View gallery
Image Credit: WireImage
Leslie Charleson, whom most recognized as Monica Quartermaine from General Hospital, died on January 12, 2025. She was 79 years old. Though her official cause of death has not been determined yet, she died after living with a health issue, according to Variety. Leslie’s friend, General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini, confirmed her death in a public statement.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” Valentini wrote on social media. “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.”
Learn more about Charleson, her career and her death below.
(Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Leslie Charleson’s Movies & TV Shows
In addition to General Hospital, Charleson held a role in As the World Turns. She also guest starred in a wide array of TV shows, including N.Y.P.D., The Rookies, The Streets of San Francisco, Happy Days, The Rockford Files and Friends.
During the early 1970s, the Kansas City, Missouri, native appeared in a few movies, including The Day of the Dolphin and Cheering Section.
While playing Monica in General Hospital, Charleson once opened up about her character’s breast cancer battle. Though it was “incredibly difficult work” for the actress to portray, Charleson called the experience “incredibly fulfilling” to connect with viewers who were struggling with the same illness.
“Dealing with a real-life issue that afflicts so many women and their families and being able to show the struggle and issues they face, was something I am so proud of,” Charleson told FBJ Fit in November 2020. “It was exhausting and incredibly difficult work, but the response to the storyline was truly humbling. I would attend Susan G. Komen for the Cure fundraiser events and, each time, women would approach me and share their own experiences. I also felt the show did a great service showing how her husband, Alan, and the rest of Monica’s family and friends dealt with her battle. It was an important story and knowing that any part of my performance helped viewers was just so gratifying.”
Leslie Charleson’s Cause of Death
An official cause of death for Charleson has not been determined. However, Variety reported that she died following a “long illness.” It’s still unclear what illness Charleson lived with. Additionally, the outlet reported that Charleson “suffered several falls” over the past few years, which hindered her mobility. She eventually required a walker and was hospitalized about a week before her death, according to Variety.
Was Leslie Charleson Married?
Charleson was married to her ex-husband, G. William “Bill” Demms, from 1988 to 1991. Demms was a businessman, and he married Charleson in a private wedding ceremony, according to The New York Times.
Did Leslie Charleson Have Kids?
It’s unclear of Charleson had any children in her life, but she did not share any with her ex-husband.
