Leslie Charleson, whom most recognized as Monica Quartermaine from General Hospital, died on January 12, 2025. She was 79 years old. Though her official cause of death has not been determined yet, she died after living with a health issue, according to Variety. Leslie’s friend, General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini, confirmed her death in a public statement.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” Valentini wrote on social media. “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.”
Learn more about Charleson, her career and her death below.
In addition to General Hospital, Charleson held a role in As the World Turns. She also guest starred in a wide array of TV shows, including N.Y.P.D., The Rookies, The Streets of San Francisco, Happy Days, The Rockford Files and Friends.
During the early 1970s, the Kansas City, Missouri, native appeared in a few movies, including The Day of the Dolphin and Cheering Section.
While playing Monica in General Hospital, Charleson once opened up about her character’s breast cancer battle. Though it was “incredibly difficult work” for the actress to portray, Charleson called the experience “incredibly fulfilling” to connect with viewers who were struggling with the same illness.
“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,” Charleson told FBJ Fit in November 2020. “It was exhausting and incredibly difficult work, but the response to the storyline was truly humbling. I would attend Susan G. Komen for the Cure fundraiser events and, each time, women would approach me and share their own experiences. I also felt the show did a great service showing how her husband, Alan, and the rest of Monica’s family and friends dealt with her battle. It was an important story and knowing that any part of my performance helped viewers was just so gratifying.”