General Hospital Legend Denise Alexander Dead at 85: Beloved Soap Star’s Shocking Passing Revealed

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Actress Denise Alexander, best known for her role as Dr. Lesley Webber on General Hospital, passed away recently at the age of 85, leaving behind a legacy cherished by many soap opera enthusiasts.

From 1973 to 1984, she played a main role on General Hospital. Later, between 1996 and 2009, she returned occasionally, and her character made sporadic reappearances up until 2021.

At the start of her professional journey, while she was yet a student at UCLA, she made her significant debut on television with the iconic soap opera, “Days of Our Lives“.

During breaks from her work on General Hospital, she also had a three-year stretch (or period) playing the role of Denise McKinnon on Another World from 1986 to 1989.

It was reported by Variety that, while the news became public this past Friday, the New York City-born actress had already passed away on March 5th. No specific cause of death has been disclosed to the public yet.

This week, Frank Valenti, the showrunner of General Hospital, announced her passing, expressing heartfelt praise for the ‘boundaries’ she ‘overcame.’

‘It’s deeply saddening to learn about the demise of Denise Alexander. Not only did she excel in her role as Dr. Lesley Webber, but she was also a pioneer, being one of the first female doctors depicted on daytime television for almost five decades,’ he expressed.

He expressed his gratitude by saying, “It was truly meaningful for her to return to her role more recently, and I feel privileged to have collaborated with her.

As a fellow member of our community, I’m deeply saddened to share the news that a cherished figure from General Hospital has passed away. To her family, friends, and devoted fans, my sincerest condolences. May her memory live on in the love and warmth she shared with us all.

Denise Alexander, born in New York City in 1939, spent her childhood on Long Island, where her father was an agent. Acting became part of her life from a very young age.

By the year 1949, she was portraying Perry Como’s daughter on Perry Como’s Chesterfield Supper Club, and at just 13 years old, she was gracing Broadway stages with her performance in a revival of Lillian Hellman’s influential play from the 1930s, The Children’s Hour.

Back in 1956, when she was still a young teen, she first appeared on the big screen in the dramatic film “Crime In The Streets.” This movie featured some well-known actors such as John Cassavetes and Sal Mineo.

During her youthful acting stint, she was a regular on radio shows, which her father approximated as approximately 2,500 roles in all.

She clarified to We Love Soaps TV (as reported by TV Insider) that upon leaving school, you’d move straight from one performance to another.

Each performance lasted either 15 minutes or half an hour. Gathered around the table, we’d read the script, practice a few times, then perform. After that, we’d move on to the following performance, and at times, this meant moving to another studio altogether.

She had acted in soap operas before, but her major success in this field started when she became part of Days Of Our Lives from 1966 to 1973 – a role that marked a significant breakthrough for her.

In this portrayal, she took on the unforgettable character of Susan Hunter, who, following a devastating accident caused by her husband David (played by Clive Clerk), which led to the death of their young son, resorted to shooting him.

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2025-05-10 08:34