Denise Alexander, known for her role as Leslie Webber on the soap opera General Hospital has died. She was 85 age.
General Hospital Executive Producer Frank Valentine took to X to pay tribute to the actress stating “I am so very sorry to hear of Denise Alexander’s passing. She broke barriers on-screen and off, portraying Dr. Lesley Webber – one of the first female doctors on Daytime Television – for nearly five decades. 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.”
The show’s official X account posted Valentini’s statement as well as sharing photos of Alexander.
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.
— Frank Valentini (@valentinifrank) May 9, 2025
“I am so very sorry to hear of Denise Alexander’s passing. She broke barriers on-screen and off, portraying Dr. Lesley Webber – one of the first female doctors on Daytime Television – for nearly five decades. It meant so much to have her reprise her role in recent years and I am… pic.twitter.com/AqbOX9afiE
— General Hospital (@GeneralHospital) May 10, 2025
Kin Shriner shared on X a personal photo and said “I always walked on egg shells but Denise was a true pro , we had fun @GeneralHospital RIP to Denise Alexander ,what a time we had !!!!”
I always walked on egg shells but Denise was a true pro , we had fun @GeneralHospital RIP to Denise Alexander ,what a time we had !!!! pic.twitter.com/ouKtqMMsnG
— Kin Shriner (@kinshriner) May 9, 2025
Alexander was born in New York City on November 11, 1939. She made her professional television debut in 1949 on The Ford Theater Hour. Her father, Alec Alexander, was an agent who worked with talent such as Frank Gorshin and Sal Mineo.
Alexander’s feature film debut would come in 1956 when she would appear in Don Siegal’s film Crime in the Streets.
Alexander made her soap opera in the role of Lois Adams on The Clear Horizon in 1960, however the role that catapulted her into stardom was that of Susan Hunter Martin on Days of Our Lives. She portrayed Susan for 7 years, when she made the transition to General Hospital to play the iconic role of Dr. Lesley Williams. Alexander portrayed this role on and off for nearly 50 years, with the character initially being killed off in 1984, only to be resurrected in 1996. Alexanders last appearance on the soap aired in 2021.
Prior to playing Dr. Lesley Williams, Alexander had made an appearance in General Hospital’s unaired 1962 pilot episode, as well as making an appearance in the short-term role of Lorna Hill in 1965.
Speaking to Soap Opera Digest back in 2010, when asked if she hears from fans that want to see more of her, Alexander shared, “I do, and I always say this, and I hope Leslie Charelston (Monica) does, too: The first time that General Hospital ever went to No. 1 in our era, it was on the Lesley/Rick/Monica storyline. It wasn’t Luke and Laura. They went farther than anyone dreamed possible, of course, but that was a big triangle back then. I understand they’re focused on other things now, but it is a little odd to think there’s a member of that family in town and she’s not involved. Lesley raised Lulu.”
For the role of Williams, Alexander was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in 1976.
Over the years Alexander performed in other soaps including: Another World, Sunset Beach, Port Charles, and web series The Inn and Pretty The Series
Alexander is survived by a stepdaughter, Elizabeth Colla, from her marriage to Days of Our Lives star Richard A. Colla.
