CNN
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Leslie Charleson, who played the popular character Dr. Monica Quartermaine for nearly 50 years on “General Hospital,” has died, the program’s executive producer announced Sunday.
She was 79 years old.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson. Her enduring legacy spans nearly 50 years on General Hospital alone, and just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch to the entire cast and crew. wrote “General Hospital” producer Frank Valentini. “I will miss our daily chats, his quick wit and his incredible presence on set. On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my deepest condolences go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.
Charleson began the role in 1977 and continued until his death.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, she began acting as a child, beginning her television career as a regular on another ABC daytime series called “A Time for Us,” according to Soap Central.
After a stint on “As the World Turns,” Charleson also spent two and a half years on another CBS soap opera, “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing,” earning him his first Emmy nomination for the role. ‘Iris Donelly Garrison. .
The actress has also appeared in several advertisements.
“Of all the many commercials Leslie has done, she credits those for Pearl Drops with landing her a role in the film ‘Day of the Dolphin,’ directed by Mike Nichols and starring George C. Scott,” her biography on Soap Central said. “She followed this with a performance in David Merrick’s play, one-night stand, with Tony Curtis.”
Charleson went on to star in several popular television shows, including “Adam 12,” “Barnaby Jones,” “Marcus Welby, MD,” “Ironside,” “Kung Fu,” and “The Rockford Files.”
“It was on Happy Days that Leslie gave Ron Howard his first on-screen kiss,” his bio states. “She also co-starred with Deidre Hall in the TV movie ‘Woman on the Ledge’ and made an appearance in ‘Diagnosis Murder’ and ‘Dharma & Greg’.”
But it was Charleson’s role in “General Hospital” that brought him the most fame and satisfaction. She joined the series in 1977, reprising the role of Patsy Rahn, who originated the series.
Charleson opened up about a meaningful breast cancer storyline for her character in a 2020 interview.
“At the time, ‘General Hospital’ had a strong female administration with an executive producer and a head writer, and together, each of us had been touched by breast cancer in our own lives,” she said. declared. “Facing a real issue that afflicts so many women and their families and being able to show the struggle and issues they face is something I am very proud of. It was exhausting and incredibly difficult work, but the response to the script was truly humbling.
She has become a spokesperson for charities related to breast cancer, cystic fibrosis and AIDS.
The star was as devoted to her fans as she was to her.
“‘General Hospital’ fans are fiercely loyal, and I think because these characters appear in their homes every day of the week, year after year, they really feel a connection to us personally,” she said in the interview. “One day, a fan came up to me to introduce her friend, before she realized I had never met her before either!”
Charleson had appeared on the soap opera as a recurring character since 2010.