Denise Alexander, ‘General Hospital’ actress, dies at 85

Soap opera star Denise Alexander, best known as Lesley Webber on General Hospital and Susan Hunter Martin on Days of Our Lives, passed away aged 85.

General Hospital’s executive producer, Frank Valentini, posted a tribute, honoring the actress’ life and career.

“I am so very sorry to hear of Denise Alexander’s passing. She broke barriers on-screen and off, portraying Dr. Lesley Webber – one of the first female doctors on Daytime Television – for nearly five decades,” his post read.

“It meant so much to have her reprise her role in recent years. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with her. On behalf of the entire General Hospital family, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to her family, friends, and longtime fans. May she rest in peace.”

 

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Alexander died on March 5, but the news of her passing was shared just recently.

Her acting career started back in the 1950s when she landed a role on Broadway’s The Children’s Hour. From that moment on, she received a number of guest-starring roles.

In 1960, Alexander played one of the astronauts’ daughters in The Clear Horizon. Four years later, she landed the role that would mark her career, that of Susan Hunter Martin in Days of Our Lives.

In 1973, she joined the cast of General Hospital, becoming one of the first female doctors on television and a fan favorite for over a decade.

 

General Hospital cast/ ABC

Tributes came pouring in from fellow colleagues.

Genie Francis, who played Alexander’s TV daughter on General Hospital, posted a photo of the two, writing, “Thank you mama, for so much more than u know. #GH.”

Susan Seaforth Hayes, who played alongside Alexander in The Days of Our Lives, called her “a friend to treasure and an actress to applaud.”

“Such happy memories of her years in Salem and her great success on General Hospital,” Hayes posted on Instagram. “We both began as child actors, both had strong mothers and both were raised as Christian Scientists in our early years.

 

Denise Alexander, Susan Seaforth Hayes in “Days of Our Lives” in 1971/ NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

“I was grateful for her wisdom, taste, humor, and goodness every time I saw her,” she added. “It was never enough. And my love for her will never be over.”

Denise Alexander was born in New York City in 1939.

She is survived by her stepdaughter, Elizabeth Colla, from her marriage to director and producer Richard A. Colla.