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

Ms. Charleson played Dr. Monica Quartermaine, a cardiologist and family matriarch, on the daytime series for 46 years.

Leslie Charleson, who starred as Dr. Monica Quartermaine on the soap opera “General Hospital” for nearly 50 years, has died at the age of 79. Frank Valentini, who is an executive producer for “General Hospital,” announced Charleson’s death in a post on social media. According to USA Today, Charleson died of complications from a long illness.