After portraying the role of Sam McCall on ABC’s “General Hospital” since October 2003, Soap Opera Network has learned exclusively that Kelly Monaco is departing the daytime drama series after the network decided to terminate her character.
According to sources, the Sam McCall character is being killed off and will last appear in Port Charles this fall. Sources also say that Monaco was “blindsided” upon learning of the decision.
Before joining “General Hospital,” Monaco was best known for her role as Livvie Locke on “Port Charles,” a half-hour spinoff of “General Hospital.” Playing the character from 2000-2003, Monaco segued to the long-running hour-long drama following the cancellation of “Port Charles.”
Monaco has been nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards throughout her career, first in 2003 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role on “Port Charles,” and again in 2006 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance on “General Hospital.”
In 2005, Monaco competed during the inaugural season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” where she won the coveted Mirror Ball trophy. She returned to the series in 2012 during the show’s 15th season, dubbed the “All Stars” season. She came in third place with professional dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy, who later appeared on “General Hospital” as a boxer. Monaco again returned to “Dancing with the Stars” in 2017 for the show’s 25th season, performing the rumba alongside Terrell Owens as his professional dance partner Cheryl Burke.
A final air date for Monaco on “General Hospital” was not known at press time.
