General Hospital stars remember Leslie Charleson as Port Charles bids Monica farewell

Break out the Kleenex for two hours of General Hospital that will have you crying buckets as Port Charles says goodbye to Dr. Monica Bard Quartermaine. To honor the legendary actress who brought Monica to life for nearly 50 years, GH stars have paid tribute to their co-star in a new video.

The video is interspersed with vintage scenes, as well as a preview of Monica's memorial to air on September 25th and 26th.

Monica's General Hospital legacy

Monica was a fixture in Port Charles | Image: ABC

In April, GH honored Charleson and the character of Monica Quartermaine with a new cardiac care wing at the hospital she loved so much. Characters gathered together for the dedication as actors expressed what Monica and Charleson's legacy meant to the 62-year-old soap.

"I think that she was a pillar of that hospital and I love that they dedicated that cardiac wing to her," Genie Francis (Laura Collins) said. "I think they've done a beautiful job with this. I could grow to like it... She is like a Dr. Hardy or a Jessie Brewer. These people ARE General Hospital. They made General Hospital."

John J. York (Mac Scorpio) echoed those sentiments, saying, "She is just the blood running through the veins of General Hospital."

Kristina Wagner (Felicia Scorpio) thought the cardiac wing was fitting, considering the mark Monica made on Port Charles.

"I love that they're doing the heart wing for her," she said. "They gave Bobbie the diner, so it's really sweet that they made that her legacy."

Remembering the iconic actress

Monica will be honored on screen | Image: ABC

GH stars spoke of Charleson and Monica as part of the show's lifeblood, but didn't just remember the fictional character. They also had fond memories of the actress who brought her to life.

"The one thing I remember about Leslie is she was an awful lot of fun...and the way that Monica and Tracy would disagree," Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) smiled.

Wally Kurth (Ned Ashton) recalled one of Monica's biggest stories, and how much Charleson loved playing her.

"She loved being a doctor and a chief of staff at General Hospital," he said. "She wasn't always given the big dramatic stuff, but the breast cancer storyline was really moving."

Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) concurred, saying, "As she lived through her real life, she lived through her character on this show as a formidable woman."