Do we know why Kelly Monaco is leaving ‘General Hospital’?

General Hospital has a good mix of legacy characters and fresher faces, but Sam McCall (Kelly Monaco) is one of the most popular OGs. After the sad news that she is leaving the ABC soap opera, viewers are curious about exactly why.

Sam has been on General Hospital since 2003, which is impressive, especially when you think about how many pop culture and societal trends have come and gone since then. Is there a reason why Monaco won’t be a General Hospital cast member for much longer?

Was Kelly Monaco fired from General Hospital?

Soap Opera Network reported in late August 2024 that Monaco was let go from General Hospital because Sam is going to die. Several sources told the publication the actress felt “blindsided,” which suggests that she had no idea that this would happen to her beloved character.

Since this is the plan for Sam’s character arc, Monaco isn’t being replaced by another actor. If Sam is somehow found alive in the future (it does happen!) then maybe Monaco will come back. Given how much fans adore her, that wouldn’t be out of the question. But it’s also possible someone else could portray the popular character. Considering Sam’s important presence in Port Charles for so many years, it would honestly be more surprising if she didn’t show up as a ghost at some point (you know you’re a soap opera fan when you say that).

If this news makes you tear up, you’re not alone! According to Soaps.sheknows.com, some viewers put up a petition on Change.org because they would love for Monaco to stay on the soap opera. As of now, there are 7,076 signatures out of 7,500, so that’s a lot of people who wish Sam could stay in Port Charles. It’s hard to say that this petition would actually change anyone’s mind, since it sounds like there is a storytelling plan in place for Sam, but no one can blame fans for trying. Monaco leaving General Hospital is even sadder considering that fans assume she was happy about having portrayed Sam for two decades. In 2023, she told Soap Opera Digest, “Every day when I drive to the lot, I am just so honored to be a part of it.”

From her various love affairs to her time as a detective, Sam is a fresh, strong, and dynamic character. She might have some juicy plotlines and her relationships might be chaotic, but she also experiences tragedies, such as the loss of her baby girl. While Monaco also played Alicia Montenegro on GH, people most likely best remember her as Sam.

While Sam’s last episode of General Hospital is unknown, it will air sometime in Fall 2024. So, along with all the joy surrounding your first PSL of the season, it’s unfortunately time to mourn Sam. If her death could be quick and painless, that would be ideal… but given the tough and wild world of General Hospital, that might not be possible.