Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
Kelly Monaco, who has played Sam McCall since 2003, General Hospital and developed into one of the show’s most popular stars, is parting ways with the ABC soap opera. The news was first reported by SoapOperaNews.net.
A show representative could not be reached for comment. General Hospital is taking a break from production this week. Setside sources report Digest that Monaco’s elimination is dictated by the plot.
While the actress has had to be replaced several times in recent years by experienced soap star Lindsay Hartley, who aired just last week, Digest has also learned that Hartley will not be named as a permanent replacement.
A few lives in Port Charles
Monaco first rose to fame when she was cast on GH’s sister show, Port Charles, as Kevin Collins’ surprise daughter Livvie Locke, a role she played from 2000 to 2003. In PC, she was most memorably paired with Michael Easton’s Caleb Morley. When PC was canceled, the actress was immediately signed up by GH to play a con artist who followed Jax to Port Charles.
Monaco recalled how she got into the show on the occasion of her 20th anniversary in 2023 and told Digest“I probably got an offer from every network within 30 minutes of hearing that (PC) was being cancelled. I was spoiled for choice. Frank Valentini (GH’s executive producer, who was then EP of A life to live) was probably the most aggressive one who sought me out and called me personally, and I also met with All my childrenI think for the role of Babe. CBS and NBC were also there. But I was a die-hard General Hospital Fan. That was my dream. I thought to myself: ‘Generally hospital absolutely!’ So I was thrilled when (then ABC Daytime president) Brian Frons said they would create a role for me.”
After her introduction, Sam soon caught the eye of Sonny Corinthos and became pregnant. Although their daughter Lila did not survive, the pregnancy shaped Sam’s future as it captivated Jason Morgan – who claimed to be the baby’s father in order to protect Sonny and Carly’s relationship. Sam and Jason, known to their followers as “JaSam”, became one of GH’s defining love stories of the early 2000s. Sam’s on-screen importance was further cemented when it was revealed in 2006 that she was the firstborn daughter of Alexis Davis, who had given her up for adoption (in 2013, Sam met her biological father, Julian Jerome). In addition to her mega-popular love affair with Jason, Sam has also had successful pairings with Jason’s twin brother Drew and her current partner Dante Falconeri and has two children, Danny (with Jason) and Scout (with Drew).
As Monaco celebrated her 20th anniversary on the show, she mused: Digest“It’s incredible to me that I’ve been a part of ABC for over twenty years and I’ve been a part of GH for twenty years. I was in my early 20s when I started! GH is such an iconic show and I consider it my second home. Every day when I drive to the lot I feel so honored to be a part of it.”
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