‘General Hospital,’ ‘Happy Days’ Star Dead at 79
Television star Leslie Charleson, who was best known for her role on General Hospital, has died at 79. General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini announced Charleson’s passing, which was confirmed by Variety and multiple other outlets.
Charleson joined ABC’s hugely popular daytime soap opera in 1977 as the tortured but resilient Monica Quartermaine, who over the years weathered breast cancer, assassination attempts, and the loss of children with an improbable good humor. She won four Daytime Emmys for her performance, and appeared on the show until December 2023, though she never officially departed the series. In recent years, Charleson suffered a series of falls which affected her mobility and prevented her from appearing on the show as much as she once did. Charleson was hospitalized last week after another fall.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” Valentini said in his statement. “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. On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”
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In addition to General Hospital, Charleson held memorable roles in dozens of classic television shows including The Rockford Files, Friends, and Happy Days. On the latter, Charleson played a seductive divorcée who had the distinction of being Richie Cunningham’s (Ron Howard) first kiss in the series.
“I personally knew Leslie. Very well, in fact," Rosemary Rossi wrote for Variety. She was a very good friend to me. No one was more kind, fun-loving, loyal, and generous…There were the things she loved most, such as her horse and General Hospital. She loved the show, and being a part of its legacy. And the fans—she loved them with her whole heart. I hope she knows how much she was loved back,” Rossi concluded, “and how much she will be missed.”