This Daytime Emmy nominee was an ABC soap opera favorite for nearly half a century.
He began his career with minor roles in shows such as As The World Turns (1966) and A Flame in the Wind (1964).
Her popularity skyrocketed when her love triangle with David Birney and Donna Mills had her fans fanning themselves on the CBS soap opera Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1967-1970).
He eventually accumulated more than 40 credits to his name.
But her career would reach new heights when she replaced beloved Patsy Rahn on the soap opera General Hospital.
Can you guess who she is?
This ABC soap opera star has starred on a daily favorite for 47 years and was nominated four times for a Daytime Emmy Award.
Her career would reach new heights when she replaced beloved Patsy Rahn on the soap opera General Hospital.
It’s Leslie Charleson!
The 79-year-old, known for playing the role of Dr. Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital for 47 years, looked completely different at a lunch with friends recently.
In photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, she is shown hunched over her walker, even needing help to safely get off the sidewalk and onto the street.
Quartermaine’s character was known for having strawberry blonde hair, but in this outing he looked white with a tint of his usual golden blonde.
The soap opera veteran dined at Atwater Village in suburban Los Angeles. He stayed on this rare outing for approximately an hour while enjoying a large glass of white wine before returning home.
Charleson has not been seen on General Hospital since December 2023, when she starred in a scene alongside Jane Elliot and Michael Easy, after being away from the show for almost two years.
His co-star Steve Burtonwho is her on-screen son Jason, briefly spoke about her absence on her Daily Drama podcast on May 23.
She answered viewers’ questions about when her on-screen mother would have future scenes on the show.
Leslie Charleson, 79, known for her role on General Hospital as the morally dubious Dr. Monica Quartermaine, was unrecognizable during a luncheon.
She was photographed hunched over her walker and eating dinner at Atwater Village for an hour.
Charleson has not been seen on General Hospital since December 2023 when she starred in a scene alongside Jane Elliot and Michael Easy, after being away from the show for almost two years.
The most notable case of injury or health that took Charleson out of the spotlight was on April 17, 2018, when General Hospital posted on Twitter that the actress had been injured while walking her dog.
‘She’s getting better. She is better.
‘I’m not going to say anything, just to be respectful to her, because I love her a lot.
“Hopefully she’ll come back and have some scenes with mom.”
The soap has kept Charleson’s absence a secret, but her fans have speculated that she is suffering from health issues which have been backed up by Burton’s recent vague statement.
The most notable case of injury or health that took Charleson out of the spotlight was on April 17, 2018, when General Hospital posted on unknown stating that the actress had been injured while walking her dog.
‘Leslie Charleson’s beloved dog, Riley Rose, was too eager for her morning walk and tripped Leslie, injuring her leg.
‘Unfortunately, it will need to be replaced in already written programs.
‘She sends him all her love and will be back as soon as he recovers. We wish him a speedy recovery and all the best.”
He end In Charleson’s scene last December, Monica returns home to deal with Finn’s negligence case. Finn heads to Monica’s office after being subpoenaed and pleads his case about what led to the lawsuit.
Monica agrees to stay with Finn, regardless of his actions.
amateurs They were delighted with Charleson’s reappearance and wrote under the reposted scene on Instagram that it was great to see the actress on screen again.
Leslie Charleson (Monica) and John Ingle (Edward) in a scene that aired the week of December 7, 2009.
Leslie Charleson during ABC’s General Hospital Fan Day at Sportsman’s Lodge in Studio City, California in 2002
To explain her absence, the show often comes up with excuses such as her character Monica being away for a conference or recovering from short illnesses.
The last mentions of Monica came due to Jason’s return. When Jason was arrested, he was given a note from her mother who seemed to bring tears to her eyes in real life.
Although he hasn’t been on the show since December, Wikipedia still lists her as an active cast member.
It was later said that Monica was recovering from an illness and asked Jason to take her place at Chase and Brook Lynn’s wedding.
Monica’s run on General Hospital has continued since 1976, when she moved to Port Charles with her fictional husband Jeff Webber. Their marriage seems perfect, but in reality Monica married him on the rebound after being deeply in love with her brother Rick, who was presumed dead in Africa.
The show gets even racier after the couple has their own issues and Rick is revealed to be alive, before their marriage collapses a year later.
Monica is known for going to great lengths to get her way, constantly interfering in Rick’s relationship with Lesley Faulkner during the beginning of her appearance.
A tumultuous relationship with Dr. Alan Quartermaine (center), affairs, surviving murder attempts, paternity issues, the death of four of her children, breast cancer, and being fired from General Hospital are just a few of the plot lines. who followed his character.
Charleson has been in 2,061 episodes, according to IMDB
Monica is known for going to great lengths to get her way, constantly interfering in Rick’s relationship with Lesley Faulkner during the beginning of her appearance.
A tumultuous relationship with Dr. Alan Quartermaine, multiple affairs, surviving murder attempts, paternity issues, the deaths of four of her on-screen children, breast cancer, and being fired from General Hospital are just a few of the plot lines that He followed his character.
Meanwhile, in real life, Charleson has maintained a mostly private life. marry businessman Bill Demms in 1988, although they would only divorce three years later.
She never had children, but instead focused on her career.
General Hospital has been broadcast since 1963, with 62 seasons and 15,600 episodes under its belt.
Charleson has been in 2,061 episodes, according to IMDB.