General Hospital star Leslie Charleson dies as cast mourn 'beloved matriarch'

General Hospital star Leslie Charleson has died at 79, a heartfelt Instagram post from Executive Producer Frank Valentini revealed on Sunday (Image: Getty)

The longest serving cast member of US medical drama General Hospital, Leslie Charleson, has passed away at the age of 79.

Best known for playing the Quartermaine family's "matriarch" Monica in the show for almost 50 years, her passing this weekend has left a huge hole in the hearts of friends, family and fans alike.

Announcing the news on Sunday, a sombre post on the official General Hospital Instagram account relayed the heartfelt tribute from the show’s Executive Producer Frank Valentini: "It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson," he penned.

"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."

He elaborated, "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."

Fans and also cast mates on General Hospital raved about Charleson's sense of humour (Image: Getty Images)

The post saw a signature simply reading his name.

The community of General Hospital viewers expressed their grief and offered condolences, as evidenced by a flood of prayer emojis and mournful comments on the post shared at @generalhospitalabc shortly before 6:30 p. m on Sunday, reports the MirrorUS.

Heartbroken responses were apparent; one follower exhaled an anguished, "Oh gosh noooo,” while another inscribed, "My Sincere Condolences to everyone at GH. She was an iconic character and leaves an amazing body of work. ”.

Fans are mourning the tragic loss of a soap legend, as heartfelt tributes flood in with many saying, "wow! So sad! May she rest in peace."

Overwhelmed with emotions and accompanied by flowers and tearful emojis, the comments section lights up. Some bid a simple but poignant farewell: "Goodbye Monica."

The news of her passing hit hard, reaching over 10,000 likes within a mere half hour, though the cause was not disclosed.

Still, Leslie Charleson had faced health challenges for years.

Monica has been a staple of General Hospital since the 1970s, and Charleson's death has hit the show's loyal fans hard (Image: ABC via Getty Images)

Resilient till December 2023, Charleson graced our screens as Monica. Her role scaled back to recurring status in 2010 sparked uproar from devoted fans.

Her ordeal began with a leg injury after a fall in 2017, leading to a brief hiatus filled by Patty McCormack. A later fall called for another temp replacement.

By last October, amidst ongoing health troubles, it looked unlikely she would return, yet Monica's presence in the show lingered, always 'upstairs' in the mansion.

Despite needing a walker due to injuries, Charleson's spirit remained unbreakable—until her last fall led to hospitalization and an untimely demise.

A familiar face on General Hospital, Charleson joined the ABC soap opera in 1977. Hailing from Kansas City, the soap star kick-started her career on daytime television in 1964 with a role in the ABC soap opera A Flame in the Wind.

She later appeared on CBS's Love Is A Many Splendored Thing. Charleson also had roles on The Rockford Files, The Wild West, The Streets of San Francisco, Marcus Welby, M.D., Mannix, Ironside and Happy Days.

Charleson acted in other soaps as well, including Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (Image: Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

She featured in the film The Day of the Dolphin in 1973, and made guest appearances years later on Dharma and Greg, Diagnosis: Murder, Friends, before starring in another film, Woman on the Ledge, in 1993. Monica was embroiled in one of daytime television's most popular love triangles, involving her character and Rick and Alan, other characters on the popular soap opera.

Charleson was celebrated for bringing humour to her character, often seen slapping people, and drama, having lost three of her children and been shot multiple times. Her character also battled and survived breast cancer.

Over the years, she received four Daytime Emmy nominations for outstanding lead actress and remained a regular fixture of the soap for over 30 years. Charleson's fans are already feeling her absence.