‘General Hospital’ Fans Slam Show Bosses After Sam McCall’s Heartbreaking Death
It’s the end of the line for General Hospital star Kelly Monaco as her character Sam McCall was killed off on Wednesday’s (October 30) episode, leaving many fans upset.
In August, it was announced that Monaco would be written out of the long-running ABC soap opera, a decision which was said to have “blindsided” the actress. Monaco has played Sam McCall on the daytime drama since 2003, having filmed more than 2,200 episodes.
On Wednesday’s episode, Monaco’s Sam left surgery successfully and got engaged to Dante (Dominic Zamprogna). However, shortly after, she started to feel faint and eventually passed out. Despite efforts to revive her, Sam flatlined and died. Her surgeon and half-brother, Dr. Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), reluctantly called her time of death as “5:48 p.m.”
Even though Sam is officially dead, Soap Opera Digest reported that Monaco’s last episode will air later this week. Now, the question is what happened? What caused Sam’s sudden illness? Why did she die? Did someone kill her?
While fans have many storyline-related questions, they have even more questions regarding the producers’ decision to kill Monaco’s character off in the first place. Following Wednesday’s episode, viewers took to social media to blast the show and executive producer Frank Valentini.
Just as her life with Dante was to move forward and she was happy, we lose her. I can’t!
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sam Dies! Kelly Monaco’s 21-Year Run Comes to an Almost Conclusion – https://t.co/GweoU0CF98 @kellymonaco1 #SamMcCall @GeneralHospital pic.twitter.com/j3IcKJgEXD
— MIchael Fairman (@MichaelFairman) October 31, 2024
“At 5:48 We lost my favorite Character/actress Sam McCall/Kelly Monaco. The only reason I continued watching GH was for her. I have never been so connected and drawn to a soap actor before.#FireFrank #IStandWithKelly #WeLoveYouKelly @kellymonaco1,” wrote one X user.
“Do you guys notice not one day has Frank said anything about Sam? Not once & today she dies! His hate for her is real! This guy is so unprofessional. It’s not even funny..He’s a complete a**hole right to the end. #FireFrank,” saida nother.
“I think the GH writers and producers did Kelly Monaco wrong. The fact that they had already taken the substance out of such a strong and street smart character and turned Sam into a bland character was bad enough but now, to kill her off. Just can’t comprehend the thought process,” wrote another fan on the MichaelFairmanTV comment section.
Another X user added, “Kelly Monaco and Sam fans deserved so much better. Disgusting behavior by Frank and anyone else who made this decision. This is not how you bring back viewers to a show that has been declining in ratings all year. Killing off a beloved character like this is just so damn cruel.”
“I cannot sleep, Sam’s death was so disgusting and I feel so bad for Kelly Monaco that she lost her job that she loved and dedicated 21 years of her life too due to an entitled man in power with an ego trip who retaliated against her #IStandWithKelly,” wrote another.
“Today, we say goodbye to Kelly. Our hearts are breaking . I wish her all the success in the world. We love you, and you will be missed,” said one commenter.
Another added, “I salute the beautiful and talented @kellymonaco1 for being the consummate professional til the end, despite the lack of respect shown her by @valentinifrank @GeneralHospital and @ABCNetwork after 21 years of service. I look forward to seeing you soar.”
Earlier this month, Monaco addressed her exit in a since-deleted Instagram comment on Soap Hub’s page. “What do you got concrete in your head she wasn’t fired she didn’t take the pay cut so she had to leave,” Monaco wrote, per People.
“‘No primary role’.. do your homework. When Billy Miller was fired, Sam’s storyline stopped. Stripping Sam of every characteristic she had,” she continued. “Something I worked for decades to build… Slowly dismantling her into a character that I did not recognize, let alone the audience. Call it what you will… retaliation at it [sic] finest. I will give a proper statement. The truth will set you free.”
In another post on her own Instagram page, Monaco shared a photo on set, writing “Last scene with the Davis girls. Still doesn’t make any sense to me.”
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Comments are closed on this story.
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O
What I think is that the current writing staff is destroying General Hospital. Everything is dark and gloomy with nobody being happy. Everybody on the program is manipulating someone else or is being manipulated. I often find it difficult to watch, and I have watched GH from its very beginning.
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P
I agree. Been watching GH over 40 years!! If they don't start listening to viewers opinions they are going to lose them!! Put Sam back on and back with Dante. Don't yall like to see people happy!!
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G
Whoever decided to kill off GH's Sam McCall should be fired. Have been a fan for over 30 years. I will not watch the show anymore.
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R
What is wrong with you people, messing up one of the best soaps ever. This will sure drop your ratings, Just NOT RIGHT AT ALL. to her and to us GH Fans The writers that are there now have really messed up a GREAT SHOW.🤮😖
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Whoever wrote this story just has no clue! People spoke out, Fans pleaded with you and it looks like Kelly/Sam is still gone! We'll unless you have some twist where she really didn't die, I'm done with this show! Bye Bye GH
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I am so disgusted, they kill off an excellent character like Sam and bring back Very poor actress like Holly and old old Robert. You guys blow up all the couples that are happy , I’m so not going to watch this soap any longer after 30 years years you don’t deserve the fans you have.
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You don't have to get nasty and insult Tristan Rogers, another beloved character (Scorpio) or Emma Samms (Holly). It's always great for many of us longtime viewers to have the vets return. Their presence on the show has nothing to do with Kelly Monaco being fired. That was personal.
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Hate to see “Sam” go. A great character and a wonderful actor portrayed her. Wouldn’t it be great to see her on another soap? How about as a new character and love interest for Nick on Y&R! They would sizzle together.
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oh KAAAAY!? I SECOND that, patkelly, straight UP!
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Never in my life have I cried so deeply at the loss of a Soap character. Sam was one of my favorites! I was grateful for the commercials for once so I could gain my composure. After Alexis broke down, then Jason... oh my goodness GH how could y'all be so cruel 😭. Now more tears to come from the reaction of her sisters, her children and Dante. You didn't think this one out completely GH People. Wish you had listened to the petitions of the fans to not let Sam(Kelly Monaco) go.
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C
Whoever decided to killed Sam's character is an ***hole. You just lost another viewer. I'm never watching General Hospital again.
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Nancy Lee Grahn's performance was so amazing, so gut-wrenching, so real and touching. I was in tears watching her perform Alexis' grief and shock across this week's episodes. If she is not awarded a Daytime Emmy this year, the Emmy voters weren't watching.
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FACT, Ms Lisa, FACT!
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I think it sucks and honestly makes me think that I’ll probably quit watching
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AC, if you've been a loyal fan for over 30 years, one character leaving the show shouldn't make you stop watching! That's not a loyal fan. That's just someone who was loyal to Sam only! Don't abandon the show!
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Sad.
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Why Sam? Please, bring her back! Write the story that she was put to sleep or something, kidnapped. Whatever, we don’t care! She was such a good actress for so many years. Why didn’t they keep her with Dante or put her back with Jason? What the heck? Can’t get used to her being gone.
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S
Ms. Monaco was fired. Unsure of the reason. Must have been bad. But I don't see her coming back no time soon. Why? CUZ. SHE. WAS. F I R E D. for whatEVER tha reason. Doesn't make any of it right. Even my husband, who has JUST started watching GH (hey, I agreed to get into 🦶 🏈 for or rather WITH him so, as Wind In His Hair said to Dances With Wolves, "Good trade." , said it was "bullshoes the way it was done, too. Anyway(s)<= ?, if Ms Monaco WAS to return, I am pretty sure it'll have to be on HER terms. We're just gonna have to wait and see but I don't see it happening none too soon and I've been watching GH since 1971. Folks come, go for all KINDS of reasons, for sure. Till then, tha 'jury' is still out. 75 thumbs up on Jason's tearful and believable good bye, though, becuz I tell you what . . . . . .
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Have been a safe have been a fan since 1970! What was someone thinking to kill off Sam antral member of the GH family. Really was hoping this was a bad dream that Sam was having. In this crazy world, we need some positivity and this certainly was not it.
Now let’s talk about the negativity put on transparent and the donor recuperating not good. What were you guys thinking Or were you thinking?
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C
I think whoever is in charge should be fired. You better figure out how to write Sam back in to GH because your going to lose even more viewers than you already have. I have watched for longer than I can remember,But not anymore. Your are ruining General Hospital.
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C
After Monaco & Chad Duell's firing, and so many loose ends... I'm like what the hell? People come & go, but Days of Our Lives reveres & honors its veterans! Shame on you GH!
Chads's replacement is so mousy & not a very elegant character. He seems to act in a mode that doesn't command attention & respect. I didn't see him standing in as a Chad temp & certainly not full time! BOO!
I still don't like Cynthia Watros as Nina either.
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I know if they don’t bring Sam back they will loose a lot of viewers. She is the spice on the show. These writers are killing off the wrong people and are ruining general hospital!
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O
Kelly's character should have never been destroyed she is a huge part of this shoe that i have watched for close to 40 years. I am beyond pissed that you kill her off to bring back worthless other characters. The people thst made this decision should be fired. AbC you made a terrible mistake and need to give her what she deserves and bring Sam back immediately. This is all just a bad dream. ABC your ratings will go down after this for sure. You just want to tank this sosp like you did All my Children and One Life to Live years ago. Such a shame. Everyone needs to boycott ABC FOR THIS TERRIBLE WRITEOFF OF SUCH AN IMPORTANT CHARACTER TO GENERAL HOSPITAL for over 20 years. I love your Sam.
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G
I don't care how you do it. Just bring her back now! Before it's too late for y'all to turn it around! She devoted most of her life to y'all and that's how you treat people who devote their life to you and your show. That's terrible! That is really terrible! She was just a kid when she started. I just can't believe it You take her away from her kids. Wow! That's heartless!
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I refused to watch today because her dying really pissed me off. I'm not sure I continue to watch and I've literally been watching sice I was in the 3rd grade. I'm 63 yrs old now. GH is the only one I watch without missing. Now I'll have time for better things.
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C
GH should have Never fired Kelly Monaco she’s the reason We watch the soap opera
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G
This episode was so heart wrenching and depressing. Sam did such a wonderful thing to try to save Lulu and to see her die was awful. After all that family went thru with loosing the baby, the sisters at each other's throats, Alexis in jail, now Sam. As a GH fan watching with my grandma from way back when, I'm 66 yrs old now, I don't remember ever crying so much watching 2 episodes. Shame on the writers for putting your fans through this torture. Enjoying a soap shouldn't be depressing. These writers are destroying GH. Why couldn't the good Sam did saving Lulus life, have a happy ending and show that miracles do happen and selfless people do exist. Kelly Monaco is an amazing actress and deserved so much better as did others that they sent on their merry way. After being a huge GH fan for all these years, since I do work, I'm now deleting GH from being taped every day.All the best to Kelly Monaco, GH loss will be another soaps gain.❤️
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All the GH fans became unhinged when legacy characters were back-burnered for new young faces like Sam McColl. “Was! Waa!😫 Fire Jill Phelps!”
Get a grip people. It’s great to be passionate about a tv show and have your favorite characters. This is a soap opera. This genre is built on the family structure- mirroring our lives. Great joyous occasions and times of deep aching grief. In soap operas, like in life, major characters are gone in a heartbeat. This actress should show some class and show gratitude for having had a 21 year acting gig from that venue. She should say “thank you” on the way out the door. She could then clear her throat, for once, and head on over to Y & R. and do the same character with a different name…
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She did show class and character. Also did exceptional last scenes. I have watched GH from the very first show. I have greatly enjoyed it. However, there could have been better writing for Sam's character. It seemed she was back-burnered with no where to go. Bad writing. ABC's loss.
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Oh, I missed the class part. All I see are numerous articles, like this one, with her complaining and threatening the powers that be. I will miss her character as well, but she definitely is NOT showing class.
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R
And they brought back Jason, who is a worthless and annoying character
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