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A post shared by Wally Kurth (@wallykurth)

wallykurth
Oh Lord… this is a tough one. Leslie Charleson was my castmate for 34 years. Leslie… was just cool. Never let anything bother her on the set… no drama. I don’t think I ever heard her raise her voice. But she was no push over her either. Acting is a blood sport.. but not for Leslie. Lester, as I sometimes called her, was a dear, sweet soul who for the last few years experienced physical challenges that would have made any person sour. But I never heard her complain. She was tough but vulnerable. A beautiful soul. I loved hearing Leslie laugh. She had a hearty laugh. Stuart knew exactly what to say to get her going…. Thank you Leslie for your friendship… your talent…and for sharing your soul with me and all your fans. #riplesliecharleson #lesliecharleson #bekind #bekindtoyourself #choosejoy @generalhospitalabc

Remember this from June 2019:
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A post shared by Jackie Zeman (@jacklyn.zeman)

jacklyn.zeman
Lovely lunch with my @generalhospitalabc Pals. #StuartDamon @kinshriner #LeslieCharleson @wallykurth Oh what a treat!

It's just incredible to me that DAYS and GH have suffered so many, heavy losses in recent times.  It truly feels like the end of an era for both shows.

41 minutes ago, Khan said:

It's just incredible to me that DAYS and GH have suffered so many, heavy losses in recent times.  It truly feels like the end of an era for both shows.

A part of me thinks it is a sign that some shows aren't meant to last forever, but then I wonder if this is how many felt when John Beradino and Emily McLaughlin passed.

I can't believe it's been almost two years since Jackie Zeman passed.

Edited January 15Jan 15 by DRW50

Hard hit. I just think of those 2 words.

I just found 29 photos of Leslie on Tumblr. Here are just a few. 

One of my favorite Monica stories was her affair with Sean (when he was still shady) and together they swindled the family money away from them. It lead to the  Q family living above Kelly’s, and eventually Lila’s pickle relish recipe. It was highly entertaining, and Leslie got to play sexy, vengeful, and then also show her regrets and guilt about helping Sean.

Even in that scene with Lesley Webber, it’s heightened but neither of them are over the top. Monica comes across as vicious, but not histrionic like a modern version would be played.

I know as a longtime viewer of the show I will miss Monica’s often cynical and sarcastic point of view.

Edited January 15Jan 15 by titan1978

I think it’s ridiculous when fans demand actors share their thoughts and condolences about fellow actors they’re close with on a personal level (these people are obviously grieving the losses like any normal person would). A few years ago, Leslie spoke about being close with Jane Elliott and how they knew each other before GH when they were working actors in NYC. 

My thoughts are definitely with the people who worked with Leslie for so long.

 

I truly do not understand this newish thing where fans demand that actors share their grief. It's lunacy. It's rude. It makes no sense. 

28 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

I think it’s ridiculous when fans demand actors share their thoughts and condolences about fellow actors they’re close with on a personal level

I agree. I like to see them when they are posted, but it’s not my place to demand how anybody grieves. The tributes are lovely to see here (especially those on Twitter since I personally will not support Musk), but we should have zero expectations or demands.

Those in LA are also in a unique experience because the fires are still very real and ever changing. I lived through a wildfire that took out entire blocks less than a mile from my house, and was even closer to where I worked. We were in the be ready to leave at a moments notice alert for over a week. It was exhausting living on high alert and fearful. This fire has been so much worse!

Celebrities owe us nothing unless they choose to share it. Chronically online people really do need to detox from their devices. 

 

GH Daily Drama podcast with Steve Burton & Bradford Anderson, a Tribute to Leslie Charleson, and it's a podcast they did with her 5 years ago. They give this great introduction, which she acknowledges & then she slightly alters her tone & says, "Now, go to your room." Yes, I'm gonna love this. 

Edited January 15Jan 15 by Contessa Donatella
wrong url

On 1/14/2025 at 5:19 PM, Planet Soap said:

I don't get it. Why so much contempt from one of the best families in daytime? The Q characters  had range. Drama, comedy and topical issues. Not to mention their stories having a family mixed with doctors and businessmen opens the possibilities for a range of soap stories. 

Overall Leslie was great as Monica. Growing up on 2000s GH I assumed she was just a regular soap matriarch...just one of several fading characters like Bobbie & Tony that used to have alot to do. 

I had no idea she was this gritty female lead that had several affairs and did so much great material like the cancer story.

I’m in the exact same boat as you in regards to your last sentence. It’s wild to hear about her back when she and Alan were front burner.

1 hour ago, Antoyne said:

I’m in the exact same boat as you in regards to your last sentence. It’s wild to hear about her back when she and Alan were front burner.

The blessing is that a lot of that stuff is now on YT. And Leslie was great at it. The stuff with Gail and her past, etc. and then the big quad in '79/'80. The really raw stuff, like when she drove Jeff to shoot himself in the head or something(?), isn't there but you can find her gaslighting/blackmailing Lesley and cozying up to teen Laura in early '78 I believe, with the first Rick still in the role.

I have been revisiting the cancer story from '95, which I watched live as a kid and it's still very good.

Edited January 16Jan 16 by Vee

8 hours ago, Contessa Donatella said:

 

GH Daily Drama podcast with Steve Burton & Bradford Anderson, a Tribute to Leslie Charleson, and it's a podcast they did with her 5 years ago. They give this great introduction, which she acknowledges & then she slightly alters her tone & says, "Now, go to your room." Yes, I'm gonna love this. 

In this she talks about Tom Donovan. For starters he was at LIAMST. Then he went to GH & talked her into auditioning for Monica. Then, things got hairy & he had quit GH & moved on! So, when she needed him, at GH, he was long gone. The way she tells it, it's pretty funny. 

Oh, yeah, she joins the legions of actors to describe the truly awful working conditions at GH BITD. 

Interesting factoid: Her family gave her 3 months to find a job in her chosen profession, which was acting. She barely made the deadline.

 

Edited January 16Jan 16 by Contessa Donatella
more more more

21 hours ago, Antoyne said:

I’m in the exact same boat as you in regards to your last sentence. It’s wild to hear about her back when she and Alan were front burner.

Absolutely. Its like THIS WOMAN did THAT?

20 hours ago, Vee said:

The blessing is that a lot of that stuff is now on YT. And Leslie was great at it. The stuff with Gail and her past, etc. and then the big quad in '79/'80. The really raw stuff, like when she drove Jeff to shoot himself in the head or something(?), isn't there but you can find her gaslighting/blackmailing Lesley and cozying up to teen Laura in early '78 I believe, with the first Rick still in the role.

I have been revisiting the cancer story from '95, which I watched live as a kid and it's still very good.

YouTube has been a gift and a curse for me. On the one hand it has showed me the golden age of soaps that I would never get to see. On the other, it's pretty much ruined modern soaps for me because you realize how piss poor our current state is.

Edited January 16Jan 16 by Planet Soap