Kelly Monaco

Biography

Kelly Monaco is the third of five sisters raised in a traditional Italian Catholic home.

Shortly before her teenage years, Kelly's family decided to move from the urban environment of Philadelphia to the more serene surroundings of Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains.

Growing up in the Poconos, Kelly developed a love of the great outdoors. With a home on the boundary of a state game preserve, Kelly and her four sisters spent plenty of time hiking, climbing trees, fishing, camping and swimming. They were taught to skate by their mother, a former Olympic hopeful and figure-skating instructor. They helped their father, an avid hunter, build tree stands.

An active athlete, Kelly participated in soccer, swimming, track, and softball, among other sports.

In addition to athletics, Kelly participated intensely in speech, debate, and theater during high school. Kelly proudly states that she is a born competitor.

Kelly attended classes at Northampton Community College. Kelly worked at a resort, Mount Airy Lodge, as a lifeguard.

Kelly's way out of the Poconos turned out to be a spread in Playboy magazine, a decision that her family was extremely supportive of. Shortly before her 21st birthday, Kelly made her Playboy debut as the magazine's Miss April 1997, and she went on to be featured in many of their news stand specials.

With four years of high school drama classes and five years of lifeguarding behind her, Kelly's television debut came in 1997, when she landed the recurring role of Susan, a rookie lifeguard, on the syndicated program Baywatch. After 12 episodes of Baywatch, Kelly appeared in the feature films, BASEketball, Idle Hands, Late Last Night, Mumford, and Welcome to Hollywood.

During the summer of 2000, Kelly got the character of Livvie Locke on ABC's Port Charles.

Kelly is very close with her family. She enjoyed an especially close relationship with her great-grandmother, Beatrice Mervine On Wednesday July 7th, 2004, Kelly's beloved great-grandmother passed away, three days before her 95th birthday. Kelly adored her great-grandmother and spoke lovingly of her in several interviews throughout her career. Her great-grandmother is even quoted in the article accompanying Kelly's Playmate Of The Month pictorial in the April 1997 issue of Playboy.

When Port Charles aired its final episode on October 3rd, 2003, Kelly had already secured a role on ABC's General Hospital, where she has portrayed Samantha McCall since October 1st, 2003. That's right: Kelly began airing on GH two days before PC's last story arc, The Gift came to an end!

Kelly was invited to take part in the 6th annual Super Soap Weekend at the Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida the weekend of November 3rd & 4th, 2001. One reason Kelly was happy to attend was that several of her family members, including her parents, one of her sisters, and her nephew, joined her at the theme park.

Kelly enjoys volunteering for children's charity events, as well as working with elders. She is a little lady with a very big heart.

Kelly spends her free time training for triathlons, and she is a member of the Playboy X-Treme Team, which participates in the nationwide Hi-Tec Adventure Race series.

Just as she did when she lived in the Poconos, Kelly still takes time out to go camping.

Currently residing in West Hollywood, California, the beautiful and talented Kelly Monaco continues to live out her lifelong dream to succeed in the land of make believe.