Earlier this year, General Hospital mourned the loss of two beloved cast members, Tristan Rogers, who portrayed fan-favorite Robert Scorpio, and Denise Alexander, known for her iconic portrayal of Lesley Webber. Now, the show’s head writers have updated fans about their plans to address their passing on-screen.
Co-head writers Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte spoke with TV Insider at the 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards, where they discussed their approach to handling the deaths of these legacy figures.
In recent weeks, the ABC soap said goodbye to Monica Quartermaine, following the real-life death of Leslie Charleson earlier this year. The writing team said they intend to bring the same care and respect to Robert and Lesley’s upcoming farewells. “We want to make sure that we achieve the same goal that I think we have with the story of Monica’s passing.”
On-screen, Monica’s death has had long-lasting effects on the canvas, as viewers have watched the Quartermaine family deal with the repercussions of losing their matriarch. Since her passing, her long-lost sister Veronica (Erika Slezak) has returned to Port Charles, and Monica left her home to her sister, in a story that continues to ripple through the family’s storylines.
The writers are taking their time to ensure that they craft a compelling storyline to truly pay homage to these great characters, sharing, “We want a story that will carry [Lesley and Robert’s] names into the future, so that we still feel Robert’s and Lesley’s presence for years to come.”
On-screen, Lesley was last mentioned by her daughter Laura Collins (Genie Francis) during Monica’s memorial service, when Laura explained that her mother couldn’t attend due to illness but sent her love and condolences.
Robert’s final scene came earlier this year in a touching moment that provided an exit for his daughter Sasha Gilmore (Sophia Mattson). In those episodes, Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) brought Sasha and her baby to Robert for protection, offering the longtime character a fitting send-off.
Fans can expect General Hospital to revisit both stories in the future, with tributes and memorial episodes planned to honor two of Port Charles’ most enduring characters. New episodes of General Hospital air weekdays on ABC and stream weeknights on Hulu.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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