Leslie Charleson, the soap-opera legend who played Monica Quartermaine on 'General Hospital' starting in the 1970s, died Sunday. She was 79.

Leslie Charleson, who played Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital for nearly 50 years, has died. She was 79. Charleson’s death was announced Sunday on the Instagram account of the ABC daytime drama series. The announcement was attributed to General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini.

She was the longest-running cast member on the ABC soap, having taken over the role of Monica Quartermaine in 1977. Golden Bachelor's Gerry Turner cancer diagnosis, Melissa Gorga's cookie venture & The Voice's finale Share Watch on