Charleson died of complications from a long illness, said ABC News, which broadcasts the long-running soap opera. “General Hospital” executive producer Frank Valentini announced the star’s death.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” Valentini wrote on X and the “General Hospital” Instagram account. “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. On behalf of everyone at ‘General Hospital,’ my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”

Her exact cause of death was not made public, but Variety noted Charleson had fallen several times in recent years, hindering her mobility and forcing her to use a walker. She had been hospitalized last week after one such fall, Variety reported.

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Charleson had held the role of Monica Quartermaine since joining “General Hospital” in 1977. She appeared in 2,079 episodes through 2023, according to IMDB. Switched to “recurring” status in 2010 over fan objections, she made fewer appearances on the soap but was still a regular until her last appearance in December 2023.

Born Feb. 22, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri, Charleson caught the acting bug at an early age, according to Soap Opera Digest. In 1964, at 19, she appeared in her first soap “A Flame in the Wind,” then appeared as Alice Whipple on “As The World Turns,” followed by a three-year stint on CBS’s “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing” from 1967-70.

Charleson was subsequently cast in 1973’s “The Day of the Dolphin” by Oscar-winning director Mike Nichols. Then she tried her hand at Broadway, appearing in “One Night Stand” with Tony Curtis and William Devane, but when it closed after a short run, she headed for Hollywood.

For the next several years Charleson guest-starred on more than 20 household-name television shows, including “The Rockford Files,” “The Streets of San Francisco,” “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Mannix,” “Ironside,” “Adam-12” and “Emergency!” On “Happy Days,” Charleson’s divorced Dorothy Kimber gave actor-director Ron Howard (as Richie Cunningham) his first on-screen kiss, Variety noted.

But the soaps came knocking again, and she was cast as Monica Quartermaine — a role she would play for the next 45-plus years. Charleson shepherded her most famous character through marriages, children, breast cancer and a host of other fictional major life events, earning four Daytime Emmy best lead actress nominations as she went.

In later years she appeared on “Friends” in 2004 and on “Dharma & Greg” in 2001.

Matusz played college baseball at the University of San Diego and was the No. 4 pick in the 2008 MLB draft, one spot ahead of potential Hall of Famer Buster Posey.

He debuted in the big leagues the following year and made 68 starts over in 279 games. His lone appearance with another club came in 2016 when he made an emergency start for the Chicago Cubs in his final pro game. Though he only lasted three innings in that game, as even a brief member of a World Series-winning squad, he received a championship ring.

He retired from baseball in 2019.

“Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole, Brian Matusz,” the team said in a statement.

“A staple in our clubhouse from 2009-2016, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unmatched. He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he could, was a cherished teammate, and always had a smile on his face. Brian’s family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”

Matusz, who settled as a reliever, had great success against Red Sox Hall of Famer slugger David Ortiz, who hit a meager 4-for-29 (.138) with 13 strikeouts against the Orioles’ lefty hurler.

Matusz was born in Grand Junction, Colo., and played high school baseball at St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix where he developed into a sought-after prospect. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 2005 but decided to attend the University of San Diego where he stood out and became a top prospect.

He would have turned 38 on Feb. 11.

“It’s been a blessing to be a part of such a great organization, such a great city, to kind of see the ballclub and the city thrive,” Matusz told The Baltimore Sun in 2019. “To be able to be a part of the 2012, 2014 postseason and pitch in the playoffs and be able to contribute really was special. Good memories and great friendships that were made. Those were some great moments in my life personally and in my playing career that I’ll never forget.”