Kelly Monaco Shocked by Decision

Port Charles is about to say goodbye to one of its longtime residents, and this departure is far from amicable.

As initially reported by Soap Opera Network, Kelly Monaco’s tenure as Sam McCall on ABC’s “General Hospital” is set to come to a shocking end. Monaco’s character will be killed off the long-running series this fall, and this death is advertised as permanent. This will mark the end of Monaco’s 21-year presence on the show.

ABC has not officially commented on the decision, but TVLine has confirmed that Monaco will depart the series later this year. The departure appears to be particularly contentious. According to reports from Soap Opera Network, Monaco was “blindsided” by the decision made by the show’s writers. It was not a decision Monaco was involved in, making the news even more unexpected.

The decision to write off Sam is indeed surprising, as the character has been a mainstay on “General Hospital” since her debut in 2003. Sam was initially introduced as a con artist but evolved into one of the show’s most beloved characters. Her relationship with Jason Morgan remains one of the show’s most iconic and cherished romances, even though they did not end up together. More recently, her storyline involved a relationship with Dante Falconeri.

As with most soap operas, Sam’s family connections have grown significantly over the years. Introduced as a standalone character, it was revealed three years later that Sam was the long-lost daughter of attorney Alexis Davis. This revelation gave her two half-sisters, Kristina Davis-Corinthos and Molly Lansing. In 2013, it was further uncovered that mob boss Julian Jerome was her biological father, linking her to more complex family relationships. Lucas Jones and Leo Quartermaine were revealed as her half-brothers, and Ava Jerome became her aunt.

Throughout her time on “General Hospital,” Kelly Monaco’s portrayal of Sam earned significant accolades. She was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the 2006 Daytime Emmys. Additionally, her role on the show led to her participation in the inaugural season of “Dancing with the Stars,” which she won.

With 21 years on the show and appearances in over 2,200 episodes, Monaco emerges as one of the most veteran performers on the series. This long-standing tenure makes her sudden exit particularly surprising.

The exact airdate for Monaco’s final episode has yet to be revealed, but it is expected to air this fall.

Source: Soap Opera Network, TVLine