General Hospital Recasts Sam: Here’s the Reason Kelly Monaco Stepped Away — and When She’ll Be Back

Another week, another General Hospital recast.

As viewers of the ABC soap learned on Tuesday, Lindsay Hartley has been tapped to once again temporarily replace Kelly Monaco in the role of Sam McCall. (Soap vet Hartley previously — and briefly — stepped in for Monaco in 2020 and 2022.)

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A GH rep declined to comment on the reason for Monaco’s absence, but sources confirm to TVLine that the actress was simply under the weather. Monaco, meanwhile, only missed the one episode, per a GH insider; she will be back on screen Friday, Jan. 5.

This marks the third time in as many weeks that GH has had to abruptly recast one of its leading ladies. Last week, Nicole Paggi served as a temp sub for Kirsten Storms (aka Maxie). And in mid-December, relative newcomer Courtney Fulk began a six-week stint as Joss, replacing Eden McCoy, who took time off to grieve the loss of her mother. McCoy is expected back on air in early February. Storms returns Monday, Jan. 8.

“My mother has fought an intense battle with cancer for the past two and a half years and has now left us physically,” McCoy shared in a Nov. 6 Instagram post. “I’m not sure what to say other than she was, is, and will be the best thing I have ever known. She is responsible for every good part of me, and she took me with her when she left.

“If there is anything I can say to whoever is reading, it would be that absolutely nothing is promised,” she added. “We really aren’t owed anything. Your life really can change in just a moment, so as my mom would say, do everything as if it your last time doing it.”

Days later, the newly minted Daytime Emmy winner took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to wish fans, “Happy holidays,” after which she acknowledged, “Been a strange year, but I still feel very lucky. Wishing everyone reading this love and health.”

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