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GH’s Jane Elliot Opens Up on the Loss of Leslie Charleson as Tracy Mourns Monica Quartermaine, “Losing Her Was Like Losing an Arm”

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: JPI

On tomorrow’s Thursday, September 25 and Friday, September 26 episode of General Hospital, Port Charles, the Quartermaine family, and the viewers will say goodbye to the longest-running tenured character and actress on the ABC soap, when the funeral for Monica Quartermaine gets underway. As previewed, it will be filled with hankie-inducing moments, so prepare yourself to have a good cry.

The memorial service for Dr. Monica Quartermaine also serves as the vehicle to pay tribute to the unforgettable Leslie Charleson, who sadly passed away earlier this year in January. Charleson became the second actress to play the role of Monica and made her debut on GH back in 1977. In recent years, her failing health precluded her from appearing on the show, but the GH writers kept the character alive off-screen and upstairs at the Q mansion.

That all changed, when the soap opera decided to craft a proper goodbye and use Monica’s passing as a way to kick-off another major storyline – Erika Slezak’s arrival on Friday! Now, the elusive Jane Elliot, who over the past week has once again illustrated why she has no peer on the current daytime canvas, spoke with Variety about her close bond with Leslie Charleson over decades, and what the loss of her long-running scene-partner and former Quartermaine sister-in-law Monica Quartermaine has meant for her.

Courtesy/ABC

As Tracy, Elliot’s character was one of the last ties to Monica, other than her two adoptive sons, Jason (Steve Burton) and Drew (Cameron Mathison). Jane shared on how this storyline had dredged up the same feelings as she went through when her pal Leslie Charleson passed.

“Leslie left two voids in my life,” Elliot shared. “She left a void as an acting partner and a friend. Leslie and I knew each other for 60 years.” Jane added, “She was an integral part of my life. It’s hard enough to mourn somebody’s death once, but then to do it again. One was obviously the person, and the other was the character, but at a certain point they blended. You know, Monica was Leslie, and Leslie was Monica. I had shared experience with Monica, and I had shared experience with Leslie, so she left me twice.”

Photo: JPI

General Hospital fans know that Monica was the love of Tracy’s late brother, Alan Quartermaine, played by the late Stuart Damon. Often Monica and Alan would cheat on each other, but often found their way back to one another. Tracy had always thought her brother married beneath him when he married Monica, who was a successful surgeon at GH. However things eventually changed.

Jane explained. “Tracy had evolved over the years and was a more substantive human being and had gone through the heartbreak of losing Luke twice, and she developed a fuller personality. Because of that, she could see Monica’s weight and respected her for it.”

Photo: ABC

Now as Monica’s funeral approaches, the family is concerned if Tracy can make it through it and show up for it! “It’s a huge loss for her (Tracy),” shares Elliot. “All of her contemporaries are gone. Her mother, her father, her brother, Luke, Gregory, I mean, Monica was it. They were the last two standing hand in hand, side by side. So losing her was like losing an arm.”

What do you think about the comments made by Jane on her longtime beloved co-star Leslie Charleson and how Tracy feels about losing Monica? Are you ready to pay tribute to Leslie Charleson and say goodbye to Dr. Monica Quartermaine? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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To me, she is the heart and soul of the show. Lila and Edward would be proud.

“They were the last two standing hand in hand, side by side.” Very well said Jane Elliot. I know exactly what she means. I was a regular GH viewer from day one until 2005 and enjoyed all the antics of the Quartermaine family. Plus, I followed Leslie Charleson from her time on Love is a Many Splendored Thing and her episodic TV career. Thursday and Friday are going to be rough days.

Side note…Interested to know (not sure if you’d revealed) what made you stop watching in 2005? Was it the mob focus or something else?

I also took a break for part of that decade but would come back for the bigger events.

Steve, I humbly insert myself into this conversation only to add that my faithful daily GH viewing is similar to that of Llanviewer717 (mine, 1969-2005). For me, it was definitely the unrelenting focus on Sonny and the mob storyline, which continues to this day, that led to my decision to give it up. Over the years, I have returned only for special episodes or briefly for a return of a beloved character (e.g., Laura). I will be watching the sendoff for Monica (Leslie Charleson).

James – I always appreciate your insights.

I started around 1977 through a good part of the 90s. I was sporadic through the aughts. Came back after JFP and Guza were let go. Left for a bit after Ron killed AJ for the last time. Was going to depart again towards the end of Ron’s period but then they announced his departure, so I stuck it out.

Hoping these episodes (and Slezak’s guest stint) bring back viewers for a good storyline.

Thank you, Steve. Nice to hear about your (as well as Llanviewer717’s) viewing habits — and likewise, your observations. Slezak’s appearances will no doubt be valued. As we all cherish our favorite Monica moments and other beloved storylines and characters…

That is exactly why I stopped watching. I was sick of Mob Hospital. After One Life to Live was cancelled, I’d drop in when Llanview citizens like Nora Buchanan or Blair Cramer made guest appearances. I did not watch regularly when Todd and Starr and John became Port Charles residents. All I remember from that era was when TPTB killed Cole and Hope.

Kudos to Variety for getting the notoriously press-shy Elliot to reveal so much. Wow, did anyone really know that she and LC were so close? You have to feel for Jane when she stated it feels like she’s mourning Leslie all over again.

So glad the TV academy is giving Jane her flowers. Look forward to the acceptance speech of one of the best daytime performers of all time.

Well said.

I love Jane Elliot as Tracy. Legacy character/vet. I couldn’t have been happier GH-wise when we learned that she was on for the long haul. But I always fear, now that all her sparring Q family are gone, that Jane might be tempted to leave again. GH really messed up when they gave Gregory such a horrible disease. He and Tracy were so great together; like Edward and Lila in reverse. He would’ve have added so much to the Q home if the two had married. As for the last standing…it’s Tracy, NED, and Jason. I truly can’t believe how rarely Wally Kurth is on the show. With Tracy, Ned, and Jason, all living in the same house, I was hoping they’d bring back Dillon, and Lois would still be around and the Qvhouse might come alive again. Instead, Jason’s barely in the house and “Ned,” as said, is very rarely on the show. .

Wasted opportunity when they could have revitalized the remaining characters in family scenes. If they could bring Britt back, I’d throw out my disbelief and would love them to bring AJ back again (Carlivati should have never killed him off for such petty behind the-scenes bull). Seeing that Q house with Tracy, Ned, Jason, AJ, Dillon….and Yuri should be on; he’s so fun as security…then bring another female peer for Tracy to snark with. I was hoping that’s the role Erika would have filled if she was staying on…that she’d inherit the house; live in the house with her newfound family. And come on… more Ned!

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair

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Sonny, Dante, Michael, Brook Lynn General Hospital

On the Thursday, October 1 episode of General Hospital, both Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) had some things to say and what they had to say didn’t go over well with whom they were talking to!

Sonny had a confrontation with his son, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), while Michael leveled with Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) over Chase (Josh Swickard).

GH is setting up a scenario where everyone is going to make it look like Sonny was responsible for having Sidwell (Carlo Rota) beat up in Pentonville; while viewers already know Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) were behind it.

Sonny and Dante

Courtesy/ABC

A VISIT WITH DAD

Now, Dante comes to Sonny’s house. He wants to know straight up from his dad if he ordered the attack at Pentonville. Sonny flatly denies any culpability or responsibility, but Dante refuses to believe him.

Dante informs Sonny he has video footage of Sully and Vito at the prison. Sonny explains to Dante he doesn’t know why Sully beat up both Curtis and Dante. Things escalated when Sonny was deeply hurt that Dante refused to believe him. Dante says he was disappointed that his father didn’t respect him enough to be truthful with him!

Sonny asks Dante to consider that he was being set up. He says all he did was to tell Vito to instruct Sully to keep a watchful eye on Sidwell, not to harm him. No matter what Sonny said, Dante continued hammering him with how he knew deep down, even though he said he left the mob, he had to finish off Sidwell for himself.

Next, Sonny explains everything he has ever done was to provide for and to protect his family. Dante fired back that he doesn’t want to deal anymore with Sonny’s half-baked truths. As the two men argue, Gio (Giovanni Mazza) shows up at Sonny’s front door and overhears Sonny losing his temper and shouting at Dante, “Get out of my house! I don’t want a son like you!”  The scenes featured an excellent performance by Maurice Benard.

Michael and Brook Lynn

Courtesy/ABC

MICHAEL THE MANIPULATOR

While this is going down, outside the Quartermaine boathouse, Brook Lynn opens up to Michael about living at the Q’s with Chase being there, since he only came back due to legal advice from his lawyer, Monet Mitchell (Blythe Howard).

Brook Lynn questioned whether they should get legally separate. Michael insisted that would be a big mistake. When she asks why, Michael tells Brook Lynn to bide her time until Chase and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) have an affair; then she’d have full custody of Phoebe.

An angered Brook Lynn pushed Michael into the water and accuses him of moving Willow back into the gatehouse with intent on putting Chase and Willow in closer proximity and sacrificing Brook Lynn’s family in the process.  As the two cousins bicker, Chase shows up asking Brook Lynn if she is OK. Michael punctuates their talk with “You know, I’m right.”

CURTIS FIGURES OUT A WAY TO GET OUT OF THE SLAMMER

At GH, Willow visits Curtis (Donnell Turner) in his hospital room. Curtis wants Willow to get him pardoned and keep him out of jail, and in return, he will help her nail Sonny.

Next, Willow tells Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) she wants Curtis held for observation for three more days. He agrees to do so under one condition, that she understands that he may need to call in a favor from a congresswoman.

So, what did you think of how Dante accused his father and refused to believe Sonny’s answers? Is this the end of their father and son relationship for good? Is Michael the most manipulative person of all, except for Willow? Do the two deserve each other? Do you want Chase and Willow to have an affair? And what of Curtis? Does he have many redeeming qualities left? Share your thoughts via the comment section,  but first check out the talk Michael had with Brook Lynn.

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General Hospital

GH Alum Tajh Bellow and Y&R Alum Loren Lott Star in New Tiktok and Microdrama ‘Love Island’ Spoof

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Tajh Bellow and Loren Lott

Two soap opera alums very familiar to fans of General Hospital and The Young and the Restless are paired together in a new short-form digital series from none other than Issa Rae’s production entity HOORAE Digital.

Look for Tajh Bellow (ex-TJ Ashford, GH)) and Loren Lott (ex-Ana Hamilton, Y&R) as part of the cast of  The Compatibility Experiment, premiering on October 14, 2026, exclusively on TikTok and its companion microdrama platform, PineDrama.

In the video teaser, it appears that Bellow and Lott play a couple, Kelvin and Camila, set in a Love Island reality show-esque environment trying to win the one million dollar cash prize, only what could go wrong?

The Compatibility Experiment

Photo: HOORAE

The Compatibility Experiment loglines share that it brings a fast-paced, relationship-focused reality check—much like Love Island with a twist. The show takes a participant’s current relationship, introduces them to a potentially more compatible partner, and forces them to navigate the differences with life-changing money on the line.

The new series is part of a groundbreaking content deal between HOORAE Digital and TikTok to develop premium short-form storytelling. The ensemble cast also features; Ayona, Reggie Luck, JaNa Craig, Tosin Morohunfola, Jessica Jacoby, Georgia Warner, and Nick Cassidy.

General Hospital fans know Tajh Bellow for his performances as TJ Ashford, and who earned two Daytime Emmy nominations along the way during his run. Bellow took over the role in 2018 and last appeared on the ABC daytime drama series in December of 2024.

Loren Lott first appeared as Devon’s (Bryton James) sister Ana Hamilton on The Young and the Restless from 2018 to 2019; making a brief return in 2024. She has continued to perform on the stage and screen with recent credits including: Bel-Air, Cherish the Day, and All American: Homecoming.

Check out the trailer for The Compatibility Experiment below and let us know what you think of its concept and if you are glad to see Tajh and Loren again? Hoping they might return to daytime in their GH and Y&R roles at some point in the future? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ava and Drew Revealed to be Behind Framing Sonny for Sidwell’s Prison Beatdown

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Drew and Ava

If you thought that the person responsible for the Pentonville brawl that saw Sidwell (Carlo Rota) and Curtis (Donnell Turner) taken to General Hospital was Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) or even Sidwell himself, you were dead wrong! On the Wednesday, September 30 episode of GH, it turned out that the culprits were actually Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison).

In story, Drew apparently bankrolled the attack on Sidwell and framing Sonny. He told Ava their planned worked (she came up with it!) but was horrified when Drew informed her that Curtis got caught in the crosshairs. Ava is visibly upset because of her longtime friendship with Curtis’ daughter, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali). Drew tried to make Ava see the bright side. Curtis was witness to it and his presence will cast doubt on Sonny’s claims to that he had gotten out of the mob and gone legit.

Later, Vito shows up at Drew’s. They informed him that his guy on the inside of the slammer made a big mistake by hurting their friend and ordered him to leave town.

Maura West

Courtesy/ABC

BOATHOUSE BRAWL

In other major developments, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) and Rocco (Finn Carr) have a blow out fight as Danny blames his “brother” for the reason Charlotte was sent off to boarding school.

Rocco told off Danny for Charlotte’s (Bluesy Burke) reckless behavior and he explains he had to protect his sister. He went in on Danny saying that his mother Lulu (Alexa Havins) has been right to send Charlotte to boarding school and far away from Danny.

However, Rocco went a bit too far when he shouted, “And if your mom was alive, she would send you away too!” Next, Danny punched out Rocco, leading to a terrible brawl. An angered Danny yells at Rocco to, “Stay away from me and everyone in my family. And don’t you ever mention my mom again!” Danny storms off.

Rocco

Courtesy/ABC

Now alone outside the boathouse, Rocco flashes back to his first kiss with Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarksi), hoping that his fight with Danny will not escalate and ruin their budding romance. Meanwhile, a bloodied-mouth Danny heads over to Sonny’s and Jason (Steve Burton) is there at the same time. He then admits that he has a bad fight with Rocco and they are both beaten up.

WILL SCOUT WISE UP?

At the end of the episode, Scout, who had a fight with Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) over Drew, and who keeps telling everyone how good a man her dad truly is, comes upon a suspicious scene.

Scout hides behind the wall outside Drew’s. She sees her dad, Ava and Vito talking. Next, Scout seems to overhear Vito assuring Drew and Ava that their business dealings are done, and he’ll be leaving Port Charles for good.

So, what did you think of the reveal that Ava and Drew were behind framing Sonny for the prison beatdown of Sidwell (and Curtis)? Do you think Danny and Rocco’s relationship can be repaired, or do you think the teenagers will continue to be at each other’s throats? Finally, do you hope Scout gets a clue and stops thinking her dad walks on air? Weigh-in via the comment section, but first check out how Ava and Drew conspired below.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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