A “General Hospital” shocker.
Kelly Monaco’s role on the ABC daytime soap opera is coming to an end after 21 years, The Post can confirm.
Soap Opera Network first reported the news of Monaco’s departure on Monday.
Dominic Zamprogna and Kelly Monaco star in “General Hospital.” ABC via Getty Images
Kelly Monaco was a part of the “General Hospital” cast for 21 years. ©Ã2003 ABC, INC.Monaco, 48, has played Sam McCall on “General Hospital” since 2003.
According to Soap Opera Network, Monaco’s character will be killed off on the show this fall.
Actors Kelly Monaco and John O’Hurley take a break. © 2005 ABC, Inc.Sources said the actress was “blindsided” by the network’s decision to fire her.
The Post has reached out to reps for Monaco and “General Hospital” for comment.
Monaco joined the cast of “General Hospital” 21 years ago. Before that, she portrayed Livvie Locke on the “General Hospital” spinoff, “Port Charles,” from 2000 to 2003.
Kelly Monaco joined the “General Hospital” cast in 2003. ABC via Getty Images
The cast of “General Hospital” includes Kelly Monaco (center), whose character is expected to meet her demise this fall. ABC via Getty ImagesThe actress has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award two times. The first was in 2003 for her work on “Port Charles,” and the second was in 2006 for her role on “General Hospital.”
At the beginning of this year, Monaco was briefly replaced on the show by Lindsay Hartley.
Hartley, 46, previously filled in for Monaco in episodes that aired in 2020 and 2022.
Kelly Monaco acts in a “General Hospital” scene with Cameron Mathison, who plays Drew Cain. ABC via Getty Images
Kelly Monaco and Nancy Lee Grahn, who plays Alexis Davis, in a scene from “General Hospital” ©ABC/Courtesy Everett CollectionMonaco had to take a break from the soap opera in the summer of 2020 while she quarantined after testing positive for COVID-19.
“I must thank the amazing #GH fans for all the love and support they have shown me in the past couple of weeks,” Monaco wrote on X (formerly Twitter) as she addressed her absence from the show for the first time.
“It’s been a crazy year and I feel so blessed, grateful and humbled to be able to continue to do what I love…20 years and counting with @ABC…what an honor!”
Kelly Monaco arrives at the 2022 Daytime Emmy Awards. Penske Media via Getty ImagesIn a second tweet, she thanked Hartley for stepping into her role while she was gone.
“I also wanna give a huge shout out to @lindsayhartley for stepping in and doing a beautiful job playing Sam,” Monaco wrote. “Girl…you kicked ass. Way to go.”
Bradford Anderson, Kelly Monaco and Steve Burton on “General Hospital” Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty ImagesMonaco is also famous for winning the first season of “Dancing With the Stars” in 2005.
She returned for the show’s “All-Star” season in 2012. Monaco and her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, came in third place.
Chmerkovskiy, 38, later made a cameo on “General Hospital” as a boxer.
