Leslie Charleson
Leslie Charleson | |
|---|---|
Charleson in 1967 | |
| Born | Leslie Ann Charleson February 22, 1945 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | January 12, 2025 (aged 79) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1964–2025 |
| Spouse |
Bill Demms
(m. 1988; div. 1991) |
Leslie Ann Charleson (February 22, 1945 – January 12, 2025) was an American actress, best known for her role as Monica Quartermaine on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital.[1]
Life and career
Charleson was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 22, 1945.[1][2][3] Actress Kate Charleson was her sister. Her career began on short-lived ABC daytime soap opera A Flame in the Wind in 1964. In 1966 she joined the cast of As the World Turns. In 1968, she played the role of a doctor's daughter in The Wild Wild West in the episode "The Night of Fire and Brimstone". From 1967 to 1970, she starred on the CBS soap opera Love Is a Many Splendored Thing.[2] She played the role of Iris Donnelly Garrison. Her character was a part of a highly popular love triangle with David Birney and Donna Mills.[4]
Charleson guest-starred on many series from 1970 to 1977, including Adam-12; Emergency!; Ironside; Mannix; Marcus Welby, M.D.; Happy Days; Cannon; The Streets of San Francisco; and The Rockford Files. She had a supporting role in the 1973 science-fiction film The Day of the Dolphin and co-starred opposite Shelley Winters in the television thriller Revenge! (1971). Charleson also had leading roles in a number of unsuccessful television pilots, most notable 1975 sitcom pilot Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.[5][6]
On August 16, 1977, Charleson returned to daytime television with the role of Monica Quartermaine in the ABC soap opera General Hospital. Fred Silverman, then president of ABC, asked her to join the series, which at that time was near the bottom of the ratings and near cancellation.[4]: 117 For her role, Charleson received four Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nominations: in 1980, 1982, 1983 and 1995.[2] During her General Hospital years, Charleson starred alongside Deidre Hall and Colleen Zenk in the 1993 made-for-television movie Woman on the Ledge.[7] She also guest-starred on sitcoms Dharma & Greg in 2001 and Friends in 2004. On August 24, 2010, it was announced that Charleson was being demoted to recurring status.[8][9] Charleson was the longest-serving cast member of General Hospital.[10]
Death
Charleson died in Los Angeles on January 12, 2025, at the age of 79.[1][11][12] According to Variety, she had experienced "several falls", which caused problems with her mobility, and had been hospitalized from one of them the week before her death.[13] Her death certificate, publicly reported in February 2025, concluded that the immediate cause of death was sequelae of blunt head trauma, which was the result of a previous head injury.[14]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | A Lovely Way to Die | Julie | Crime neo noir directed by David Lowell Rich Uncredited |
[15][16] |
| 1973 | The Day of the Dolphin | Maryanne | Science fiction thriller film directed by Mike Nichols Based on novel of the same name by Robert Merle |
[17][18][19] |
| 1977 | Cheering Section | Locker Girl #2 | Comedy film co-written and directed by Harry Kerwin | [20] |
| 2006 | The Return of the Muskrats | Waitress | Short film directed & written by Andrew Mudge | [21] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | A Flame in the Wind | Pam | Recurring role | [22] |
| 1966 | As the World Turns | Alice Whipple | Series regular | [22] |
| 1967 | N.Y.P.D. | Ginger | Episode: "Cruise to Oblivion" | [23] |
| 1968 | The Wild Wild West | Dooley Sloan | Episode: "The Night of Fire and Brimstone" | [24][25] |
| 1967–1970 | Love Is a Many Splendored Thing | Iris Donnelly Garrison | Series regular | [22][25] |
| 1970 | Mannix | Marge Lavor | Episode 16: "A Chance at the Roses" | [26] |
| 1971 | Revenge! | Nancy Grover | Made-for-TV movie (ABC) directed by Jud Taylor | [27] |
| 1972 | Adam-12 | Kathy Royal | Episode: "The Princess and the Pig" | [28] |
| O'Hara, U.S. Treasury | Helga Kuyper | Episode: "Operation: Deathwatch" | [29] | |
| Marcus Welby, M.D. | Lisa Kenny | Episode: "Just a Little Courage" | [30] | |
| Search | Nancy Kubica | Episode: "Live Men Tell Tales" | [31] | |
| The Rookies | Anne Dawson | Episode: "The Good Die Young" | [32] | |
| Emergency! | Christy Todd | Episode: "Women" | [25][31] | |
| Cannon | Katherine 'Kate' Machen | Episode: "Sky Above, Death Below" | [33] | |
| Medical Center | Patti | Episode: "Gladiator" | [32] | |
| 1973 | Ironside | Nicky Jameson | Episode: "A Special Person" | [31] |
| The F.B.I. | Ginny Wyatt | Episode: "The Loper Gambit" | [31] | |
| Marcus Welby, M.D. | Alice Henley | Episode: "The Circles of Shame" | [31] | |
| Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law | Edie Nolan | Episode: "They've Got to Blame Somebody" | [32] | |
| 1974 | Another April | April Weston Moss | Pilot episode | [34] |
| Cannon | Joan Stevens | Episode: "The Sounds of Silence" | [32] | |
| The Streets of San Francisco | Joanna Randolph Reed | Episode: "Death and the Favored Few" | [25][32] | |
| 1975 | Kung Fu | Amy Starbuck | Episode: "One Step to Darkness" | [31][25] |
| Happy Days | Mrs. Dorothy Kimber | Episode: "Get a Job" | [32] | |
| Caribe | Claire Grune | Episode: "Murder in Paradise" | [32] | |
| Guess Who's Coming to Dinner | Joanna Prentiss | Pilot episode | [22] | |
| Medical Story | Susan Stewart | Episode: "The God Syndrome" | [35] | |
| Cannon | Susan Baylor | Episode: "The Man Who Died Twice" | [32] | |
| Barnaby Jones | Victoria Norris | Episode: "Honeymoon with Death" | [32] | |
| 1976 | The Streets of San Francisco | Donna Sinclair | Episode: "Underground" | [25] |
| Most Wanted | Lee Herrick | Pilot episode | [27] | |
| Bert D'Angelo/Superstar | Gail | Episode: "A Concerned Citizen" | [32] | |
| Baa Baa Black Sheep | Captain Anne Schaeffer | Episode: "Love and War" | [22] | |
| 1977 | McMillan & Wife | Ginny Lindauer | Episode: "Coffee, Tea, or Cyanide?" | [25][32] |
| The Rockford Files | Patsy Fossler | Episodes: "To Protect and Serve: Part 1" and "To Protect and Serve: Part 2" | [25][32] | |
| 1977–2023 | General Hospital | Monica Quartermaine | Series regular (1977–2010), recurring cast (2010–2023) Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (1980, 1982–83, 1995) Nominated — Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama (1986, 1988, 1990) Nominated — Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress (1993) |
[1] |
| 1993 | Woman on the Ledge | Rachel | Made-for-TV movie (NBC) directed by Chris Thomson | [27] |
| 1997 | Diagnosis: Murder | Herself | Episode: "Physician, Murder Thyself" | [25] |
| 1997–2000 | Port Charles | Monica Quartermaine | Recurring role | [1] |
| 2001 | Dharma & Greg | Katherine | Episode: "Dharma Does Dallas" | [25] |
| 2004 | Friends | Herself | Episode: "The One Where the Stripper Cries" | [25] |
| 2008 | General Hospital: Night Shift | Monica Quartermaine | Episodes: "Truth and Consequences" and "Past and Presence: Part 2" | [36] |
References
- ^ a b c d e Diaz, Johnny (January 13, 2025). "Leslie Charleson, General Hospital Actress, Dies at 79". The New York Times. United States. ISSN 1553-8095. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on January 13, 2025. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Leslie Charleson". June 8, 2015.
- ^ "Leslie Charleson 411 - Soap Opera Digest". Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ a b Schemering, Christopher (1987). The Soap Opera Encyclopedia. New York: Ballantine. p. 150. ISBN 9780345324597.
- ^ Goldberg, Lee (2001). Unsold Television Pilots Vol. 1: 1955–1976. Lincoln, Nebraska: iUniverse. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-595-19429-2.
- ^ Baugess, James S.; DeBolt, Abbe Allen, eds. (2012). Encyclopedia of the Sixties: A Decade of Culture and Counterculture. Vol. 1. Santa Barbara, California: Greenwood. p. 274. ISBN 978-0-313-32944-9.
- ^ Scott, Tony (March 15, 1993). "Nbc Monday Night at the Movies Woman on the Ledge".
- ^ "Leslie Charleson dropped to recurring status". SoapCentral. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ "Leslie Charleson taken off contract at GH!". Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps. 2010-08-24. Archived from the original on 2016-04-23. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
- ^ Brounstein, Diane (August 17, 2022). "Paging Dr. Q: Leslie Charleson Celebrates 45 GH Years!". Soap Hub.
- ^ Levinsky, Mara; Brounstein, Diane (January 12, 2025). "Leslie Charleson, Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital, Dies at 79". Soap Opera Digest. United States: A360media. ISSN 0164-3584. Archived from the original on January 13, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
- ^ Edel, Victoria (January 12, 2025). "Leslie Charleson, Longest-Tenured General Hospital Cast Member, Dies at 79". People. United States: Dotdash Meredith. ISSN 0093-7673. OCLC 794712888. Archived from the original on January 13, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
- ^ Rossi, Rosemary (January 12, 2025). "Leslie Charleson, General Hospital Icon Known as Monica Quartermaine, Dies at 79". Variety. United States: Penske Media Corporation. ISSN 0042-2738. OCLC 60626328. Archived from the original on January 13, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
- ^ Wenger, Stephanie (February 13, 2025). "General Hospital Star Leslie Charleson's Cause of Death Revealed 1 Month After She Died at 79". People. United States: Dotdash Meredith. ISSN 0093-7673. OCLC 794712888. Archived from the original on February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
- ^ "A Lovely Way to Die". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (July 13, 1968). "Film: Another Kind of Detective Story". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. p. 18. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ Merle, Robert (1977) [1969]. The Day of the Dolphin (Hardcover). Greenwich, Connecticut: Fawcett Publications. ISBN 978-0449232408. Alt URL
- ^ Siskel, Gene (December 21, 1973). "Film with a porpoise: Detente with dolphins..." Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. p. Section II, pg. 1. ISSN 1085-6706. OCLC 7960243. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Smith, Cecil (March 29, 1974). "The Script and the Role Are His". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times Communications LLC. p. Section IV, page 25. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Crowther, Linnea (January 13, 2025). "Leslie Charleson (1945–2025), General Hospital star". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2025. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ Novak, Kim (January 13, 2025). "Leslie Charleson has died aged 79". VT. Retrieved February 7, 2025 – via vt.co.
- ^ a b c d e Masters, Liz (January 13, 2025). "In memoriam: A tribute to Leslie Charleson". DanJKroll.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
- ^ "N.Y.P.D.: CRUISE TO OBLIVION". The Classic TV Archive. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "Recap / The Wild Wild West S4E9 "The Night of Fire and Brimstone"". TVTropes. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Cortez, Jonnalyn (January 13, 2025). "Leslie Charleson: 10 Unforgettable TV Appearances". Epicstream. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025 – via epicstream.com.
- ^ "1970-1982 Episode Guide for 'Mannix':A Chance at the Roses". Ultimate70s.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Leslie Charleson". Soap Centrall. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- ^ Orrymain, M. "Adam-12: The Princess and the Pig". ReviewStream. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025 – via reviewstream.com.
- ^ "O'Hara United States Treasury Completed 1971 — 1972 Cast & Crew". Kinorium. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025 – via kinorium.com.
- ^ "Prime-time network TV listings for Tuesday July 11, 1972". Ultimate '70's. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025 – via ultimate70s.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "Leslie Charleson". Film Dope. February 3, 2025. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025 – via filmdope.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "1970-1982 TV show guest appearances for Leslie Charleson". Ultimate70s.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- ^ "Kate Machen". TVMAZE. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025 – via tvmaze.com.
- ^ "Another April (Brief Synopsis)". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2025 – via tcm.com.
- ^ "Medical Story - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025 – via tvguide.com.
- ^ Wright, Tracy (January 12, 2025). "Leslie Charleson, 'General Hospital' star, dead at 79". Fox News. Fox Corporation. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.