Inside 'General Hospital' Star Kelly Monaco's Personal Life: What We Know About It

Fans of Sam McCall from "General Hospital" have been following the intricate ins and outs of her romances, marriages, and divorces for twenty years and may wonder about Kelly Monaco's personal life.

Some may want to know who Kelly Monaco's husband is or if the former Playmate even has one. Let's take a closer look at Kelly Monaco's life -- her romances and the men she's been linked with.

Actress, model, dancer, and Playboy centerfold Kelly Monaco was born in Philadelphia on May 23, 1976. Multitalented Monaco started acting and modeling at a young age and moonlighted as a lifeguard. Curiously, her break into TV was in the series "Baywatch" in 1997, in which she played a rookie lifeguard.

In 2005, Monaco participated in the first season of "Dancing with the Stars," partnered with Alec Mazo, and won the coveted Mirrored Ball on her first try.

In 2003, she landed a starring role in "General Hospital" as the scheming Sam McCall, and her career was launched. For 18 years, Monaco dated her high school sweetheart, but they broke up in 2009. A year later, she started dating "NCIS," "Bones," and "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" actor Heath Freeman.

Kelly Monaco's Relationship with Heath

How Freeman and Monaco met is not known, but from 2010 to 2014. the couple dazzled at Hollywood red-carpet events. The end of their romance was equally discreet, but their bond remained strong, and they stayed the best of friends.

Six years after their break up, on May 23, 2020, Freeman shared a throwback gallery of photos of himself with the actress and added the caption:

"Happy birthday to my best friend on the Planet Earth ⚡️⚡️so thrilled we’re on the planet at the same time."

One wonders if he wasn't hinting at a desire for a new beginning, a renewal of their romance. We will never know because a year later, Freeman passed away unexpectedly.

To the shock of Monaco and Freeman's friends and fans, the actor died in 2021 at 41. According to the actor's manager, Joe S. Montifiore, he passed away in Austin, Texas, on November 14. He declared:

“We are truly devastated at the loss of our beloved Heath Freeman. A brilliant human being with an intense and soulful spirit, he leaves us with an indelible imprint in our hearts.”

Monaco bore her grief privately, but many of the actor's friends and colleagues expressed sorrow at his passing. Some of the actor's fans believe Monaco ended the relationship in 2014 to date another man, Valentin Chmerkovskiy.

Kelly and a Dancer Reportedly Had Chemistry

In 2005, Monaco participated in the first season of "Dancing with the Stars," partnered with Alec Mazo, and won the coveted Mirrored Ball on her first try. In 2012, Monaco was back on "Dancing with the Stars," but this time, she was partnered with dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy.

The couple didn't win and placed third in the competition. Still, their chemistry was undeniable, and even though Freeman was in the audience watching his girlfriend dance, fans were sure Monaco and Chmerkovskiy had feelings for each other.

The speculation reached a fever pitch when the dance partners commented that they intended to stay in touch after the competition ended. Chmerkovskiy said:

“We have a great time when we’re together. We have great conversations. We make fun of the same people. We compliment the same people. We like similar things and that’s that.”

If there ever was a romance, it fizzled out. Chmerkovskiy married dancer Jenna Johnson in 2019, and the couple is expecting their first child in early 2023.