HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES — “General Hospital” enthusiasts were first introduced to the fiery Dr. Monica Quartermaine back in 1977, but now, the show is bidding farewell to this iconic character.

The actress who portrayed Monica, Leslie Charleson, died earlier this year. Thursday afternoon’s episode marked the beginning of a two-part tribute to her character.

The people of Port Charles and the fans of “General Hospital” are together mourning the passing of Dr. Monica Quartermaine.

“An actor has passed away and a character as well, so the duality and the intensity of it is difficult and poignant,” expressed Jane Elliot, known for her role as Tracy Quartermaine on the series. “To finally part with the character is — it’s heartbreaking.”

Steve Burton plays Jason Morgan on the show, and says saying goodbye to his TV mom and his longtime friend has been painful.

“I adored her immensely. It’s just so hard, honestly. It’s challenging,” shared Burton. “She was a cornerstone of our show, a force to reckon with, and this tribute is genuinely deserved. She was phenomenal.”

When she was around, the cast says Charleson brought the fun with her.

“She had everyone in stitches, and mostly she made fun of herself, you know?” remarked Genie Francis, who plays Laura Collins. “But really, that was her most endearing quality.”

“Her sense of humor was sharp, and her laugh was delightful,” Elliot said. “We didn’t see enough of it on TV, but I was fortunate to experience plenty of it personally.”

In real life, friends said goodbye to Charleson at a celebration of her life earlier this year. Cast member Wally Kurth was the emcee.

“And I just get to once more express to her how much I love her and how grateful I am that she was in my life,” said Kurth, who plays Ned Ashton on the show.

The goodbye to Dr. Monica Quartermaine continues in Friday afternoon’s episode of “General Hospital” on ABC.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of ABC and this ABC station.