Did Leslie Charleson have any children? What we know about ex-husband William Demms as General Hospital star dies at 79

Leslie Charleson, best known for her role as Monica Quartermaine in General Hospital, passed away at the age of 79 on January 12, 2025. She died out of complications from a long illness, reports confirmed.

Executive Producer Frank Valentini shared the news on his Instagram handle on January 13, 2025. He wrote,

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

"On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time." Valentini concluded.

She married G. William Demms, a businessman from 1988 to 1991. However, the couple did not have any children. Here are more details about Leslie Charleson’s husband and her life.

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Exploring more details about Leslie Charleson's life

Leslie Charleson met G. William Demms, also known as Bill Demms, in 1987. After dating briefly, the couple tied the knot on April 1, 1988. They believed in privacy; hence, their marriage was a secret ceremony at the United Church of Christ in Rowayton, Connecticut, as The New York Times reported. Their close family and friends attended the marriage.

The couple shared no children. They eventually divorced in 1991, after nearly three years of their relationship.

As a report in Married Celeb stated, Demms was a wealthy and successful businessman in America. Another report said he was a graduate of the University of Connecticut and the Lowry Institute in Chicago.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Demms of Darien, he also served as the president of Basketfulls and More, a gift company in Los Angeles, reported by The New York Times.

Leslie Ann Charleson was born on February 22, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri, and belonged to a simple working-class family. According to the reports, she graduated from the Low-Heywood Thomas School and Bennett Junior College.

She rose to fame as Monica Quartermaine in the ABC soap General Hospital in 1977. She appeared in over 2000 series episodes, adding up to five decades, according to her IMDb page.

Before General Hospital, Charleson appeared on the NBC soap A Flame in the Wind in 1964. She later joined the cast of As the World Turns in 1966. She portrayed the character of Iris Donnelly in Love Is a Many Splendored Thing until 1970, stated a report in People magazine.

Speaking about her 50-year-long career in the General Hospital, she shared her experience with the Digital Journal in 2019:

“I only signed on for two years, and I don't know what happened. I like her spunk, independence and everything about her. Back then, there weren't a lot of good female roles that had that. It was an amazing time, and it was strong material to act."

She went on to appear in several series between the 1960s and early 1970s, including shows like As the World Turns and N.Y.P.D. The Rookies and Marcus Welby, M.D. In 2004, she was seen in an episode of Friends where she competed against Joey.

Her last appearance was in General Hospital in December 2023.