Kelly Monaco

Last updated
Kelly Monaco
Born
Kelly Marie Monaco

(1976-05-23) May 23, 1976 (age 48)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, model
Years active1997–present
PartnerMike Gonzalez (1991–2009)
Awards See below
Playboy centerfold appearance
April 1997
Preceded by Jennifer Miriam
Succeeded by Lynn Thomas
Personal details
Height5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) [1]
Signature
Signature of Kelly Monaco.png

Kelly Marie Monaco (born May 23, 1976) [1] is an American actress, model, and reality television personality, best known for her portrayal of Sam McCall on the ABC soap opera General Hospital and as the first season winner of the reality TV competition series Dancing with the Stars . Monaco was also Playboy "Playmate of the Month" for April 1997, and portrayed Livvie Locke on the soap opera Port Charles from 2000 through 2003.

Contents

Early life and education

Kelly Monaco was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, [2] to Albert "Al" and Carmina Monaco. She is the middle child [3] and has four sisters. [4] The family moved to the Poconos, where she attended Pocono Mountain High School and took her first acting classes. [5] After high school she worked as a lifeguard at a local resort [5] and attended Northampton Community College for two years. [3]

Career

Early modeling

In 1996, Monaco, who had been thinking of a career in modeling, sent her photo to Playboy . [6] As a result, she became the Playmate of the Month for April 1997. [3] [7] Throughout her tenure with Playboy in the 1990s, [3] Monaco was also featured in many Playboy Special Edition publications. [8]

Acting and reality television

Monaco's first television role was in the drama Baywatch [7] from 1997 to 1998. [3] In addition to playing the role of Susan on the show, she was also Carmen Electra's body double at times, [3] as Electra could not swim. [9] Monaco also had minor roles in the late 1990s films BASEketball , Idle Hands , and Mumford .

Monaco had two roles in the ABC soap opera Port Charles as Olivia "Livvie" Locke Morley (1999–2003) and Tess Ramsey (2002–03). When that program ended, she joined the cast of the ABC soap opera General Hospital as Samantha McCall [10] in October 2003.

In 2003, Monaco was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role on Port Charles. In 2006, she was again nominated for a Daytime Emmy, this time for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Sam McCall on General Hospital. [3] In 2006, Monaco also co-hosted the 33rd Annual Daytime Emmys, [7] with Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron.

In March 2009, Monaco was chosen by Donald Trump and Paula Shugart to be one of the judges for the 2009 Miss USA pageant. [7]

Monaco starred on the E! reality television series Dirty Soap , which premiered on September 25, 2011. [11]

She was a cast member, and the season winner along with her professional partner, Alec Mazo, on the ABC reality-television series Dancing with the Stars, during its first season in 2005. Although she initially faced tough criticism from the judges, she maintained a positive outlook throughout the series. [12] Among the events she experienced before her victory was a wardrobe malfunction in which the skimpy strap on her dress came apart during a Latin dance number. [13] [14]

Monaco appeared in a Maxim cover feature in 2005, [15] and the magazine also placed her at #13 on their annual Hot 100 List in 2006. [16]

In February 2009, Monaco expanded her dancing résumé with Peepshow , a burlesque act directed by Tony Award-winning director Jerry Mitchell, that plays at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Monaco starred as Bo Peep, a precocious character who discovers her sexuality throughout the show. [17] Monaco starred alongside singer and fellow Dancing with the Stars contestant Melanie Brown, [18] until June 2009, when Monaco's contract expired and she was replaced by Holly Madison. [19] The same year, Monaco was named Maxim's number one sexiest cover model of the decade. [20]

On July 27, 2012, it was announced that Monaco would be participating in the 15th season of Dancing with the Stars for a chance to win a second mirrorball trophy. [21] This time she was partnered with Valentin Chmerkovskiy. After making the finals for a second time, Monaco finished in third place on November 27, 2012.

In November 2017, Monaco returned to 25th season of Dancing with the Stars in week eight, [22] to participate in a trio rumba with Terrell Owens and his professional partner Cheryl Burke. [23]

On August 26, 2024. Soap Opera Network announced Monaco had been fired from General Hospital following a network decision to "terminate her character". [24]

Charity work

In July 2009, Monaco and several other daytime celebrities traveled to Kenya, Africa, as a part of the Feed the Children program, delivering food and other supplies and visiting schools and orphanages built by Feed the Children. [7] [25]

On October 24, 2009, as part of the iParticipate campaign, Monaco and several of her General Hospital co-stars volunteered to help beautify a school in Los Angeles. [26]

Personal life

When Monaco was a junior in high school, she met Mike Gonzalez, and began a relationship with him. [6] They worked together as lifeguards at a local resort and attended community college together. [27] They remained together for 18 years. [6] [28] They broke up in 2009. [28]

On April 25, 2009, Monaco's apartment at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino was ransacked by burglars. [29]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998 BASEketball Sharon [2]
1998 Welcome to Hollywood Baywatch Woman Guard
1999 Idle Hands Tiffany [3]
1999 Mumford Landlady's Daughter [3]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997–1998 Baywatch Model flying Kite / Model at Photoshoot / Rookie Lifeguard SusanEpisodes: "The Choice", "Quarantine", "Diabolique"
1999 Late Last Night Centerfold ElainaTelevision movie
2000–2003 Port Charles Livvie Locke /
Tess Ramsey		Main role; July 7, 2000 – October 3, 2003
Role: October 1, 2002 – March 25, 2003
2001 Spin City NurseEpisode: "A Shot In The Dark: Part 1"
2003–present General Hospital Sam McCall /
Alicia Montenegro		Series regular; October 1, 2003 – present
Role: July – August 2005
2005, 2012 Dancing with the Stars HerselfContestant: Season 1 & 15
2011 Dirty Soap HerselfMain cast
2011The Edge of the GardenJulieTelevision movie [30]
2015 Baby Daddy Kelly MonacoEpisode: "Over My Dead Bonnie"

Awards and nominations

List of acting awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryTitleResultRef.
2003 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Port Charles Nominated
2006 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
2020Soap Hub AwardsFavorite General Hospital ActressGeneral HospitalNominated
2021Soap Hub AwardsFavorite General Hospital ActressGeneral HospitalNominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erika Slezak</span> American actress

Erika Slezak is an American actress, best known for her role as Victoria "Viki" Lord on the American daytime soap opera One Life to Live from 1971 through the television finale in 2012 and again in the online revival in 2013. She is one of the longest-serving serial actors in American media. For her portrayal of Viki, she has won six Daytime Emmy Awards, the most of any daytime drama actress.

<i>One Life to Live</i> American television series

One Life to Live is an American soap opera broadcast on the ABC television network for more than 43 years, from July 15, 1968, to January 13, 2012, and then on the internet as a web series on Hulu and iTunes via Prospect Park from April 29 to August 19, 2013. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature ethnically and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social issues. One Life to Live was expanded from 30 minutes to 45 minutes on July 26, 1976, and then to an hour on January 16, 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Lucci</span> American actress (born 1946)

Susan Victoria Lucci is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Erica Kane on the ABC daytime drama All My Children during that show's entire network run from 1970 to 2011. The character is considered an icon, and she was called "Daytime's Leading Lady" by TV Guide, with The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times citing her as the highest-paid actor in daytime television. As early as 1991, her salary had been reported as over $1 million a year. During her run on All My Children, Lucci was nominated 21 times for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She won only once, in 1999, after the 19th nomination; her status as a perpetual nominee for the award had attracted significant media attention since the late 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Rinna</span> American actress (b. 1963)

Lisa Rinna is an American actress, television personality and model. As an actress, she is best known for her roles as Billie Reed on the NBC daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives and Taylor McBride on Fox's television drama Melrose Place. Between 2014 and 2022, Rinna starred on Bravo's hit reality television series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Other television credits include being a contestant on NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice and ABC's Dancing with the Stars, as well as guest-starring roles on series such as Entourage, Veronica Mars, Community, The Middle, and American Horror Stories. Rinna made her Broadway debut in Chicago as Roxie Hart in June 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Chappell</span> American actress (b. 1965)

Crystal Elizabeth Chappell is an American actress who played Carly Manning on Days of Our Lives from 1990 to 1993, Maggie Carpenter on One Life to Live from 1995 to 1997 and Olivia Spencer on Guiding Light from 1999 to 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heather Tom</span> American actress and director (born 1975)

Heather Tom is an American actress and director. She is best known for her roles as Victoria Newman on The Young and the Restless, Kelly Cramer on One Life to Live and All My Children, and Katie Logan on The Bold and the Beautiful. On The Bold and the Beautiful she has earned four Daytime Emmy Awards and a total of six in her career, tying her for the most wins by a soap actress. In addition to her acting work, she has directed episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless, Dynasty, and Good Trouble.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katherine Kelly Lang</span> American actress

Katherine Kelly Lang is an American actress. She is best known for playing Brooke Logan in the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful of the CBS Daytime programming block.

Sarah Joy Brown, sometimes credited simply as Sarah Brown, is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for originating the role of Carly Corinthos on the American daytime drama General Hospital from 1996 to 2001. For the role, she won three Daytime Emmy Awards. In 2008, she returned to General Hospital in a different role, Claudia Zacchara. She exited General Hospital once again in 2009 and began appearing on The Bold and the Beautiful in the newly created role of Aggie Jones.

Gina Tognoni is an American actress, best known for her work with American daytime soap operas. Her most notable performances include Kelly Cramer on One Life to Live, Dinah Marler on Guiding Light and Phyllis Summers on The Young and the Restless.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam McCall</span> Fictional character from General Hospital

Sam McCall is a fictional character from General Hospital, an American soap opera on the ABC network. Created by Charles Pratt, Jr. and Robert Guza, Jr., the character made her debut on the episode airing on October 1, 2003, portrayed by Kelly Monaco. Sam is the daughter of mob boss Julian Jerome and attorney Alexis Davis, born and placed for adoption when both were teenagers. She arrived in town as a con artist trying to reverse her family's bad luck by destroying the five lucky cards of the "Dead Man's Hand." Upon her arrival, she was characterized as a "sexy bad girl, with a nose for intrigue." Since her introduction, the character has matured into a self-assured and confident woman, while still retaining traces of her adventuresome, bad girl ways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kara Monaco</span> American model (born 1983)

Kara Monaco is an American model. She was chosen as Playmate of the Month by Playboy magazine in June 2005. She appeared on the cover of the June 2006 issue of Playboy as the 2006 Playmate of the Year.

Jess Walton is a Canadian-American actress, best known for her role as Kelly Harper in CBS soap opera Capitol and as Jill Abbott on the CBS soap opera, The Young and the Restless.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen Witter</span> American model

Karen Lorre is an American actress, model, and author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacqueline MacInnes Wood</span> Canadian actress (born 1987)

Jacqueline MacInnes Wood is a Canadian actress, musician and television personality. For playing fashion executive and heiress Steffy Forrester Finnegan in the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful (2008–present), she won three Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2019, 2021 and 2023. She has additionally starred as Olivia Castle in the horror film Final Destination 5 (2011), and hosted the E! series Party On (2013–2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Ripa</span> American actress and talk show host (born 1970)

Kelly Maria Ripa is an American actress and talk show host. Since 2001, she has been the co-host of the syndicated morning talk show Live! with Kelly and Mark in various formats. Her co-hosts have included Regis Philbin, Michael Strahan, Ryan Seacrest, and her husband Mark Consuelos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Morgan and Sam McCall</span> Soap opera character

Jason Morgan and Sam McCall are fictional characters and a supercouple from the ABC daytime drama, General Hospital. They are known to be one of daytime's most popular supercouples. Jason was portrayed by actor Steve Burton; formerly, the role was played by Billy Miller. On December 1, 2017, Miller's character was revealed to be Jason's identical twin brother, Andrew Cain, conditioned to believe he was Jason and assume Jason's identity. Sam is portrayed by Kelly Monaco.

Dirty Soap is an American reality television series that debuted on E! on September 25, 2011. The series focuses on the personal and professional lives of daytime soap opera stars and their off-screen time. The series was produced by Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, and Amber Mazzola. On January 25, 2012, E! cancelled the series after its only season.

Kelly Hager Thiebaud is an American actress and model best known for her portrayal of Dr. Britt Westbourne on ABC daytime soap opera, General Hospital, for which she won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 "Playmate Data Sheet". Playboy . April 1997.
  2. 1 2 "Today's Girl Kelly Monaco". Maxim. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Kelly Monaco Biography". A+E Television Networks. www.biography.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  4. ↑ Dirty Soap - "As the Ex Returns" (October 23, 2011) episode.
  5. 1 2 "Kelly Marie Monaco". Playboy. playboy.com. 1997-04-01. Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 Burton, Alex (November 12, 2012). Star . pp. 48-49.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kelly Monaco: Biography". TV Guide. tvguide.com. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  8. ↑ DOSTIS, MELANIE. "Where are they now: '90s Playboy playmates - NY Daily News". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
  9. ↑ Kelly Monaco, John Salley (2011-11-17). Dancing with the Stars - Kelly Monaco Interview (Internet). Game On! with John Salley: www.reelz.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-10.
  10. ↑ Kroll, Dan J. (2003-08-27). "Monaco stays in PC and joins GH cast". SoapCentral . Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  11. ↑ "First Look at DIRTY SOAP". SoapOperaDiegst.com. 2011-08-27. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  12. ↑ Coleridge, Daniel R. (2005-06-13). "Dancing Queen Sounds Off". TV Guide. tvguide.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  13. ↑ "2005's Top 10 Style Moments: 7. Kelly's Wardrobe Malfunction". People. people.com. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  14. ↑ Dahl, Oscar (2007-01-02). "Dancing with the Stars and Wardrobe Malfunctions: A Conspiracy Theory". Buddy TV. buddytv.com. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Kelly Monaco's Maxim Cover Shoot". Maxim . maxim.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  16. ↑ "2006 Hot 100". Maxim . maxim.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  17. ↑ Playmate News. Playboy magazine. March 2009. Page 114.
  18. ↑ Gray, Mark (2008-11-18). "Mel B & Kelly Monaco to Star in Topless Vegas Show". People . people.com. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  19. ↑ Gray, Mark (2009-05-14). "Holly Madison to Replace Kelly Monaco in Sexy Vegas Show". People. people.com. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Maxim's 12 Sexiest Covers of the Decade". Maxim . maxim.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  21. ↑ Shira, Dahvi (2012-07-27). "Dancing with the Stars All-Star Cast Revealed". People. people.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  22. ↑ Montgomery, Daniel (2 November 2017). "'Dancing with the Stars' trio dances will invite back Kelly Monaco, Alfonso Ribeiro, Laurie Hernandez, Corbin Bleu". goldderby.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  23. ↑ Brozyna, Emily (2 November 2017). "'Dancing with the Stars' trio dances will invite back Kelly Monaco, Alfonso Ribeiro, Laurie Hernandez, Corbin Bleu". J-14.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  24. ↑ Lewis, Errol (August 26, 2024). "BREAKING NEWS: Kelly Monaco OUT at General Hospital – EXCLUSIVE". Soap Opera Network . United States. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  25. ↑ Fairman, Michael (2009-06-29). "Susan Lucci, Anthony Geary and Kelly Monaco to Kenya for 'Daytime Gives Back' Daytime Emmy telecast and Feed the Children!". Michael Fairman On Soaps. michaelfairmansoaps.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Soap Nation: iParticipate Additions!". Soap Net. soapnet.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Kelly Monaco Negates Dating Rumors; True about Not Having A Boyfriend?". LIVERAMPUP. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
  28. 1 2 "Kelly Monaco Was Devastated After Break-Up". starpulse.com. 2010-07-21. Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  29. ↑ Jovie Baclayon (2009-04-27). "DWTS Champ Kelly Monaco Uses Smooth Moves to Avoid Robber". E! . eonline.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  30. ↑ Edge of the Garden Archived 2011-02-24 at the Wayback Machine Hallmark Channel. accessed September 25, 2011.
  31. ↑ "Nominees for Daytime Emmys". USA Today . Tysons Corner, Virginia: Gannett Company. Associated Press. March 12, 2003. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  32. ↑ "The 33rd Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". New York, New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. February 8, 2006. Archived from the original on May 19, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  33. ↑ Montgomery, Daniel (September 2, 2020). "1st Annual Soap Hub Awards decided by fans honored 'Days of Our Lives,' Steve Burton, Sharon Case and more". Gold Derby . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  34. ↑ Montgomery, Daniel (September 2, 2020). "1st Annual Soap Hub Awards decided by fans honored 'Days of Our Lives,' Steve Burton, Sharon Case and more". Gold Derby . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved September 3, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.