Kelly Monaco, a beloved actress who has graced the screens of “General Hospital” for over two decades, is bidding farewell to the iconic ABC soap opera. Monaco, known for her portrayal of Sam McCall since 2003, will be making her final appearance in Port Charles this fall as part of the storyline.
Monaco’s journey on “General Hospital” began in 2003, following her work on the spinoff series “Port Charles” where she played the character Livvie Locke from 2000 to 2003. Sam McCall was introduced as a con artist looking to change her family’s fortunes. She is the biological daughter of mob boss Julian Jerome and attorney Alexis Davis, as well as the adoptive daughter of Cody McCall and Evelyn Bass.
Having filmed over 2,200 episodes of the show, Monaco’s dedication to her role earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2006. In August 2020, the actress was temporarily replaced by Lindsay Hartley, who took on the role of Sam. However, Monaco returned to reclaim her character in February 2020 and made subsequent appearances earlier this year.
Monaco’s exit coincides with the return of several “General Hospital” veterans, such as Jonathan Jackson reprising his role as Lucky Spencer and Rick Hearst returning as Ric Lansing. Additionally, Emma Samms is set to make a comeback as Holly Sutton in early September, aligning her storyline with Jackson’s return.
The news of Monaco’s departure was first reported by Soap Opera Network, signaling a significant shift in the dynamic of the long-running soap opera. Fans of the show will undoubtedly miss Monaco’s presence as Sam McCall, but the upcoming storyline developments promise to keep viewers engaged and entertained.
