Denise Alexander, ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Days of Our Lives’ Actress, Dies at 85

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Longtime soap opera actress Denise Alexander, most famously recognized as Lesley Webber in “General Hospital” and Susan Hunter Martin on “Days of Our Lives,” passed away on March 5. It’s just recently been disclosed that she has sadly departed.

I was deeply saddened to learn about Denise Alexander’s passing. She paved the way for both on-screen and off-screen representation, playing Dr. Lesley Webber – one of daytime TV’s first female doctors for almost five decades,” stated Frank Valentini, producer of “GH” on social media. “It was a privilege to bring her character back in recent times, and I feel fortunate to have collaborated with her. On behalf of the entire General Hospital family, I offer my sincere condolences to her loved ones, friends, and devoted fans. May she find eternal peace.

Alexander’s acting journey began in the early 1950s, starting with her Broadway premiere in “The Children’s Hour” and appearances on timeless TV shows like “Father Knows Best,” “The Twilight Zone,” and “The Danny Kaye Show.” However, it was 1960 that significantly impacted the direction of her career as she became a regular cast member on the CBS soap opera, “The Clear Horizon.

Two years on, she found herself playing a dayplayer in a soap opera pilot titled “Emergency Hospital,” which eventually transformed into “General Hospital.” However, she didn’t appear as Lesley Webber; instead, she was cast as Susan Martin in the 1966 series “Days of Our Lives.” For the next seven years, this show became her professional home. When she decided to part ways with the highly successful soap in 1973, viewers were less than pleased.

It was around the time when Alexander entered “GH” that ratings weren’t particularly strong, and ABC was seeking to inject fresh characters and plots. Alexander’s character, Lesley, found herself at the center of one of daytime soap operas’ most scorching love triangles, alongside Rick Webber (portrayed by Chris Robinson) and Monica Bard (the late Leslie Charleson, who passed away earlier this year). Lesley was in deep trouble due to her confession about David Hamilton’s murder, a crime her daughter Laura (Genie Francis) had actually committed. Alexander’s captivating performance earned her an Emmy nomination for exceptional actress in a Daytime drama series.

When the plot demanded Lesley’s character to meet an untimely end in a car crash, fans protested once more. However, it wasn’t until 12 years later, in 1996, that it was disclosed – as typical in soap operas – that Lesley was still very much alive. During this interval, Alexander made appearances on NBC’s “Another World,” where she shared the screen with her former “GH” husband, Robinson.

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Alexander last appeared on “General Hospital” in 2021.

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2025-05-10 04:22