Breaking News
Leslie Charleson, General Hospital’s Monica Quartermaine, Passes Away at 79
In just heartbreaking news this Sunday, longtime General Hospital star, Leslie Charleson (Monica Quartermaine), has died at the age of 79 from complications from a long illness. Frank Valentini, the series executive producer broke the news in a statement on X.
Valentini shared, “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.”
The EP closed his statement with, “On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”

Photo: JPI
Charleson had played the role of Monica Quartermaine for 47 years. She took over the role from Patsy Rahn in 1977. Leslie appeared on and off of GH through 2023, with her final appearance coming in December of that year. However, health issues, including several falls, prevented her from appearing on the show after that. Last October 2024, it was announced that she would unlikely ever return in the role, but with the understanding she would not be recast. This still made Leslie, GH’s longest-tenured cast member.
During her GH run, Charles was taken off contract after 30 years and dropped to recurring status in 2010, much to the chagrin of many fans at that time. Previously, Leslie was best known for her leading role of Iris Donnelly (1967-1970) on Love is a Many Splendored Thing and her on-screen sister, Laura, was played by Donna Mills (ex-Abby, Knots, ex-Madeline, GH). Leslie also appeared on two other soaps earlier in her career with roles in A Flame in the Wind and As the World Turns.

Photo: ABC
Throughout the incredible legacy of GH, Monica, as played by Charleson, was involved in one of the most torrid triangles in its history with Rick Webber (Chris Robinson) and Alan Quartermaine (Stuart Damon). When becoming a member of the Quartermaine family, Monica’s bickering with her sister-in-law, Tracy (Jane Elliot) and husband, Alan would become soap classics, in part due to Leslie’s comedic timing.
In one of the more dramatic stories of her GH career, Monica’s breast cancer earned Leslie one of four of her Daytime Emmy Nominations as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series. In addition, the story that found Alan and Monica adopting their daughter, Emily (first played by Amber Tamblyn, then Natalia Livingston) provided another emotional backdrop for Charleson’s acting chops.

Photo: ABC
Leslie also appeared on the television series: Dharma & Greg, Canon, The Rockford Files, The Wild West, The Streets of San Francisco, Marcus Welby, M.D., Mannix, Ironside, and Happy Days to name just a few. Charleson also appeared in the 1973 motion picture, The Day of the Dolphin opposite Oscar winner, Shelley Winters.
Michael Fairman TV sends our condolences to Leslie’s loved ones, friends and her General Hospital family during this difficult time.
Share your remembrances and thoughts on the passing of GH’s Leslie Charleson via the comment section below. But first, check out this classic scene from Monica’s breast cancer storyline featuring Leslie and Stuart Damon, followed by one of Leslie’s last episodes of GH in scenes with Jane Elliot and Michael Easton (ex-Finn).
I have a heavy heart. I loved GH back in the day when Monica, Alan, Rick and Lesley were forefront. Ms. Charleson and Mr. Damon had great great chemistry and throw in Jane Elliot… WOW! I hope GH gives Ms. Charleson her due with a heartfelt sendoff to Monica. Daytime is family based. The actors and characters are part of our everyday lives. Time passes and sadly, we must say goodbye. God bless you, Ms. Charleson! And thank you!
You it all, and your so right, growing up as a kid I remember those characters being front and center Monica, Alan, Rick and Lesley. These 4 made GH for years and back then it was so so good, today, GH not the same left it. Bur these actors and actress were it! Love your comments all so true.
RIP to a daytime legend.
While we are not shocked at her passing, we are still incredibly saddened. Always hoped she could return but admired that Frank refused to recast Monica.
Some of my earliest GH memories were when Leslie assumed the role of Monica in 1977. She always commanded a scene – while never eating the scenery.
Together with Stuart Damon, they created what is arguably the second most enduring couple in GH history (behind the juggernaut of Luke & Laura).
I’m confident the show will give Monica the farewell she deserves. If she’s up to it, I hope they ask Denise Alexander to return to solute her rival. And someone will have to escort Monica up the stairs to the great beyond.
Thank you to Leslie for the decades of entertainment. It will always be her house.
She is such a huge part of GH, so many memorable moments. She will be missed!
Why does it always feel like you have lost one of your oldest friends when a soap star dies? Talented actress great performer. Another childhood memory fades into the mist. Godspeed Leslie Charleston.
Thank you for describing what I was feeling but couldn’t articulate. I loved my childhood, coming home from school and the TV would be on and there’d be Monica and the rest of the cast, making daytime history. May this lovely actress rest in peace and her family be comforted.
You have said so very well. Condolences to her family.
So sad to read this. I was first drawn to watching General Hospital based on Leslie Charleson’s character, Dr. Monica Quartermaine, and continued watching for decades. Rest in Peace, beautiful lady.
It’s been a sad and rough couple of years for GH with the loss of many of it’s cast and ex cast members. RIP Leslie, you will be very missed…
I’m very sad. I loved Monica. She was my now-deceased partner’s favorite character. Words can’t explain how I feel.
She was one of my favorites. I will miss her. Leslie was the best. I just saw an old episode of Emergency, and she was real young, I almost didn’t recognize her at first. She will be missed.
I loved watching her and I’m sad. RIP
RIP Ms. Leslie!!!
I am absolutely heartbroken by this news. I have loved Leslie Charleson from her Love is a Many Splendored Thing days to her episodic TV days. I was beyond thrilled when she took of the role of Monica on GH. Be it high drama, romance or comedy, her performance was always flawless. I will miss her forever. I hope she knew how very, very much long time GH viewers loved and admired her. She was the very best of the best. My deepest sympathy to her family and friends.
Thank you Ms Charleson for sharing your amazing talent with all of us. May you rest in peace.
She was a bright light who was able to go to toe with the great actors who played Edward, Lila, Alan and Traci- she stood her ground with these larger than life characters. Before there was a Diane and Sam from Cheers, there was an Alan and Monica fighting bitterly until they ended up on the floor in a passionate wrestling match. Leslie had a smile that lit up a room. She has already been missed but will be missed all the more knowing that light won’t be turned on again.
Awful news to read as I came on the site tonight. I saw Leslie’s picture as the top story on the main page, and my first thought was “Oh good, maybe Monica’s finally returning!” something that so many of us have been hoping for. But I was quickly heartbroken when I saw the headline that Leslie had passed away. Just a terrible loss, another major loss that the GH family has taken in recent years.
Another pillar from the golden history of GH has come down. Another legend and iconic character gone. A very sad day. It will be another sad day on the show when Tracy, Jason, or whomever finds that Monica has passed upstairs in her house that Alan gave to her. She wouldn’t have had it any other way.
RIP Leslie, thanks for all the wonderful performances and decades of entertainment as the legendary Dr, Monica Quartermaine! My condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.
This is just devastating. Like a number of others we’ve lost over the last decade or so (Kathryn Hays and Elizabeth Hubbard come immediately to mind), Leslie Charleson was from that era of soaps when the actors (and their characters) seemed bigger than life and basically indestructible. I know in my brain that they’re all now in that vulnerable age group, and it shouldn’t be a surprise when we get news of their passing, but somehow it is anyway, and I’m absolutely gutted. RIP, Leslie, and thank you for so many memorable moments over the years. You’ll be missed.
R.I.P. A true soap Icon. Monica was no joke back in the day. She made GH must watch TV.
For some reason I knew there’d be some news about GH today. How sad that it was the news of Ms. Charleson’s death. I longed to see her again in “the house that Alan gave her”. Just very sad and my heart goes out to her family and friends and fellow collaborators at GH. She will be missed even more than she already has been.
Monica, like Bobbie should get a decent send off. It will shake up Jason, for sure. I’m sure the hospital will honor her with maybe a park or wing named after her. Great TV family!
Today’s episode was quite pertinent with Tracy and Stella in the Quartermine kitchen over tea and smoothies, chatting about Monica. Knowing that Leslie has passed is beyond sad, though I am glad that she is no longer suffering. I didn’t watch GH in the glory days, for I was a devout ATWT and GL gal, but once they ended, and many of my favorite actors headed over to Port Charles, I followed. Leslie/Monica had a beautiful smile that lit up any room that she was in. RIP
We, as fans, were blessed to have enjoyed Ms. Charleson’s work for up to decades! And I also fondly remember Charleson’s “Pearl Drops” toothpaste commercial!
I was one of those GH fans who found the turmoil of 1977 quite unsettling and upsetting. The show recast the roles of Rick Weber (I loved original Michael Gregory in the role), Diana Taylor (I loved the original Valerie Starrett), and Monica Weber (I loved the original Patsy Rahn). I have never gotten over the firing of Starrett. I always preferred Gregory to Chris Robinson. And as much as I enjoyed Rahn, Leslie Charleson won me over! And her tenure outlasted all the others. She was a joy to watch — always! — whether it was tearjerking storylines, such as breast cancer, or the comedic camaraderie in her love/hate relationship with Alan, and through the affairs with, for example, Rick, Ned, and Damian, the character of Monica was mesmerizing. And the character remained part of the actual “hospital,” which has, from time to time, taken a backseat to other nonsense. The presence of Monica has been missed. As will be Leslie Charleson herself.
A heartfelt “thank you” and “rest in peace” to Leslie Charleson. May her memory be a blessing…
Beautiful lady and wonderful actress. So sad today, kept hoping to see you again on my TV screen. I hope you were not aware of what’s happened to GH, between the crazy writers and PTB letting it all happen. You were one of the best parts of GH and I remember you from Love is A Many Splendored Thing. RIP , you will always be missed.
I HAVE WATCHE GENERAL HOSPITAL FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS I LOVE MONICA QUARTERMAINE SHE WILL BE MISSED VERY MUCH REST IN PEACE MONICA FLY WITH THE ANGELS NOW I WILL MISS YOU SO MUCH !!!!!
I found it interesting that the episode that aired on Monday had some discussion between Tracy and Stella about Monica’s declining health and how Monica holds the Q clan together. Weird that it was the day after she passed. I really hope that GH/Frank V. do her justice and have an episode in her honor.
Breaking News
‘Santa Barbara’ Favorites A Martinez and Marcy Walker, ‘Cruz and Eden’ Reunion Chat, On Demand Replay Available for Half Price (Exclusive)
The love was felt around the world during the Sunday, June 7 livestream conversation featuring enduring Santa Barbara Daytime Emmy winners, A Martinez and Marcy Walker who played Cruz Castillo and Eden Capwell on the iconic NBC soap opera. The popular duo reunited for this special one-day only special event honoring their most memorable of daytime roles.
Santa Barbara was globally a hit, and nothing illustrated that more than having attendees from 20 countries and over four continents participate in and watch the live chat moderated by Melissa Braverman, the author of Santa Barbara: The Complete Story due out this fall.
While many were not able to purchase the initial livestream when the ticket costs were revealed to be $100, A Martinez previously clarified the event was to also raise money for Walker, who is currently facing a very serious health situation, now there is a way to catch the replay at half the price.

Courtesy: MBraverman
HOW YOU CAN STILL CATCH A AND MARCY’S LIVESTREAM
Michael Fairman TV can share exclusively that if you missed the chance to see and listen to what A and Marcy had to say, On demand access is available at the event link for a half price at $50 (guests can contribute up to $100 if they so chose). Like the livestream, 100% of On demand sales for the recording will be available for a limited time only, and also go toward Marcy’s medical expenses.
There was plenty of laughter, tears, and reminiscing through the the two and a half hour chat which included: some memorable footage and images from the love story of Cruz and Eden. At one point, Marcy reflected on the enduring impact and affection for Cruz and Eden. “You hope that whatever you do in this life, that you’ll make an impact of some kind,” expressed Walker. “It doesn’t have to necessarily be wrapped up in success or career or anything like that, but I think we all want desperately to feel like our time here blessed someone. To hear that somebody’s life was even a moment better because of what we did is a massive gift.

Photo: NBC
A AND MARCY’S DESIRE TO WORK TOGETHER AGAIN
In a moment that brought joy to those in attendance, A and Marcy both expressed a sincere hope and desire that one day they can work together again. Martinez explained, “There’s more avenues to pursue now than there have ever been. I would say just keep a good thought for it. I’ve been holding it for decades, and I fully intend to do whatever I can to make it happen. We’re engaged in trying to make it happen. And you know, we’ll see. I know we both want to do it.” Marcy simply nodded and responded “Amen.”
Melissa Braverman shared with Michael Fairman TV, her sentiments on hosting the Santa Barbara favorites. “Seeing A and Marcy together again, even virtually, was an absolute gift. It instantly reminded all of us why we fell so hard for Cruz and Eden in the first place. Their undeniable chemistry leaped off the screen and straight back into our hearts, proving that the magic they created all those years ago hasn’t faded one bit. Sharing in equal parts laughter and tears felt like catching up with old friends. It just meant the world to see them side-by-side again and to see how this incredible fandom showed up for Marcy during such an important time for her.”
So, if you attended the livestream chat with A Martinez and Marcy Walker, what did you enjoy hearing about the most? Now the tickets have dropped to watch the replay On Demand, would you want to check it out? Let us know via the comment section below.
Breaking News
‘Days of Our Lives’ Officially Confirms Ryan Quan Returning as Co-Head Writer Beginning in July
There is definitely a shake-up going down at the writing team at Peacock’s Days of Our Lives. Now, the long-running soap opera has confirmed, what has been previously reported, that current General Hospital breakdown writer, Ryan Quan is heading back to his old stomping grounds in Salem. This time as the series co-head writer.
The appointment of Quan comes with the official news that current co-head writer, Paula Cwikly, who was previously rumored to be departing the series, is not. She is staying with the soap opera and transitioning to a consultant role with the show. Now, Quan will join current co-head writer, Jeanne Marie Ford to steer the ship for the characters on the canvas.
On Wednesday, TV Insider, reported the official confirmation and that Quan will return to DAYS next month in July. In a statement to the outlet, executive producer, Ken Corday expressed, ‘We are lucky to have Ryan back in the fold. There are very few people who have such a deep knowledge and understanding of our show’s history. Stay tuned!”

Photo: JPI
THE FUTURE OF DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Since Days of our Lives unusual production schedule tapes ten-months ahead of air, the new creative team’s vision led by Quan and Jeanne Marie Ford are not expected to stream on Peacock until mid-2027.
Days of Our Lives is currently renewed through its 63rd season. The former NBC soap opera which transitioned to Peacock in September of 2022, celebrate its 60th anniversary in November of 2025.
The writing regime change comes after NBCUniversal Media Chairman Matt Strauss revealed that Peacock is expected to turn a profit for the first time in the current quarter, punctuating their investment with the enduring soap opera on its platform.
As for Quan, his knowledge of Salem is tremendous. Ryan joined Days of Our Lives as a writer’s assistant in 2007 after some time over at Passions. He then spent two decades and held every position on the writing team where he previously served as co-head writer from 2016-17 alongside Dena Higley.
Later, when Ron Carlivati took over as head writer for 7 years in 2017, Quan became his right-hand man and main story consultant for his deep knowledge of the history and the legacy of the show. After Carlivati exited the show in 2024, General Hospital hired Quan in 2025.
So, what do you think about DAYS making it official with Ryan Quan as the new co-head writer of the series alongside Jeanne Marie Ford. What do you think about the fact we won’t see the changes on-screen till 2027? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
Breaking News
ABC Announces ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Texas Spin-Off Gets Straight-to-Series Order
In a surprise move, coming a week after ABC unveiled its 2026-2027 fall television schedule, Grey’s Anatomy is getting a new spinoff co-created by the original series’ creator/executive producer Shonda Rhimes.
The new untitled medical drama will be written and executive produced by Rhimes and Grey’s Anatomy showrunner/executive producer Meg Marinis under the Shondaland and 20th Television umbrella. In addition, long-running ‘Grey’s’ star Ellen Pompeo will also serve as an EP of the spinoff.
The upcoming new series will debut midseason in 2027. This will be the first of Grey’s franchise not set in urban city or West Coast locale. According to Deadline, the new “edgy drama is about a team at a rural West Texas medical center — the last chance for care before miles of nowhere.”

Photo: ABC
In a statement, Marinis shared, “I am incredibly excited to expand the Grey’s Anatomy universe. This opportunity will bring new characters and stories to life that will embody the same heart, emotion and connection audiences have loved from Grey’s for more than two decades — all set in my home state of Texas. I am so grateful to Shonda Rhimes for creating this dynamic world and feel so fortunate that I get to be a part of it.”
A NEW GROUP OF DOCTORS IN RURAL TEXAS
The Texas spinoff will feature a a new group of doctors, but there will be some connection to the OG Grey’s Anatomy and possibly to Debbie Allen’s character of Catherine Fox. The amount of episodes in the series order has not yet been determined. Previous Grey’s Anatomy spinoffs were the defunct Station 19 and Private Practice.
Previously, Grey’s Anatomy was renewed for its upcoming 23rd season while the amount of episodes is unclear. The last two seasons the series produced 18 episodes.
It should also be noted, Grey’s Anatomy and the Texas spinoff would likely share a time period, which requires limited-run orders for both with Grey’s premiering in the fall, followed by the spinoff on the midseason programming block.
So, what do you think about a Texas spinoff of Grey’s Anatomy coming in 2027? Who would you like to see from daytime or primetime as some of the featured roles as new doctors? Put on your casting directors hat and let us know via the comment section below.
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