'General Hospital' star Leslie Charleson's cause of death revealed one month after actress died at 79

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: General Hospital' actress Leslie Charleson, who played Monica Quartermaine on the show, died last month at the age of 79; her cause of death has finally been made public.

According to online records obtained by People, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner determined on Wednesday, February 12, that Charleson died from "sequelae of blunt head trauma," a condition spurred by a previous head injury.

Leslie Charleson's series of 'health ups and downs' before death

Leslie Charleson's cause of death was announced one month after the four-time Daytime Emmy nominee died on January 12 at the age of 79.

The cause of Charleson's "blunt head trauma" is undisclosed. According to Variety, Charleson was hospitalized after a recent fall and a string of "health ups and downs over the past few years" before her death.

According to the online documents, the actress was also diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, asthma, arthritis, and normal pressure hydrocephalus, which the Alzheimer's Association describes as "a brain disorder in which excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulates in the brain's ventricles."

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke describes "normal pressure hydrocephalus," a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain that can cause problems with walking or reasoning, as one of Charleson's previous ailments.

Moreover, traumatic brain injuries might result in a variety of problems or illnesses, such as dementia, long-term neurological disorders, or even brain death.

According to The Mirror, Charleson was sent to the hospital following a fall, a week before her death, however, it's unclear if this had anything to do with her death.

The TV personality's health problems began in 2017 when she collapsed while out for a stroll with her dog. She missed two months at 'General Hospital' due to an injury to her leg.

Patty McCormack took her place while she was absent from the show. 'General Hospital' officials declared in October 2023 that Charleson was unlikely to return, and her last performance was shown in December 2023.

Leslie Charleson's death announced by 'General Hospital' producer Frank Valentini

Frank Valentini, the executive producer of 'General Hospital' at the time, shared an announcement on the show's official Instagram about her death.

"It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson," Valentini shared.

"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," he added.

Valentini further wrote: "I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set. On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time."

Charleson's best-known role was as Monica Quartermaine in the popular US soap opera, where she starred in an astounding 2,079 episodes over almost 50 years, per The US Sun.

Charleson began making recurrent appearances on 'General Hospital' in 2010 and then reduced the frequency of her appearances in the final years of her life.

The veteran actress surprisingly appeared as a guest star on an episode of the wildly popular sitcom 'Friends' in February 2004.

Charleson's condition deteriorated significantly in recent years, and the Kansas City native has not been on the ABC serial opera since December 2023.

Despite her absence, her beloved character Monica was still acknowledged on the show; she was described as being upstairs in the mansion.