Heartbreking news for GH fans: The Doctor Is Out – Leslie Charleson Leslie Charleson leave GH forever
We suppose we were sort of prepared for this news, given how infrequently Leslie Charleson has appeared on General Hospital in recent years.
Still, it feels crummy to be typing the words “It is unlikely that she will ever again return to the show.”
The veteran actress won the role of the future Monica Quartermaine back in 1977 (when the daytime drama recast Patsy Rahn, much to her co-stars’ chagrin).
And for decades, the alum of A Flame in the Wind and As the World Turns resided on the frontburner as the mercurial doctor dealt with everything from breast cancer to husband Alan’s infidelity.
As years went by, health concerns began to slow Charleson’s roll. In 2018, for instance, she tripped over her dog and injured her leg (necessitating that a temp be hired to pinch-hit as Monica).
A year later, she underwent surgery on her hand to repair “a fracture that I got rescuing my tortoise off of a hillside,” she Facebook’d.
Charleson made her last General Hospital appearance over the holidays in 2023. Her character has been mentioned often since then but has not turned up to exchange barbs with sister-in-law Tracy.
Now, though Closer Weekly reports that the actress is “doing her best to recover” from her injuries, “it’s harder for her to get around at her age.
[She’s] doing OK under the circumstances” — and at least getting out and about and seeing friends.
But “although she’d be welcomed back to the show with open arms,” the site’s source added, “it’s unlikely she’ll ever return.”
Her Last General Hospital Appearance
Leslie Charleson joined General Hospital as a recast Monica Quartermaine. She missed several episodes in 2018 after an incident with her dog.
The official GH social media team tweeted that Charleson’s dog tripped her during a morning walk, injuring her leg. However, she recovered from that and returned to the show.
Leslie Charleson was the longest-running GH cast member but fans haven’t seen her on-screen since December 2023. Will they ever see Monica again?
Steve Burton, who plays Monica’s son, Jason, remained hopeful a few months ago that his TV mom would return to the show someday. Never say never, but it seems extremely unlikely at this point.
A source close to the actress told Closer that her health problems would likely prevent her from returning to the show. “Although she’d be welcome back to the show with open arms, it’s unlikely she’ll ever return,” the source said. But the actress is “seeing friends and staying social,” despite her poor health.
In Monica’s absence, Tracy has taken on the role of the Quartermaine family matriarch. But many fans feel the show isn’t the same without Monica and actress Leslie Charleson. Hopefully she’s healthy enough to return to the show, even for just one last appearance to say goodbye to longtime viewers.