Kelly Monaco, a fixture on General Hospital for over two decades and 2,200 episodes as Sam McCall, has officially exited the soap opera. Friday’s episode delivered a gut-wrenching farewell, as Sam’s selfless decision to donate her liver to Lulu Spencer took an unexpected and tragic turn. While the surgery was deemed a success, Sam suffered a fatal heart attack, leaving her family and friends reeling from the sudden loss.
The episode displayed the raw emotion of those closest to Sam, with particularly poignant scenes featuring Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn), Sam’s mother, delivering the devastating news to Dante (Dom Zamprogna), Sam’s longtime love. The ripple effect of Sam’s death spread through Port Charles, impacting characters like Carly (Laura Wright), Sonny (Maurice Benard), Drew (Cameron Mathison), and Laura (Genie Francis). Their reactions served as a reminder of Sam’s integral role in the General Hospital universe.
While the show has offered its version of closure, Monaco’s departure remains shrouded in controversy. The actress has hinted at behind-the-scenes conflicts, suggesting that creative dissatisfaction and potential “retaliation” played a role in her exit. Her cryptic messages on social media, later deleted, alluded to a “stripping” of her character’s core traits and a storyline that deviated significantly from the Sam McCall fans knew and loved.
The fan reaction has been understandably intense, with General Hospital trending on X and petitions circulating to reinstate the beloved character. The loss of such a prominent figure undoubtedly marks a significant shift for the long-running soap opera, leaving viewers wondering how the show will fill the void left by Sam McCall’s absence.
General Hospital is a ABC production. Executive producers are Frank Valentini and Jeff Kober.
