Leslie Charleson’s cause of death has been identified.
According to online documents seen by PEOPLE, the longest-tenured General Hospital cast member died on Wednesday, Feb. 12, from “sequelae of blunt head trauma,” a condition triggered by a previous head injury.
According to online records, the actress, who played Monica Quartermaine on the soap opera, was also diagnosed with asthma, arthritis, atrial fibrillation, and normal pressure hydrocephalus, which the Alzheimer’s Association defines as “a brain disorder in which excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulates in the brain’s ventricles.”
TMZ, which got Charleson’s death certificate, was the first to publish the story.
Charleson’s death occurred one month after the four-time Daytime Emmy nominee died at the age of 79 on January 12. Frank Valentini, executive producer of General Hospital, revealed her death on the show’s official Instagram page at the time.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” he told me. “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,” he talked of. “On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”
Charleson joined General Hospital in 1977, when the show’s ratings were plummeting, replacing Patsy Rahn, who had arrived as Monica Bard Webber (later Monica Quartermaine) the previous year. Monica, a doctor, represented the bad-girl character on the program, and Charleson enjoyed portraying her.
“She’s interesting, dedicated in all areas,” Charleson told Soap Opera Digest in 1981. She may exaggerate her commitment to her social life, but it is genuine. She loves deeply. She works hard, even if it means sacrificing others.”
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At the moment, the actor was pleased with her character’s development. “I’m delighted with the progress she’s made, her sense of humor,” she told me. “As an actress, I enjoy Monica because she can wear any hat, go any place, and do anything.” Regarding her character’s reputation, she remarked, “When everything is going well, you’re boring.” And no one is simply ‘good,’ unless she is a saint.
Monica’s most important connection on the program was with fellow doctor Alan Quartermaine, portrayed by the late Stuart Damon. The Quartermaine family joined the program the same year Charleson did, giving Monica a strong connection to the show.
Charleson began making recurrent appearances on General Hospital in 2010, and her appearances became less frequent in the years leading up to her death.
Looking back on her time at GH, she told Soap Opera Digest in 2001, “I genuinely adore this work. Can you do better work than getting up in the morning, getting dressed, and having someone else take care of your appearance, dress, and speech? How much more appreciative could you be?” Not bad at all.”