Denise Alexander, Iconic Dr. Lesley Webber from ‘General Hospital,’ Passes Away at 85

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85-year-old Denise Alexander, who acted in countless radio shows and made appearances on ‘The Twilight Zone’ during her youth, later taking on the role of Dr. Lesley Webber for extended periods on ‘General Hospital’, passed away.

Alexander passed away on March 5, due to natural reasons, at his nephew’s residence in Boulder, Colorado. His stepson, Anthony Colla, confirmed this to The Hollywood Reporter.

As a former child actress, known for portraying Susan Hunter Martin on NBC’s “Days of Our Lives” for over six years, starting while I was still in college back in 1966, I found myself in an unexpected turn of events. It was when the producers at ABC caught wind that my contract had expired, and they created a situation I couldn’t refuse – as I reminisced during a 2010 interview with “I Love Soaps” website.

In March of 1973, Dr. Lesley Williams relocated to Port Charles. Over the subsequent eleven years, her character – a blend of strength and kindness – would wed Dr. Rick Webber (initially played by Michael Gregory, later by Chris Robinson) twice. Moreover, she uncovered a surprising truth: her child, Laura (Genie Francis), who she believed had perished as a youngster, was still alive.

In the midst of a dispute over contracts, Lesley met with a fatal car accident in March 1984, off-screen. Later, Alexander expressed regret for her departure on the set of Good Morning America, speaking with David Hartman as the host.

Over the course of 12 years, I’ve grown incredibly close to this character. She’s practically become my dearest friend, and I find myself genuinely liking her,” she expressed. “She possesses qualities I don’t, such as being tidy, organized, and generally upbeat… though she’s not always sunny.

In August of 1986, she re-entered the world of soap operas, taking on the role of Mary McKinnon, the matriarch of Bay City, for NBC’s Another World. She continued in this role until 1989. Later, from 1996 to 2009, she became a regular cast member once more on G.H.. It was later revealed that Lesley had not been killed; instead, she had been drugged and rendered catatonic by the same individual who had abducted her daughter!

In the second instalment of “G.H.”, Lesley encountered Laura’s struggle with catatonia and the alarming reality that her daughter intended to strike and possibly kill Rick in the attic of the Webber residence. However, as it often happens, things were not as straightforward as they appeared.

Frank Valentini, the producer of ‘General Hospital’, praised her significant impact both on-screen and off- by playing Dr. Lesley Webber, one of the pioneering female doctors on daytime television for almost five decades. He expressed deep appreciation that she returned to her role in more recent times, and felt privileged to have collaborated with her.”

“Frank Valentini, the producer of ‘General Hospital’, commended her groundbreaking portrayal of Dr. Lesley Webber on television for almost five decades, as one of the first female doctors in daytime TV. He was thrilled to have had her reprise her role in recent years and felt honored by the chance to work with her.

Denise Lois Alexander, who hails from New York, was born on November 11, 1939. Raised in Long Island, she grew up with her father, Alec, who managed high-profile clients such as Frank Gorshin and Sal Mineo.

From the tender age of six, I embarked on a remarkable acting journey in New York, participating in over two thousand radio shows. This endeavor led me to play the daughter of a magician on “The Big Guy” in 1950 and the daughter of refined parents, portrayed by Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, on the NBC series “The Marriage” from 1953-1954.

She remembered vividly how she’d leave school and move straight into one performance after another. These shows lasted either 15 minutes or half an hour, and we’d gather around a table to read the script, practice a few times, then perform it. Once that was done, we’d quickly wrap up and head to the next one. Sometimes, the next studio was just a hop, skip, and a jump away.

In 1949, Alexander first appeared on television in an episode of Perry Como’s show called Kraft Music Hall. After this, she acted in various anthology dramas such as Armstrong Circle Theatre, The Philco Television Playhouse, and Robert Montgomery Presents. From 1951 to 1955, she also had a recurring role in the science-fiction series called Tom Corbett, Space Cadet.

I made my Broadway debut in 1952-53, gracing the stage in a revival of Lillian Hellman’s play, “The Children’s Hour.” Sharing the spotlight with Kim Hunter and Patricia Neal was an unforgettable experience. Later on, I had the privilege to portray the sister of Mineo in the Don Siegel-directed film, “Crime in the Streets,” which also featured John Cassavetes. As a gamer, stepping into these roles felt like leveling up my acting skills!

She persistently made appearances on shows such as Climax!, Father Knows Best, The Life of Riley, The Danny Thomas Show, The Detectives, and The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. In 1960, she starred in the 14th episode of CBS’ The Twilight Zone as the daughter of a military scientist (Fritz Weaver), notably in the celebrated episode “Third From the Sun.

In addition, she started a two-year stint in 1960, portraying an astronaut’s daughter residing in Cape Canaveral. During this period, she was considered for the role in the CBS soap opera titled “The Clear Horizon” (1960-62). Moreover, she had an opportunity to play Maria in the movie adaption of “West Side Story”.

During her time pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in English at UCLA, Alexander landed the role of Susan on Days of Our Lives. (Informal: While studying for her B.A. in English at UCLA, Alexander got cast as Susan on Days of Our Lives.)

Initially, she was known as the rebellious one, expelled from school due to her habits of smoking and drinking. This occurred at a time when her mother, portrayed by Coleen Gray, was embarking on a relationship with Mickey Horton (John Clarke). All of a sudden, she found herself dealing with an unruly teenage problem. The character resonated with the audience, and it ignited something within them.”

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“At first, she was the ‘bad girl’ and was expelled from school due to her smoking and drinking. This happened just as her mother (Coleen Gray) was beginning a romance with Mickey Horton (John Clarke). Now, she had an unruly teenager on her hands. The character proved popular, capturing the hearts of the audience.

After the tragic incident where Susan lost her young son in an accident involving a swing-set, resulting in her also taking the life of her husband, David (Clive Clerk), Susan mentioned that Alexander’s storylines became less intense.

Once, I distinctly remember receiving a petition. I walked throughout the studio, asking everyone from the actors to the crew to put their signature on it. The paper read, ‘In light of the fact that the show would be significantly enhanced if Susan Martin’s character were involved in a romantic relationship,'” she recounted.

In simpler terms,

“I didn’t understand the part where you kissed and dated multiple guys. Initially, I was portrayed as a rebellious character, but things changed and I became more reserved. At one point, her main hobby was baking.” (When she left for G.H., Bennye Gatteys took over her role.)

In 1976, Alexander was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding actress in a drama series, and the show quickly climbed to the top of the daytime ratings after Robinson joined the cast in 1978. As she put it, “When Chris and I were on the show, Rick and Lesley were like Luke and Laura of their time.

Six years down the line, upon expressing her desire to stay yet work fewer hours, G.H. decided to write off the character of Lesley. This move led to a wave of protests from fans who took their disapproval directly to ABC’s doors.

In her life, McKinnon was wed to Vince McKinnon (first as Duke Stroud, later as Robert Hogan), and she faced amnesia before moving to live with her children in Minnesota. Although she earned a substantial income, the long commute from Los Angeles to New York ultimately proved exhausting for her.

In 2013, she made her initial visit to G.H., where she dedicated her time to developing the web series titled “Pretty the Series” and “The Inn”.

Alexander was wed to actor-director Richard A. Colla, famous for his role as Tony Merritt on “Days of Our Lives,” from the 1980s until he passed away on December 24, 2021. She did not have any biological children. Her stepdaughter, Elizabeth, also passed away on March 31.

In her 2010 interview, Alexander looked back on the heady days of being a soap opera star.

She explained, “People would gather around your car and yell as you tried to leave after an appearance. This was financially beneficial, and I didn’t have the frustration of going on auditions only to be told I wasn’t right because I was too young, too old, too short, too heavy, too dull, or nothing at all. It was a fantastic environment, a wonderful job, and an incredible opportunity for an actor. Everyone became famous, which added to the excitement.

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2025-05-11 21:55