'Baywatch' Star Kelly Monaco Exits 'General Hospital' After 20 Years

Kelly Monaco, known for her role in 'Baywatch', is departing 'General Hospital' after two decades. Monaco, who played Sam McCall, joined the show in 2003. Her exit aligns with the return of other series veterans. Monaco's performance earned her a Daytime Emmy Award and multiple nominations.

Kelly Monaco, famous for her stint in 'Baywatch', is set to bid farewell to the television series 'General Hospital' after more than 20 years, according to Variety. She portrayed Sam McCall in the long-running serial.

The show, originally created by Frank and Doris Hursley, began in a hospital setting in an unnamed fictional city. By the 1970s, it was identified as Port Charles, New York. The initial cast included John Beradino and Emily McLaughlin, both of whom remained with the series until their deaths in 1996 and 1991, respectively. Monaco joined 'General Hospital' in 2003 after playing Livvie Locke on the spinoff series 'Port Charles' from 2000 to 2003. Her character, Sam, was depicted as a con artist seeking to rectify her family's dire circumstances. Sam is the biological daughter of mob leader Julian Jerome (William deVry) and attorney Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn), and the adopted daughter of Cody McCall (Stanley Kamel) and Evelyn Bass.

Monaco appeared in over 2,200 episodes of 'General Hospital' and won a Daytime Emmy Award for her portrayal of Sam in 2006. Monaco's departure comes as other 'General Hospital' veterans, such as Jonathan Jackson (Lucky Spencer) and Emma Samms (Holly Sutton), return. Prior to 'General Hospital', Monaco's TV debut was on 'Baywatch' from 1997 to 1998. She also served as Carmen Electra's body double, partly because Electra was unable to swim. Her filmography includes minor roles in late 1990s films like BASEketball, Idle Hands, and Mumford. In 2003, Monaco earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for 'Port Charles' and in 2006, she was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in 'General Hospital'.

(With inputs from agencies.)