Soap opera star Denise Alexander has died. She was 85.
The actress passed away on March 5, Variety reported on Friday.
Alexander was best known for her roles as Lesley Webber on “General Hospital” and Susan Hunter Martin on “Days of Our Lives.”
“General Hospital” executive producer Frank Valentini mourned Alexander’s death on X (formerly Twitter).
“I am so very sorry to hear of Denise Alexander’s passing,” he wrote. “She broke barriers on-screen and off, portraying Dr. Lesley Webber – one of the first female doctors on Daytime Television – for nearly five decades.”
Valentini continued, “It meant so much to have her reprise her role in recent years and 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.”
Genie Francis, who played Alexander’s TV daughter on “General Hospital,” also shared a tribute to the late actress on social media.
“Thank you mama, for so much more than u know. #GH,” Francis, 62, wrote alongside photos of the pair.
“Days of Our Lives” star Susan Seaforth Hayes shared her own Instagram tribute to Alexander, calling 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,” said Hayes, 81. “We both began as child actors, both had strong mothers and both were raised as Christian Scientists in our early years.”
“I was grateful for her wisdom, taste, humor, and goodness every time I saw her,” she added about Alexander. “It was never enough. And my love for her will never be over.”
Alexander was born in New York City in 1939. Her father was talent agent Alec Alexander, who worked with stars such as Frank Gorshin and Sal Mineo.
The actress made her TV debut in 1949 on “The Ford Theater Hour.” Her first feature film was Don Siegal’s 1956 movie “Crime in the Streets.”
In 1966, Alexander was cast in “Days of Our Lives.” Her character, Susan Hunter Martin, dealt with the death of her son and murdered her husband during Alexander’s seven years on the show.
After leaving “Days” in 1973, Alexander was immediately cast as Lesley Webber in “General Hospital.” The role earned Alexander a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 1976.
Alexander starred on “General Hospital” on and off for almost 50 years. Lesley was killed in 1984 and then resurrected in 1996. Alexander’s last appearance on the soap was in 2021.
“I was sad when I left the show,” she told We Love Soaps in 2010. “When you have played a character that long and had fun with it, you can feel the fan’s sorrow.”
“I missed the character,” Alexander added, “and it’s a fun thing for me she came back to life. It’s a character I know, and there’s still a few people I know there.”
Alexander is survived by her stepdaughter, Elizabeth Colla, from her marriage to director and producer Richard A. Colla, who died in 2010.
