American actress Leslie Charleson has had a rich and promising television career. With a career spanning six decades, Charleson is one of Hollywood’s oldest actors. Although she has starred in several popular TV shows, Leslie Charleson is most recognized for her role on General Hospital.
On the ABC daytime soap opera, Charleson plays the matriarch of the Quartermaine family, Monica Quartermaine. Charleson was recast in 1977 and has played the character ever since. As of 2024, Leslie Charleson is the longest-running cast member on General Hospital, having been on the show for 47 years. Here’s everything to know about Leslie Charleson, the Monica Quartermaine actress on General Hospital.
Leslie Charleson Is The Older Sister Of The Late Actress Kate Charleson
Although not a familiar name to today’s film and television audiences, Kate Charleson starred in several movies and TV shows in the 1980s. She was famous for her roles in Terms of Endearment (1983), Dreamscape (1984), and My First Love (1988). Kate was born on January 7, 1953, about eight years after her older sister, Leslie Charleson. Unfortunately, Kate Charleson died by suicide on October 12, 1996, at age 43.
Leslie Charleson Made Her Acting Debut In 1964
The short-lived ABC Daytime soap opera A Flame in the Wind kickstarted the careers of several notable actors, including Leslie Charleson. In A Flame in the Wind, Charleson was introduced in a recurring role as Pam. However, the soap opera initially struggled ratings, mostly because of the timeslot it was aired in. Although changes were made (soap opera name and character), it only aired for about two years, from December 28, 1964, to December 16, 1966.
She Did A TV commercial For Pearl Drops Toothpaste In The 1970s
With an early blossoming career, Leslie Charleson appeared in several TV commercials for Pearl Drops toothpaste. The commercials were famous for their ending. Charleson, right after swishing her tongue over her lips, would remark, “It’s a great feeling!” While a cross-section of the public thought it a bit sensual in nature, it was popular for being catchy and ingenious.
Leslie Charleson Has Only A Few Film Credits
Although famous for her work on television, Leslie Charleson has starred in a few other movies. She made her film debut in 1968 in an uncredited role. Charleson was cast as Julie in Kirk Douglas-led crime neo-noir movie A Lovely Way to Die. Five years later, she starred as Maryanne in George C. Scott’s science fiction thriller The Day of the Dolphin. Besides a cameo appearance as a second locker girl in the 1977 movie Cheering Section, Leslie Charleson hasn’t starred in a feature film in the last 47 years.
She Was Once Married
Not much of Leslie Charleson’s personal life has been made available for public knowledge. However, she was once married to a wealthy businessman, G. William Demms. The couple married on April 1, 1988, and stayed together for about three years. The couple finalized their divorce in 1991. There is no indication that the marriage produced a child or that Leslie Charleson ever had any biological child. Since the divorce, the actress has never remarried. Both Charleson and Demms lived a quiet life away from the public. There isn’t any information on Demms’ life after the couple split.
Other TV Shows Leslie Charleson Has Starred In
General Hospital may be Leslie Charleson’s biggest project of her career, but she has also starred in a few other notable TV shows. In 1966, Charleson joined the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, a sister show to Guiding Light. Charleson played the character of Alice Whipple for a single year. The following year, Charleson was part of the lead cast in the CBS daytime soap opera Love Is a Many Splendored Thing.
Charleson was cast as Iris Donnelly Garrison, a series regular who exited the show in 1970. Leslie Charleson also reprised her role as Monica Quartermaine in the General Hospital spin-off soap opera Port Charles. She also played the character in two episodes of another General Hospital spin-off, General Hospital: Night Shift. If you enjoyed reading about General Hospital’s longest-running cast member, Leslie Charleson, check out the 5 longest-running cast members on The Young and the Restless.
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