Kelly Monaco Shock ‘General Hospital’ Exit: How Sam Will Be Written Out
Kelly Monaco is leaving General Hospital after appearing on the ABC daytime soap for 21 years. She will be making her final appearance as Sam McCall this fall.
According to Soap Opera Network, who first reported the news, Sam is set to be killed off. And while soaps are famed bringing ‘dead’ characters back to life, it really does look like this could be the end for Monaco in GH.
The actress is said to have been “blindsided” by the decision to write her out of the show, according to sources. Since first appearing in 2003, Monaco has filmed more than 2,200 episodes of General Hospital.
Before joining General Hospital, Monaco was best known for her role as Livvie Locke on Port Charles, the half-hour spinoff of General Hospital, on which she played her role from 2000 to 2003. Since 2003, Monaco played the con artist Sam McCall who aimed to reverse her family’s bad luck. The character is the biological daughter of mob boss Julian Jerome, played by William deVry, and attorney Alexis Davis, played by Nancy Lee Grahn. Her character is also the illegal adoptive daughter of Cody McCall, played by Stanley Kamel.
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 in Port Charles and again in 2006 for her portrayal of Sam on General Hospital.
In August 2020, Sam was briefly recast with Lindsay Hartley who temporarily played the role. Hartley later reappeared as the character several episodes in January 2024 as well as earlier this month.
Monaco’s exit comes during the return of fellow General Hospital veterans including Jonathan Jackson as Lucky Spencer, whose return on the soap opera was announced on Friday. Rick Hearst also returned as the character Richard Lansing on Aug. 22 after an eight year break. In July, Emma Samms was reported to reprise her role as Holly Sutton.
In 2005, Monaco competed during the inaugural season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars where she won the Mirror Ball trophy. She returned to the dance competition series in 2012, with professional dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy who later appeared on General Hospital as a boxer. She returned once more in 2017 for the show’s 25th season.
A final date for Monaco’s last appearance on General Hospital is not known at this time.
General Hospital, Weekdays, ABC
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P
Big mistake......She has been like family for 20 years, would you kill off someone you don't like in your family? She just needs a good storyline. Perhaps a triangle with Dante and Lulu might be the ticket. She is only as good as the script and she can handle anything.
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R
Don't kill her off...bring her back when you realize better ways to showcase her talents!!
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C
Have they lost their minds? I can't believe this I love Sam.
16 3
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O
Completely agree. I can't believe that they are getting rid of he character! Is there no loyalty to a good actress? Makes me rethink continuing to watch GH.
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O
I am so sad that Kelly Monaco’s character Sam is being killed off. She is such an important person in the show. She is so talented, I know she will find a new opportunity, that she will be just as amazing in. Wishing her the very best in her next chapter. She will definitely be missed.
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C
I like her as Sam and sorry she'll be leaving. I don't like this Lindsay-lady who is "temporarily" filling in for her. She just doesn't fit the character, so I hope she is not going to replace Kelly.
10 2
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R
Criticizing the character is one thing, being hateful to the actor is mean-spirited and rude. Just STOP IT!
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G
This is all the fans fault. All they do is complain on the GH Instagram page albecause Sam had the audacity to grow up, want a man to love her and put her and her kids first. She had the nerve to be sick and tired of Jason and his forgotten twin putting Carly and Carly's kids first over their own kids.
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B
I have just been BROWSING the show since they broke up JaSam the last time on YouTube from time to time and reading comments. To me not having JaSam together as a couple was a bad decision in my opinion so I just started BROWSING. Now that she’s leaving I can stop the BROWSING since there’s NO HOPE of seeing a JASAM REUNION.
5 1
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R
Her and Jason are not good anymore
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L
Oh her last date is known, they are keeping it a secret. I think it’s totally rotten that Valentini is doing this. He’s ruining the show. We NEVER found out who killed Austin! Unacceptable!!. Who does this, leaving storylines unresolved, and then presenting new ones. They REALLY need to fire Frank Valentini and the writers and restore General Hospital to the great soap it used to be.
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G
They'll get rid of Sam but keep Alexis and Nina? Bye, GH.
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O
I can't believe they're killing Sam off. Is that why it seems like they might be bringing Lulu out of her coma? I will say Sam is not as edgy as she used to be. She seems to have settled down since she's had the kids but I liked the feistyness she used to have.
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G
It just seems like the writers secretly do not like General Hospital and are trying to ruin it. Makes one wonder what the writers have over Frank for him to allow this to happen
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R
I believe they're trying to get it canceled, kissing off all favorites
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F
Something tells me Frank has a hand in all this, maybe even the instigator. It's all about the money with him, and there was a story I read somewhere that there'd be purse string-tightening this fall.
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P
I though maybe Sam & Jason would get back together. Sorry Sam
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G
So sad and angry about the way you have written Sam out of the script. She could have left in so
many happier ways. She was a loved character. Very unhappy to see Brad and Lucas are back.
No doubt I'll quit watching when you write them back into the script again as a couple.
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P
I love Sam, I’ve always thought she was a great actress in the show. I used to love her and Jason together, but her and Dante are solid. They shouldn’t kill get off she is great! She will be very missed!
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R
No one is replacing her. She's being killed off
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R
How will her children take this loss?
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R
More kids left without their mom. Real Nice GH
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R
It's Disney. They were supposed to take a pay cut. She didn't want to.
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P
Don't kill sam off we need her just recast with the actress Gina Tognoni
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R
Im disappointed why they kill her off
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B
Try not to kill Sammy off
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O
I feel her acting has gotten worse as of late. I can’t stand how she closes her eyes the whole time she talks. I’m glad she’s out. I wish they would bring back the original lulu though! Big mistake replacing lulu.
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O
No loss. She used to be good years ago but recent years, no longer like her. Just replace her with Lindsay Hartley. She does an excellent job and is a terrific actress. I have loved Lindsay since her Passion days..
9 11
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O
I liked LH until they made her conceited and selfish like km. Sam sucks. Good riddance. I’ve wanted this for about 20 yrs.
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O
I’ve hated her since the moment she repelled in w Jax. Who has she not slept w? Relatives and kids. Good riddance to the conceited overrated man eating ho. May it be brutal like she deserves. Km is conceited. Sorry not sorry. Km is a stuck up narcissist who couldn’t even say anything when BM died. Maybe it was her fault. Sam is the c word. So glad she’s toast. Never return. She’s ruined the show & been a waste of air time for 21 yrs. Later.
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O
I remember the day she repelled in W Jax but have never liked her. I’m thrilled. She’s been on for 21 yrs. Is a waste of air time. She’s so conceited. To kill someone off is sad for Alexis but I really hate km. She’s so stuck up.and full of herself. I’m overjoyed to not have to see or hear her anymore. I couldn’t like Jason bc of her. She fd every guy she wasn’t related to, offering herself to So by us his wife couldn’t handle his needs, & pumped out Michael when asked for her advice. She a typical casting couch playmate ho. They don’t know what to else do with her. And this means Dante can go back to Lulu. Sam is a deadbeat mom. I feel sorry for Danny & Emily Scout. Named after a dog. Brilliant Sam sucks good riddance. I’ve wanted her gone for years. I hope it’s violent, brutal and extended like what they did to that vile ugly Peter August but no return ever. Rating will go up wo that Albatrise around GHs neck.
Oh happy day.
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