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Leslie Charleson played Dr. Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital for nearly five decades, and the show’s executive producer, Frank Valentini, confirmed her passing on January 12 with a touching post. Frank did not disclose the cause of the late actress’s death; however, she reportedly battled an illness and was even hospitalized long before the tragic incident. The news broke on Instagram, with the General Hospital's official page sharing a portrait photo of Leslie wearing a huge smile with the caption, “Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew…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,” Frank wrote. Remembering Leslie Charleson of ‘General Hospital’ GENERAL HOSPITAL, from left: Leslie Charleson, Stuart Damon, (1991), 1963- , ph: Craig Sjodin/©ABC /Courtesy Everett Collection In addition to her ailing health, Leslie also suffered several bad falls, including one that happened while she was walking her dog and her most recent one that hospitalized her a week ago. Leslie shared no children with her ex-husband Bill Demms, who she was with for less than three years. Her late sibling Kate Charleson was also a successful actress with credits in productions like Terms Of Endearment, Dreamscape, and Riptide. Kate died much earlier, in 1996, after committing suicide. Fans react to the news of ‘General Hospital’ star’s death GENERAL HOSPITAL, David Lewis, Stuart Damon, Anna Lee, Leslie Charleson, 1963-. photo: Craig Sjodin / © ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collection Fans of General Hospital, particularly those who loved Leslie’s character, Dr. Monica Quartermaine, took to social media to pay their heartfelt tribute to Leslie. Producer Frank’s post received thousands of likes and comments, joining him to reflect on Leslie’s legacy and her sudden passing. “Such sad news. RIP Leslie, and thanks for our beloved Monica Quartermaine!” someone exclaimed, while another called her a truly special cast member on the long-running series. “RIP to one of the greatest actresses on GH! Monica was one of my favorite characters, full of fire & sass!” a second user gushed, noting that Leslie will be missed but remembered. GENERAL HOSPITAL, Robin Christopher, Leslie Charleson, John Ingle, (aired week of Jan. 7, 2008), 1963-. photo: Adam Larkey/ © ABC / courtesy: Everett Collection Frank’s tribute also brought nostalgia to some older fans of General Hospital, as one person recalled seeing Leslie on their grandmother’s television, proving her relevance across generations. “Leslie helped build the foundation of the 'glory years'” of the early 80s. She'll be missed,” one of the many comments stated. When Leslie was taken off her contracts and demoted to a recurring act more than a decade ago, fans fought for her, believing she deserved better treatment than the network was giving to her. How long did Leslie Charleson play Dr. Monica Quarterman? Leslie appeared in over 2000 episodes of General Hospital and reprised her role in the spinoff Port Charles. She joined the show in 1977, replacing Patsy Ralph, who was initially meant to play Dr. Monica Quarterman. Leslie recalled going into her first day at work on the day Elvis Presley died and, realizing that the people around did not like her because Patsy was dismissed in a rude manner. The late icon grew to love her role and even earned four Daytime Emmy Awards nominations for Outstanding Actress. GENERAL HOSPITAL, Leslie Charleson, Stuart Damon, (1992)/Everett Aside from General Hospital, where she still holds the record as the longest-serving cast member, Leslie made appearances in films like Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, The Wild Wild West, Mannix, Adam-12, Emergency!, Happy Days and The Streets of San Francisco. Years back, Leslie was unable to return to General Hospital due to health concerns, and Patty McCormick had to cover for her. Despite Leslie’s absence in the series, General Hospital’s writers have yet to kill off her character, as Monica continues to get referenced in the storylines. More specifically, Dr. Monica is supposedly upstairs at the Quartermaines’ mansion when it is necessary to spill.