character's breast cancer storyline.
"At the time, 'General Hospital' had a strong female administration with a female executive producer and head writer, and together, each one of us had been touched by breast cancer in our own lives," she said. "Dealing with a real-life issue that afflicts so many women and their families and being able to show the struggle and issues they face, was something I am so proud of.
"It was exhausting and incredibly difficult work, but the response to the storyline was truly humbling."
Charleson became a spokesperson for breast cancer, cystic fibrosis, and AIDS-related charities.
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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