Denise Alexander, “Normal Hospital ”and “Days of Our Lives” star, dies at 85

Denise Alexander, the legendary cleaning soap opera star well-known for her roles on Normal Hospital and Days of Our Lives, has died.

The actress behind Dr. Lesley Williams died at age 85 on March 5, Leisure Weekly has confirmed.

"I’m so very sorry to listen to of Denise Alexander's passing," Normal Hospital government producer Frank Valentini instructed EW in an announcement. "She broke obstacles on display screen and off portraying Dr. Lesley Webber — one of many first feminine medical doctors on daytime tv — for practically 5 many years. It meant a lot to have her reprise her position in recent times, and I’m honored to have had the chance to work along with her. On behalf of all the Normal Hospital household, I lengthen my heartfelt sympathies to her household, mates, and longtime followers. Could she relaxation in peace."

Born in New York in 1939, Alexander was raised on Lengthy Island earlier than transferring to Los Angeles along with her father, leisure agent Alec Alexander. The actress booked a number of outstanding display screen roles in her youth, enjoying Perry Como's daughter on Perry Como's Chesterfield Supper Membership in 1949 and showing in a 1955 TV film adaptation of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with Thomas Mitchell and John Carradine.

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Alexander made her cinematic debut in 1956's Crime within the Streets. Directed by Don Siegel (Soiled Harry, Invasion of the Physique Snatchers), the movie additionally starred John Cassavetes and James Whitmore. In 1960, she appeared in her first cleaning soap opera, The Clear Horizon, as Lois Adams, earlier than serving as a collection common for 3 years. Throughout that very same interval, she additionally starred within the Twilight Zone episode "Third from the Solar" and in an episode of The Barbara Stanwyck Present.

Alexander's huge break got here in 1966 whereas she was nonetheless a pupil on the College of California, Los Angeles, when she was forged as Susan Martin on Days of Our Lives. Throughout her seven years on the present, Alexander's character reeled from the demise of her son, Dickie Martin, and ultimately murdered her husband, David. The actress departed the cleaning soap in 1973, and Bennye Gatteys took over the half for an additional three years.

The identical yr she left Days of Our Lives, Alexander debuted as Lesley Webber on Normal Hospital. Throughout Lesley's time in a love triangle with Rick Webber (Chris Robinson) and Monica Quartermaine (Leslie Charleson), the cleaning soap loved unprecedented success, with the actress incomes a Daytime Emmy nomination for her efficiency because the character — the organic mom of Laura (Genie Francis) and the foster mother of Blackie Parrish (John Stamos) — in 1976.

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Normal Hospital killed Lesley off in a automotive accident in 1984 after the actress and present had a contract dispute, and Alexander joined Another World as Mary McKinnon, whom she performed from 1986 to 1989. She then returned to GH in 1996 when Lesley was resurrected, and continued as a recurring participant on the present till 2009. She made her manner again to the cleaning soap as soon as extra for its fiftieth anniversary in 2013, and later returned for visitor appearances in 2017, 2019, and 2021.

Alexander is survived by her stepdaughter Elizabeth Colla.

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