This one really hits home for a lot of folks. Denise Alexander, the actress who played Dr. Lesley Webber on General Hospital for what felt like forever, passed away on March 5, 2025. She was 85. The news was confirmed a bit later, on May 9, by the show's executive producer Frank Valentini, who posted a heartfelt tribute on social media.
He talked about how she wasn’t just an actress — she was a trailblazer, one of the first women to play a doctor on daytime TV, which was a pretty big deal back then. He said, “She broke barriers on-screen and off,” and honestly, anyone who’s followed soap operas knows how true that is. It’s just sad. She meant a lot to people.
Her Journey Started Way Before GH
A lot of people might not know this, but Denise got into acting super early — like six years old. She was born in New York City in 1939 and first got her start in radio. It’s wild to think about now, but by the late 1960s, she had already done thousands of radio shows and hundreds of TV appearances. That’s a crazy amount of work, and she wasn’t even 30 yet.
She smoothly made the jump into TV and movies, which wasn’t easy at the time. It just shows how talented and hardworking she was. Not everyone makes that transition.
Soap Stardom and General Hospital Fame
For many of us, Denise was General Hospital. She came onto the show in 1973, playing Dr. Lesley Webber. Her role turned out to be way more than just another character — she became Laura’s mom (played by Genie Francis), and suddenly she was in the middle of one of the most iconic storylines ever, including a love triangle that viewers still talk about.
She even got nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 1976. Denise once said, “Rick and Lesley were the Luke and Laura of their time,” and if you were watching back then, you totally get it. That couple was everything.
Fans Never Forgot Her — Even When the Show Did
One thing that really stood out about her was how much the fans loved her. When her character was killed off in 1984, people were actually angry. Like, really upset. Some even protested. And honestly, it makes sense — she was one of those rare characters who just felt real, like someone you knew.
She left GH for a while and worked on Another World, but thankfully she came back in 1996. It was like having an old friend return. She popped up a few more times after that, especially during big anniversaries. Her last appearance was in 2021.
Beyond Acting — A Life of Passion and Creativity
Denise wasn’t just about the spotlight. She was also into photography, which gave her a different kind of purpose. In an interview back in 1978, she talked about how much it meant to her — not for attention, but because it made her feel grounded. She said, “It’s a grown-up thing. We all want to feel like we’re doing something real.” That line stuck with me.
She was married to Richard A. Colla, a director and producer, and they worked together behind the scenes on a lot of stuff. He passed away in 2021, and I feel like that kind of closed a chapter for her too.
A Quiet Goodbye, But a Loud Legacy
It’s tough to sum up someone like Denise Alexander in just a few paragraphs. She gave decades of her life to the kind of work that helped shape daytime TV — not just playing a role, but helping generations of viewers connect with something meaningful. Whether you watched her in the ‘70s or saw her later cameos, she left a mark.
Even though she’s gone, she’ll always be a part of that world — and a part of ours too
