General Hospital
General Hospital Stars Attend ‘Celebration of Life’ in Memory of Leslie Charleson
When Leslie Charleson (Monica Quartermaine), the longest-tenured cast member of General Hospital, passed away back on January 12th of this year, it was a heartbreaking loss for the show, its fans and Leslie’s co-stars, friends, and colleagues.
Charleson, died at the age of 79, to which the Los Angeles medical examiner’s office deemed as her cause of death “sequelae of blunt head trauma.” Leslie had taken several falls over recent years, so it may have been attributed to a prior injury.
Over the weekend, several of Leslie’s longtime friends and cast members, attended a “Celebration of Life” in her honor in Los Angeles, California including: Finola Hughes (Anna), Ian Buchanan (ex-Duke), Lisa LoCicero (Olivia) and Lynn Herring (Lucy).

Photo: IBuchananIG
Taking to her Instagram, Finola Hughes honored Leslie by expressing,”Beautiful celebration of this wonderful woman. The stories about Lester’s generosity and kindness and above all her fun loving way of life. Her love of animals, her horses, her joy in acting. It was touching to bring her two worlds together for an afternoon, her GH family and her equestrian friends 💕 rip sweet Lester, we love you”
Ian Buchanan shared, “A Wonderful Celebration for a Glorious Friend.❤️❤️❤️” Lisa LoCicero responded to Ian’s post and noted, “Always great to see you Ian.. and a perfect celebration of a beautiful soul..❤️❤️❤️

Photo: JPI
Charleson played Monica Quartermaine for 47 years on the ABC daytime drama series and debuted on the soap back in 1977 replacing Patsy Rahn in the part. The beloved actress last appeared on-screen on GH in an episode back in December of 2023. In October of 2024, it was announced that Leslie would unlikely ever return in the role, but with the understanding she would not be recast.
It was back on January 12th that GH executive producer, Frank Valentini broke the news of Leslie’s passing on X, sharing, “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague. Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on General Hospital alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaine family, 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.”
Share your thoughts on Finola Hughes, Ian Buchanan and others touching words from the celebration of life in honor of the late Leslie Charleson via the comment section below.
Lovely words for a lovely lady, and what looks like a fitting celebration of Leslie’s life. I’m interested to see how and when GH deals with her death on the show. Monica deserves an ending as good as the one they gave Jackie Zeman/Bobbie.
Great to see Ian Buchanan looking well and impeccably dressed, as always. I’ll never forgive them for killing off Duke Lavery.
Blame Ron C, all his fault, poor writer couldn’t figure out how to honor legacy!
It is interesting how he brought both AJ and Duke back from the dead only to kill thrm off permanently when pettiness got in the way.
I know Ron wrote the story, but I honestly blame Frank more. He’s the one that made the decision to fire Ian, and get rid of a beloved legacy character. If you’re going to do something like that, it better be a damn good story, and that one certainly was not. It still pisses me off 10 years later.
I wish they would recast the role. I don’t think Leslie would mind her character going on. They could finally let her out of her room. It would be fun to see Tracy put in her place. I can see Monica coming down the steps saying “shut up Tracy”. Of course not just anyone could play her. How about Susan Lucci??
Leslie had an agreement with Frank Valentini that the role would not be recast, nor should it be. Some roles you don’t recast because they were such iconic characters played by an iconic actor. The same way they didn’t recast Bobbie when Jackie Zeman died, they didn’t recast Lila when Anna Lee died, they didn’t recast Steve Hardy when John Beradino died, they didn’t recast Luke with Tony Geary retired, and so on, and so forth. Leslie’s Monica is in that realm of all-time GH chatacters, and no one should or will ever play her again.
But, GH recasted Edward Quartermaine! The original actor was very iconic.
David Lewis (Edward #1) had retired once before and came back to do voice overs as a ghost talking to Lila. He was convinced to come back on camera for a few years. He retired for the final time 15 years after he first appeared.
Leslie has been on the show 47 years. A major difference.
Icon character is the subject at hand… Not the years spent in a role by an acto/actress.
I agree, about the OG Edward Q… he left GH due serious health issues… the show recasted this iconic actor.
Tony Geary as mentioned… retired.
My the point is, it’s not always about an iconic actor/actress whom passes away in real life which determines whether a recast will or will not happen.
OG Edward and TG are examples of that, too.
David Lewis was very iconic as the first Edward Quartermaine, absolutely no question. But he was on the show for 15 years, not 40+ years. That’s the difference in a role that you can recast, and one that you can’t. Or I guess shouldn’t would be a better word.
Absolutely not Theresa Anderson. I love Susan Lucci but she is wrong for that character. Besides, Monica should not be recast. Lesile Charleson put the indelible stamp on that character and should never be replaced. RIP dear Lesile. We love you!!!!!!!!!
Guessing that you’re not a long time soap fan. You don’t recast someone who played the character for 47 years!
And no, Lucci would never consider taking the place of another soap icon. Would anyone accept a different actress as Erica Kane? No. Monica will pass in story by mid year.
She was one of the reasons I watched General Hospital. I am a long time watcher of the show.
They will not recast in honor of her and I respect that sorry she was so ill for so long
Her character should never be recasted. You don’t play a role for over 40 years to be replaced. Someone mentioned they replaced Edward but it was only with David Lewis permission and he had not played that role as long as Lila, Alan, Monica or Tracy has/had. No one would replace Tracy. it simply would never be the same!
Do you not proof read? Who is Lester???? Several times you called Leslie a man. Not nice.
Well, you should have explained that in your article. Bad on you. THAT was your mistake.
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!
General Hospital
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

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.
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