Friends of General Hospital’s Leslie Charleson Turn Grief Into Advocacy for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Leslie Charleson, beloved for her nearly 50-year run as Dr. Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital, passed away at 79. Beyond her remarkable acting career, she lived with a condition that deserves far greater public understanding: normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
A tight-knit circle of close friends didn’t let grief consume them. Instead, they transformed their loss into action. In Leslie’s memory, they launched an awareness campaign to shine light on NPH, opening an important conversation about this often-misdiagnosed condition.
What is NPH?
Often described as a “treatable dementia,” NPH impacts individuals aged 60 and older and is caused by a build‑up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, leading to a triad of symptoms:
- Gait Disturbance
Difficulty walking or making turns, feeling like it’s hard to take the first step, balance issues, falling - Cognitive Impairment
Problems organizing or planning tasks, hard time multitasking, trouble listening or paying attention, short-term memory issues, feeling withdrawn, talking less, poor handwriting, trouble with simple math calculations - Impaired Bladder Control
Trouble “holding it”, not able to get to the bathroom fast enough, experiencing accidents
Yet too often, symptoms are dismissed as “just aging” or misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, delaying treatment that could dramatically improve quality of life.
The hopeful truth is this: with proper diagnosis and treatment, significant improvements are possible. That’s why awareness matters.
Famous Figures Impacted by NPH
When someone well-known shares a diagnosis, it sheds light on conditions many may never have heard of. In Leslie Charleson’s case, her story joins a small group of notable individuals who have openly faced NPH, helping bring it into the public eye.
In May 2025, the legendary Billy Joel revealed his struggle with NPH, noting worsening hearing, vision, and balance issues that caused him to cancel concerts through mid‑2026.
Danny Bonaduce, the former Partridge Family star, shocked fans in 2022 when he revealed that his mysterious health decline—slurred speech, loss of balance, and difficulty walking—was due to NPH. After surgery to place a shunt, Bonaduce publicly thanked his doctors and used interviews to spread the word, including one with HA’s President and CEO, Diana Gray.
Two notable artists who have since passed include Tim Conway, a comedic genius who starred in The Carol Burnett Show, and Dick Wagner, rock guitarist for Alice Cooper and Aerosmith. Wagner attended HA’s Detroit WALK to End Hydrocephalus and advocated for more awareness.
Not everyone gets headlines like Joel or Charleson, but their stories underscore how critical it is to recognize NPH, both for those living with it and the loved ones who care for them.
From Love to Action
Leslie’s close friends miss her dearly and want to carry on her wishes to shine a light on this often-undiagnosed condition. In honor of Leslie’s love of baseball caps, they created a custom-designed cap to raise awareness for NPH, featuring her signature style. A percentage of proceeds from their campaign will go directly to the Hydrocephalus Association, funding research and supporting patients and families navigating this condition.
“We didn’t want Leslie’s story to end with a headline,” said one of Leslie’s closest friends. “She had this incredible way of making you feel seen—and we wanted to do the same for others living with NPH.”
You can help Leslie’s friends spread the word about NPH by purchasing a cap created in her memory here.
“Every time someone wears one of our caps, it’s like Leslie is still here,” her friend reflected. “She loved people deeply. And now—even in her absence—she’s still helping people find their way.”
Learn More about Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) here.