General Hospital star Denise Alexander dead at 85

Known for her legendary portrayal of Dr. Lesley Webber, one of the first female doctors on daytime television, she was a trailblazer on and off screen.

Now, Denise Alexander, the adored star of Days of Our Lives and General Hospital, has died.

According to Soap Opera Digest, Denise Alexander, a legendary figure in soap opera who was most famous for portraying Laura’s mother Lesley on General Hospital, passed away at the age of 85.

When Alexander joined NBC’s Days of Our Lives as Susan Martin in 1966, her career took off. She married her co-star Richard Colla during her stint on the show, and the two stayed together until his death in 2021. Their passion lasted a lifetime.

She created waves in the soap opera industry in 1973 when she bravely left Days to join ABC’s General Hospital, where she would later become one of the most adored characters.

From an early age, Denise Alexander was accustomed to being in the spotlight. She was born on November 11, 1939, in New York City, and grew up on Long Island before moving to Los Angeles when her father, Alec Alexander, a talent agent for Sal Mineo and Frank Gorshin, brought the family to the West Coast.

Unprecedented pay

Denise Alexander accumulated more than 5,000 radio performances and 500 television credits while she was a young actress in New York. She thus developed a strong resume in both media by the time she started her junior year at UCLA.

Her breakthrough in daytime television came from her depiction of Susan Hunter Martin on Days of Our Lives from 1966 to 1973, but she made her soap opera debut in 1960 as Lois Adams on The Clear Horizon.

Susan was momentarily removed from the Days of Our Lives plot in 1973 due to the stalling of contract negotiations. In order to get Denise Alexander to General Hospital, ABC Daytime seized the chance and made a ground-breaking offer that included an unheard-of compensation and benefits package.

She rose to prominence on the show and was a favorite for eleven years before leaving in 1984 over a contract dispute. A tragic vehicle accident claimed the life of her character, Lesley.

After that, Alexander landed a part on the NBC soap opera Another World. Unexpectedly, though, she returned to GH in 1996 when Lesley unexpectedly came back from the grave.

Up until 2009, Alexander was a regular on the show, and in the years that followed, he made more special guest appearances. In 2021, she made her last appearance on the show.

passed away two months ago.

Although the news wasn’t released until May 9, two months later, Alexander died on March 5, 2025, at the age of 85. Executive producer Frank Valentini of General Hospital made the announcement and posted a touching homage on Instagram.

Valentini stated, “I am deeply saddened by the news of Denise Alexander’s passing.” As one of the first female doctors on daytime television, Dr. Lesley Webber, she broke down barriers both on and off screen for almost fifty years.

I am grateful to have had the chance to collaborate with her, and it meant a lot to see her return to her job in recent years.

I offer my deepest condolences to her family, friends, and devoted fans on behalf of the entire General Hospital family. I hope she finds peace.

A carousel of images honoring Alexander’s life and career, featuring her both on and off set, was posted with his remark.

A difficult moment for the entire cast

Fans swiftly sent their condolences after learning about Denise Alexander’s death.

“She was really such a big part of GH’s amazing years!” one admirer wrote.

“I feel awful for the whole General Hospital cast. Losing so many cherished artists and actresses has made the past two years quite difficult for them.

Dealing with this must be quite challenging, regardless of their age range. These three remarkable actresses—Jacin Zeman, Leslie Charleson, and now Denise Alexander—entertained us in the afternoon for many years.

I appreciate the devoted fans and the three of them for their commitment to their trade. Another fan commented, “They are and will always be missed.”

Susan Seaforth Hayes, star of Days of Our Lives, also paid tribute to her buddy on social media.

Denise Alexander was an actress to admire and a friend to cherish. When I joined the show as Julie #4 (a replacement for four previous actresses), she was already highly established on Days.

She posted a picture of herself, her husband Billy Hayes, and Alexander. “She watched Billy and I fall madly in love and, being a romantic lady herself, cheered us on,” she wrote.

“I have wonderful recollections of her time in Salem and her remarkable achievements on General Hospital.” Both of us had strong mothers, were brought up as Christian Scientists, and started off as child actors.

Every time I saw her, I was thankful for her goodness, humor, taste, and insight. It was never sufficient. Additionally, I will always love her.

Denise Alexander, who worked in the field for almost 50 years, had a profound impact on daytime television and changed the lives of many viewers.

Her skill, grace, and dedication to her craft were hallmarks of her work, both on and off screen.

Her legacy will endure in the hearts of those who loved her as a trailblazing actress and a cherished figure in the soap opera industry, even as her family, friends, and fans grieve her passing. Peace be with you!

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