‘General Hospital’ star Leslie Charleson’s cause of death revealed
Leslie Charleson, best known for her recurring role on “General Hospital,” died of blunt head trauma, it has been revealed — one month after her tragic death.
The Daytime Emmy-nominated actress, who portrayed Dr. Monica Quartermaine on the soap opera for nearly 50 years, died on Jan. 12. She was 79.
Charleson died from “sequelae of blunt head trauma” following a head injury she suffered long before her death, according to documents obtained by TMZ.
While it’s unknown when she suffered the injury, the soap star had multiple falls in recent years that prompted her to quit her onscreen career.
The LA County medical examiner also noted that Charleson had a history of asthma, arthritis, atrial fibrillation, and normal pressure hydrocephalus — a condition that causes cerebrospinal fluid to build up in the brain, the outlet adds.
Her death was announced last month on the ABC soap opera’s official Instagram account. Executive producer Frank Valentini confirmed the news in a statement.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” Valentini wrote on Instagram.
“Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on General Hospital alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew. I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set.”
“On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time,” he added.
Charleson landed her part in the hit ABC drama in 1977 and racked up more than 2,000 episodes during her time on the show. She eventually became the series’ longest-tenured cast member.
The actress reprised her “General Hospital” role later in “General Hospital: Night Shift” and “Port Charles.”
Before landing her big break, the actress launched her acting career in the 1960s with small roles in “As The World Turns” and “A Flame in the Wind.”
She later appeared in more than 1,400 episodes of “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing” — where she played Iris Donnelly Garrison.
During her stint on the show, she caught the eye of Ron Howard and starred as Mrs. Dorothy Kimber in an episode of “Happy Days.”
After making a name for herself in the soap world, Charlseson even appeared as a guest star on “Friends,” in an episode titled “The One Where the Stripper Cries.”
In the episode, Charleson appeared as herself as she went up against Joey Tribbinani on “Pyramid.”
