Longtime 'General Hospital' cast member Leslie Charleson dies at 79: NPR
Leslie Charlson as Dr. Monica Quartermaine general hospital. Pictured above is a photo of her taken in 1982.
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ABC Photo Archives/Disney Universal Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Leslie Charleson plays cardiologist Monica Quartermaine on the ABC daytime drama general hospital Nearly fifty years old, died on Sunday. ABC confirmed Charlesson's death in a statement to NPR.
“Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years general hospital Alone, just as Monica is the heart of the Quartermaine family, Leslie is the beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew,” wrote general hospital Executive Producer Frank Valentini. “I will miss our daily chats, her wit and incredible presence on set.”
although general hospital Charlesson is America's longest-running scripted show and one of its longest-tenured actors. Charlesson was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1945 and entered show business at a young age. Her first gig? Filming car commercials with her mother, who was involved in show business.
“All I had to do was pretend to be asleep in the back seat,” Charlesson recalled in an interview. interview new york talk show offer something. “I just remember my mom turning around, smiling and saying, 'Leslie, if you don't close your eyes, you'll never see 8 again. Do it now.'”
As he grew older, so did Charlesson's acting ambitions. In the 1960s and 1970s, she starred in films such as flames in the wind (later called our time), As the world turns and Love is such a beautiful thing Before playing the role of Monica general hospital.
During 2022 appearance Speaking on actor Maurice Benard's podcast, Charleson said her first day on set coincided with the death of Elvis Presley. “I remember when I first drove to the studio, tears were streaming down my cheeks,” she said.
Additionally, Charlesson told Benard that she was initially unwelcome on set because another actress playing Monica was “unceremoniously fired” and her hiring as a replacement didn't go well. However, Charlesson gives a solid performance as Monica Quartermaine, a keen cardiologist whose personal life is filled with marriages, divorces, heartbreaks and extramarital affairs.
In the 1990s, her character was diagnosed with breast cancer. in 1994 interview and Los Angeles TimesCharlesson said she came up with the cancer storyline because she felt the show had a responsibility to tackle serious topics. throughout her time general hospitalCharlesson was nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She has also appeared in films such as dama and greg and friends.
In a statement to NPR, close friends and entertainment journalists Rosemary Rossi Describe Charlesson as warm and sincere. “Her arms and heart were always open. Everyone who was around her felt that,” she said. “Yes, she was a soap opera icon and she left that legacy. But her real legacy is the people she touched along the way. God knows, there were a lot of people.”