Leslie Ann Charleson, best known for playing Dr. Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital for nearly five decades, died on January 12, 2025, at age 79 facebook.com+15Legacy+15wunc.org+15. She appeared in over 2,000 episodes between 1977 and 2023, making her one of daytime television’s most enduring pillars decider.com+1thesun.co.uk+1.

One month after her passing, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled her death accidental, caused by sequelae of blunt head trauma—long-term complications from a fall, exacerbated by normal pressure hydrocephalus and mobility issues near the end of her life iheart.com+3E! Online+3decider.com+3. Frank Valentini, Executive Producer of General Hospital, paid tribute to her as a “beloved matriarch” of cast and crew iheart.com+6valleynewslive.com+6thesun.co.uk+6.

Throughout her 47-year run, Charleson earned four Daytime Emmy nominations and won multiple awards for Outstanding Lead Actress. Monica Quartermaine wasn’t just a character—she was a cultural anchor who made viewers feel at home, year after year. Her legacy is the countless hours of joy and emotion she brought to daytime television.