Leslie Charleson Dead, General Hospital Star Dies After Illness

Longtime General Hospital star Leslie Charleson died at the age of 79, the show’s executive producer announced on Sunday, January 12.

“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. I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set,” Frank Valenti wrote in an Instagram post.

He added, “On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.” Her cause of death has not been released.

Leslie was married to businessman William Demms from 1988 to 1991. The former couple did not have children, and she never remarried.

The actress played cardiologist Dr. Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital from 1977 through 2023, appearing in more than 2,000 episodes, per IMDb.

“I just learned that Leslie Charleson has passed. We played mother and son off and on for years. My deepest condolences to her family. May you rest in peace, Lester. #GeneralHospital #GH #LeslieCharleson #MonicaQuartermaine,” actor Sean Kanan wrote in a post on X. He played Monica and Alan Quartermaine’s son Alan James “A.J.” Quartermaine Jr. from 1993 through 1997.

Actress Sarah Joy Brown also paid tribute to Leslie via X. She played Carly Corinthos on General Hospital from 1996 to 2001.

“Rest in peace Leslie Charleson. Grateful to have had the opportunity to learn so much from her while I was starting my run on General Hospital, ” Sarah, 49, wrote. “Watching her work with Stuart Damon, a.k.a. Alan Quartermaine, and John Ingle was a joy for me, especially when I was included in the scenes, but even when I wasn’t. The Q’s always made me laugh. Her timing was legendary. Sending my condolences to her friends, family, fans, and all of her coworkers.”

Leslie was born on February 22, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri. She got her first big acting break in a 1966 episode of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns. Leslie went on to make appearances on such classic prime time hits as Mannix, Adam-12, Emergency!, Ironside, Happy Days and The Streets of San Francisco.

Leslie originated the character of Dr. Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital starting in 1977, becoming one of the show’s lead stars. She was taken off contract and became a recurring star in 2010, according to Variety. Leslie’s last appearance on General Hospital was in December 2023.

In the months before her death, Leslie was photographed using a walker while out and about in Los Angeles.

“She’s doing OK under the circumstances and in no rush to push herself,” an insider told Closer after the outing in October 2024. “She’s suffered several falls in recent years, and she’s doing her best to recover. That said, it’s harder for her to get around at her age.”

“She’s seeing friends and staying social,” the insider added, saying about General Hospital, “Although she’d be welcome back to the show with open arms, it’s unlikely she’ll ever return.”