Question: who is the longest running character on general hospital

title: General Hospital cast members
text: General Hospital is an American television soap opera , airing on ABC . Created by Frank and Doris Hursley , the serial premiered on April 1 , 1963 . The longest - running cast member is Leslie Charleson , who has portrayed Dr. Monica Quartermaine since August 17 , 1977 , also making her one of the longest - tenured actors in American soap operas . Former cast member Rachel Ames was previously the series ' longest - running cast member , portraying Audrey Hardy from 1964 to 2007 , and making guest appearances in 2009 and 2013 , the latter for the series ' fiftieth anniversary . Ames made a special appearance on October 30 , 2015 . Actors Genie Francis and Kin Shriner , who portray Laura Spencer and Scott Baldwin , are the second and third longest - running cast members , having joined General Hospital in February and August 1977 , respectively . Actress Jacklyn Zeman -- who portrays Bobbie Spencer -- is the fourth longest - running cast member , joining the serial in December 1977 . Actress Jane Elliot , who joined the serial in June 1978 as Tracy Quartermaine , is the fifth longest - running cast member , joining General Hospital in June 1978 until her departure in May 2017 . Former cast member Anthony Geary , who portrayed Luke Spencer , was the sixth longest - running cast member , having joined General Hospital in November 1978 . The following list is of cast members who are currently on the show : the main and recurring cast members , or those who are debuting , departing or returning to the series . 

Answer: answer: The longest running character in General Hospital is Dr. Monica Quartermaine who has been portrayed by Leslie Charleson since August 17 , 1977 .