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Leslie Charleson

American actress (1945–2025)

Summary

American actress (1945–2025)

FieldValue
nameLeslie Charleson
imageLeslie Charleson 1967.JPG
captionCharleson in 1967
birth_nameLeslie Ann Charleson
birth_date
birth_placeKansas City, Missouri, U.S.
death_date
death_placeLos Angeles, California, U.S.
occupationActress
years_active1964–2025
spouse

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.

Life and career

Charleson was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 22, 1945. 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.

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.

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. For her role, Charleson received four Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nominations: in 1980, 1982, 1983 and 1995. 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. Charleson was the longest-serving cast member of General Hospital.

Death

Charleson died in Los Angeles on January 12, 2025, at the age of 79. 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. 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.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1968A Lovely Way to DieJulieCrime neo noir directed by David Lowell Rich
Uncreditedurl=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/82075/a-lovely-way-to-die#creditsaccess-date=April 19, 2016work=Turner Classic Moviestitle=A Lovely Way to Dieurl-status=deadarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206130432/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/82075/A-Lovely-Way-To-Die/full-credits.htmlarchive-date=February 6, 2020}}
1973The Day of the DolphinMaryanneScience fiction thriller film directed by Mike Nichols
Based on novel of the same name by Robert Merle
1977Cheering SectionLocker Girl #2Comedy film co-written and directed by Harry Kerwin
2006The Return of the MuskratsWaitressShort film directed & written by Andrew Mudge

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1964A Flame in the WindPamRecurring rolelast=Mastersfirst=Lizurl=https://danjkroll.com/blog/editorial/in-memoriam-a-tribute-to-leslie-charleson/title=In memoriam: A tribute to Leslie Charlesonwork=DanJKroll.comdate=January 13, 2025access-date=January 17, 2025archive-date=January 17, 2025archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117171833/https://danjkroll.com/blog/editorial/in-memoriam-a-tribute-to-leslie-charleson/url-status=live}}
1966As the World Turns Alice WhippleSeries regular
1967N.Y.P.D.GingerEpisode: "Cruise to Oblivion"last=first=url=https://ctva.biz/US/Crime/NYPD_01_(1967-68).htmtitle=N.Y.P.D.: CRUISE TO OBLIVIONwork=The Classic TV Archivedate=access-date=January 24, 2025archive-date=December 8, 2023archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208164848/https://ctva.biz/US/Crime/NYPD_01_(1967-68).htmurl-status=live}}
1968The Wild Wild WestDooley SloanEpisode: "The Night of Fire and Brimstone"last=first=url=https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/TheWildWildWestS4E9TheNightOfFireAndBrimstonetitle=Recap / The Wild Wild West S4E9 "The Night of Fire and Brimstone"work=TVTropesdate=access-date=January 24, 2025archive-date=February 16, 2021archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216182920/https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/TheWildWildWestS4E9TheNightOfFireAndBrimstoneurl-status=live}}
1967–1970Love Is a Many Splendored ThingIris Donnelly GarrisonSeries regular
1970MannixMarge LavorEpisode 16: "A Chance at the Roses"last=first=url=https://www.ultimate70s.com/actor/-/Mannix/28title=1970-1982 Episode Guide for 'Mannix':A Chance at the Roseswork=Ultimate70s.comdate=access-date=January 24, 2025archive-date=January 14, 2024archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114110232/https://www.ultimate70s.com/actor/-/Mannix/28url-status=live}}
1971Revenge!Nancy GroverMade-for-TV movie (ABC) directed by Jud Taylorurl=https://www.soapcentral.com/theactors/charleson_leslie.phptitle=Leslie Charlesonmagazine=Soap Centrallaccess-date=February 7, 2025archive-date=January 25, 2025archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125173526/https://www.soapcentral.com/theactors/charleson_leslie.phpurl-status=live}}
1972Adam-12Kathy RoyalEpisode: "The Princess and the Pig"
O'Hara, U.S. TreasuryHelga KuyperEpisode: "Operation: Deathwatch"
Marcus Welby, M.D.Lisa KennyEpisode: "Just a Little Courage"
SearchNancy KubicaEpisode: "Live Men Tell Tales"date=February 3, 2025url=https://filmdope.com/Statics/A00003000/ActorCredit3042.htmltitle=Leslie Charlesonwork=Film Dopeaccess-date=February 7, 2025via=filmdope.comarchive-date=February 7, 2025archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207145935/https://filmdope.com/Statics/A00003000/ActorCredit3042.htmlurl-status=live}}
The RookiesAnne DawsonEpisode: "The Good Die Young"last=first=url=https://www.ultimate70s.com/actor/Leslie_Charleson/-/-title=1970-1982 TV show guest appearances for Leslie Charlesonwork=Ultimate70s.comdate=access-date=February 7, 2025archive-date=April 29, 2023archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429111959/https://www.ultimate70s.com/actor/Leslie_Charleson/-/-url-status=live}}
Emergency!Christy ToddEpisode: "Women"
CannonKatherine 'Kate' MachenEpisode: "Sky Above, Death Below"
Medical CenterPattiEpisode: "Gladiator"
1973IronsideNicky JamesonEpisode: "A Special Person"
The F.B.I.Ginny WyattEpisode: "The Loper Gambit"
Marcus Welby, M.D.Alice HenleyEpisode: "The Circles of Shame"
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Edie NolanEpisode: "They've Got to Blame Somebody"
1974Another AprilApril Weston MossPilot episode
CannonJoan StevensEpisode: "The Sounds of Silence"
The Streets of San FranciscoJoanna Randolph ReedEpisode: "Death and the Favored Few"
1975Kung FuAmy StarbuckEpisode: "One Step to Darkness"
Happy DaysMrs. Dorothy KimberEpisode: "Get a Job"
CaribeClaire GruneEpisode: "Murder in Paradise"
Guess Who's Coming to DinnerJoanna PrentissPilot episode
Medical StorySusan StewartEpisode: "The God Syndrome"
CannonSusan BaylorEpisode: "The Man Who Died Twice"
Barnaby JonesVictoria NorrisEpisode: "Honeymoon with Death"
1976The Streets of San FranciscoDonna SinclairEpisode: "Underground"first=Jonnalynlast=Cortezdate=January 13, 2025url=https://epicstream.com/article/top-10-iconic-leslie-charleson-tv-rolestitle=Leslie Charleson: 10 Unforgettable TV Appearanceswork=Epicstreamaccess-date=February 7, 2025via=epicstream.comarchive-date=February 7, 2025archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207170008/https://epicstream.com/article/top-10-iconic-leslie-charleson-tv-rolesurl-status=live}}
Most WantedLee HerrickPilot episode
Bert D'Angelo/Superstar GailEpisode: "A Concerned Citizen"
Baa Baa Black SheepCaptain Anne SchaefferEpisode: "Love and War"
1977McMillan & WifeGinny LindauerEpisode: "Coffee, Tea, or Cyanide?"
The Rockford Files Patsy FosslerEpisodes: "To Protect and Serve: Part 1" and "To Protect and Serve: Part 2"
1977–2023General HospitalMonica QuartermaineSeries 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)
1993Woman on the LedgeRachelMade-for-TV movie (NBC) directed by Chris Thomson
1997Diagnosis: MurderHerselfEpisode: "Physician, Murder Thyself"
1997–2000Port CharlesMonica QuartermaineRecurring role
2001Dharma & GregKatherineEpisode: "Dharma Does Dallas"
2004FriendsHerselfEpisode: "The One Where the Stripper Cries"
2008General Hospital: Night ShiftMonica QuartermaineEpisodes: "Truth and Consequences" and "Past and Presence: Part 2"

References

References

  1. (June 8, 2015). "Leslie Charleson".
  2. "Leslie Charleson 411 - Soap Opera Digest".
  3. Schemering, Christopher. (1987). "The Soap Opera Encyclopedia". Ballantine.
  4. Goldberg, Lee. (2001). "Unsold Television Pilots Vol. 1: 1955–1976". [[iUniverse]].
  5. (2012). "Encyclopedia of the Sixties: A Decade of Culture and Counterculture". [[Greenwood Publishing Group.
  6. "Leslie Charleson dropped to recurring status". [[SoapCentral]].
  7. (2010-08-24). "Leslie Charleson taken off contract at GH!". [[Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps]].
  8. Brounstein, Diane. (August 17, 2022). "Paging Dr. Q: Leslie Charleson Celebrates 45 GH Years!".
  9. (January 13, 2025). "Leslie Charleson, ''General Hospital'' Actress, Dies at 79". [[The New York Times]].
  10. (January 12, 2025). "Leslie Charleson, Monica Quartermaine on ''General Hospital'', Dies at 79". [[A360media]].
  11. (January 12, 2025). "Leslie Charleson, Longest-Tenured ''General Hospital'' Cast Member, Dies at 79". [[Dotdash Meredith]].
  12. (January 12, 2025). "Leslie Charleson, ''General Hospital'' Icon Known as Monica Quartermaine, Dies at 79". [[Penske Media Corporation]].
  13. (February 13, 2025). "''General Hospital'' Star Leslie Charleson's Cause of Death Revealed 1 Month After She Died at 79". [[Dotdash Meredith]].
  14. "A Lovely Way to Die". [[Turner Classic Movies]].
  15. Canby, Vincent. (July 13, 1968). "Film: Another Kind of Detective Story". [[The New York Times Company]].
  16. Merle, Robert. (1977). "The Day of the Dolphin". [[Fawcett Publications]].
  17. Siskel, Gene. (December 21, 1973). "Film with a porpoise: Detente with dolphins...". [[Tribune Publishing]].
  18. Smith, Cecil. (March 29, 1974). "The Script and the Role Are His". Los Angeles Times Communications LLC.
  19. Crowther, Linnea. (January 13, 2025). "Leslie Charleson (1945–2025), General Hospital star". [[Legacy.com]].
  20. Novak, Kim. (January 13, 2025). "Leslie Charleson has died aged 79". VT.
  21. Masters, Liz. (January 13, 2025). "In memoriam: A tribute to Leslie Charleson". DanJKroll.com.
  22. "N.Y.P.D.: CRUISE TO OBLIVION". The Classic TV Archive.
  23. "Recap / The Wild Wild West S4E9 "The Night of Fire and Brimstone"". TVTropes.
  24. "1970-1982 Episode Guide for 'Mannix':A Chance at the Roses". Ultimate70s.com.
  25. "Leslie Charleson".
  26. Orrymain, M. "Adam-12: The Princess and the Pig". ReviewStream.
  27. "O'Hara United States Treasury Completed 1971 — 1972 Cast & Crew". Kinorium.
  28. "Prime-time network TV listings for Tuesday July 11, 1972". Ultimate '70's.
  29. (February 3, 2025). "Leslie Charleson". Film Dope.
  30. "1970-1982 TV show guest appearances for Leslie Charleson". Ultimate70s.com.
  31. "Kate Machen". TVMAZE.
  32. "Another April (Brief Synopsis)". Turner Classic Movies.
  33. "Medical Story - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide.
  34. Cortez, Jonnalyn. (January 13, 2025). "Leslie Charleson: 10 Unforgettable TV Appearances". Epicstream.
  35. Wright, Tracy. (January 12, 2025). "Leslie Charleson, 'General Hospital' star, dead at 79". [[Fox Corporation]].
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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