General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Head Writers Share Plans to Honor Leslie Charleson and Bid Farewell to Monica Quartermaine
While previously noting that six-time Daytime Emmy winner, Erika Slezak’s (Viki, One Life to Live) arrival times with the passing of Monica Quartermaine on upcoming episode of General Hospital, on Monday co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten revealed more details on how the show plans to honor the late Leslie Charleson and the character of Monica.
First up, Monica’s death is said to occur this month in September and the character’s passing will leave an indelible mark on the Q family and all of Port Charles as the scribes have crafted a story, they feel is befitting of Leslie Charleson.
“When bidding farewell to her and to Monica, there could be no half-measures,” the writers shared. “Honoring Leslie’s contribution to General Hospital and Monica’s significance to Port Charles meant doing more than simply throwing a funeral and looking back at the past.”
Photo: ABC
Korte and Van Etten aded, “We wanted Monica’s passing to kick off a new story; to create new connections on the canvas; to test her loved ones; and to grow their relationships. This way, Monica may be gone — but her legacy will be felt long into the future.”
On a personal note to all GH fans, they shared, “Leslie Charleson was adored by the cast, crew, and audience.” Overall the writers could not be more pleased with the cast of General Hospital and what they have given to the stories they have written, including the passing of Monica, adding, “The cast and crew have fulfilled and surpassed our expectations in every respect and for every story.”
Photo: JPI
Leslie Charleson died back on January 12th of this year at 79-years old. In story, Monica has been ailing for a few years now as the character’s often talk about her fragile state, in particular last week, when Tracy (Jane Elliot) discovered Drew (Cameron Marthison) was shot and she didn’t know how she was going to tell Monica, who is Drew’s adoptive mother.
GH executive producer, Frank Valentini, paid tribute to Charleson on her death, expressing, “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.”
So, are you ready? Are you going to have the hankies ready as we are about to say goodbye to Monica Quartermaine as GH’s honors the legacy of the character and her portrayer, the late Leslie Charleson? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Very much looking forward to the GH tributes to both Leslie Charleson and her character, Dr. Monica Quartermaine.
I’m glad the writers didn’t rush into this and are making this the major story that it is. The cast is definitely going to deliver. There will be many tears, I’m sure.
The picture of Monica in the vault raises a few questions:
Will they move Justus’ spot? The plaque next to Lila (and beneath Alan) should be for either Monica or reserved for Tracy.
Soaps always play loose with ages, but were we supposed to believe Alan was only 59 when he passed?
My theory is that one reason it’s taken so long to tell the Monica death story is that, just by coincidence, Leslie Charleson’s passing happened right around the same time Chad Duell left the show.
Michael and his grandmother Monica had grown close over the years, so it would seem very strange to proceed with this story with Michael off the canvas. And even when he returned in recast form, well you probably should be sure the recast was successful before you attempt to pull off this story. It’s bad enough they threw NuMikey immediately into the custody battle and the surprise courtroom birth of his daughter Daisy.
Fortunately for everybody, Rory has done a great job as Mikey, and even though he has never actually had any scenes with Monica, I believe he will be able to play the grieving grandson convincingly when this story rolls out. And there’s probably a good chance that Grandma Monica is going to leave the estate to him. She could leave it to Jason, as her last surviving child, but even though Jason has moved back “home” for Danny’s sake, I’m not so sure he would want to inherit the mansion.
Hopefully having all this extra time to write the story will mean they did it right. And by that I mean… do not involve that useless piece of Hallmark crap in the story at all. If he can’t be in Hell, at least put him in a coma until Monica is properly laid to rest and her earthly affairs are settled.
I agree that Duell’s departure (and Michael being off canvas) was one part. Gibson has far exceeded expectations since day one and made the courtroom scene work.
While they sometimes tape 2-3 weeks before air date, the scripts are typically written 3 months before air. Story arcs planned before the writing. There were multiple storylines featuring the Q’s already in progress when LC passed (Gio’s paternity, the custody battle and Drew’s dastardly deeds). All needed to come to resting points before they could address Monica’s passing.
Despite some misgivings, Drew will be a part of the story. One of LC’s last big scenes was when CM’s Drew returned to tell her Jason “died” again.
As for who gets the house… while Michael is a logical choice, leaving him the house doesn’t create any long-term drama. And, yes, Jason doesn’t want it. To maintain some ongoing angst for Tracy, my prediction is Monica leaves the house to Olivia. Like Monica, Olivia is a Q by marriage and can stand up to Tracy when needed.
I am glad that they have finally decided to honor Monica Quatermain, she was a wonderful actress. I grew up watching her on general hospital. She is very much missed
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.
Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”
Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.
Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.
Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.
However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.
Courtesy/ABC
BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON
Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.
He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.
Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”
General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”
So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali Song ‘Pray’ Now Available on Major Streaming Platforms with Music Video Forthcoming
‘General Hospital’ Icon Genie Francis to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
Vivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
‘Beyond the Gates’ vs. ‘The Young and the Restless’ in a Soap Opera Showdown on ‘Flip Side’ Season 3 Premiere
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom Talks Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and What’s Behind Katie’s Deep-Seated Issues with Dylan (Exclusive)
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