(NEXSTAR) – Former “General Hospital” actress Leslie Charleson’s death last month was the result of “sequelae of blunt head trauma,” according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Charleson, 79, had died on Jan. 12, 2025.
The medical examiner’s website did not indicate when Charleson may have suffered the head trauma. (“Sequelae” indicates a condition that was caused by a previous injury or trauma.) One of Charleson’s prior conditions was also listed as “normal pressure hydrocephalus,” a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain that can cause difficulties with walking or reasoning, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Traumatic brain injuries, meanwhile, can cause any number of complications or conditions, including long-term neurological disorders, dementia or brain death, per the NINDS.
It’s unclear how Charleson suffered the “blunt head trauma.” Upon her death, Variety had reported Charleson had been hospitalized following a recent fall, and after a series of “health ups and downs over the past few years.”
The medical examiner further noted that Charleson had a history of asthma, arthritis and atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat).
Charleson’s passing was announced in January by “General Hospital” producer Frank Valentini, who called her a “dear friend and colleague.” The actress played the character of Dr. Monica Quartermaine on the show from 1977 to 2023.
“Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on @GeneralHospital alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaine family, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew,” Valentini said. “I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set.”
In addition to “General Hospital,” Charleson’s credits include “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing,” “Adam-12,” “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Port Charles” and “Friends.” She also appeared on an episode of “Happy Days,” playing Richie Cunningham’s love interest, later claiming that she was Ron Howard’s first on-screen kiss.
