In Memoriam: Denise Alexander, beloved as Dr. Lesley Webber on General Hospital, dies at 85

Denise Alexander, who played Dr. Lesley Webber on General Hospital from 1973-84, and again, starting in 1996, has died. The beloved fan favorite was 85 years old.

Denise Alexander of General Hospital, Days of our Lives, Another World

According to TV Insider, Alexander passed away just over two months ago on March 5, 2025. No cause of death has been reported.

Born in New York City on November 11, 1939, Alexander was raised on Long Island. She began her career as a child actress, appearing in radio dramas including Perry Mason and I Remember Mama. Early TV appearances for the actress included The Ford Theatre Hour, Kraft Theatre, and The Twilight Zone. In 1949, she played Perry Como's daughter on Perry Como's Chesterfield Supper Club on NBC.

But it was in the genre of daytime drama where Alexander made her mark as a performer. In 1988, Christopher Schmering wrote in The Soap Opera Encyclopedia that Alexander was "probably the most consistently popular romantic heroine in the history of television soaps."

Her first soap opera was The Clear Horizon where she played Lois Adams. In 1966, she became a household name among soap opera fans courtesy of her portrayal of Susan Martin, the rival to Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes). Susan stood trial for the murder of her late husband David Martin. Her attorney, Mickey Horton (John Clarke) helped her be found not guilty.

In 1973, Alexander jumped networks after being courted by General Hospital to play the role of Dr. Lesley Williams. She played standard soap opera fare including Lesley being reunited with her long-lost daughter, Laura (then, Stacey Baldwin).

However, by 1977, General Hospital was facing a difficult challenge, languishing at the bottom of the ratings. Newly appointed head writer Douglas Marland and executive producer Gloria Monty thrust Lesley into the forefront. The good doctor confessed to the murder of David Hamilton (Jerry Ayres) to protect her daughter Laura (Genie Francis), who had accidentally committed the deed. This 1978 story was instrumental in helping GH climb to the top of the ratings.

Lesley's other big story around this time was the quadrangle with Rick (Michael Gregory, Chris Robinson), Monica (Leslie Charleson), and Alan (Stuart Damon). Rick left Lesley after believing Monica had given birth to his son. When it came out that Alan was A.J.'s (Sean Kanan) true father, Lesley and Monica had a showdown in the Quartermaine courtyard that culminated with Lesley slapping Monica across the face.

After reaching an impasse over contract negotiations, Alexander checked out of GH in 1984. Lesley died after her car skidded off an icy road. Fans picketed the studio in protest, demanding that the character be brought back to life.

In 1996, that wish was granted. It turned out that Stefan Cassadine (Stephen Nichols) helped fake Lesley's death to keep Helena (Constance Towers) from doing the matriarch in for real. Alexander recurred on the show for years after, on and off.

In a controversial retcon of history, Rick and Lesley's union was sullied when Rick was saddled with a newly created backstory. However, Alexander was given compelling drama when Lesley consoled Nikolas (Tyler Christopher) after Emily's (Natalia Livingston) death, and when she supported Laura after she came out of her catatonic state in 2006.

Dr. Lesley Webber was synonymous with General Hospital

In 2013, the show's 50th anniversary year, GH treated viewers to a scene between Lesley and Monica at, appropriately, General Hospital, where they looked back at their tumultuous relationship. They also shared scenes in 2019. Alexander's last appearance on GH was in 2021 when Lesley demanded that Cyrus (Jeff Kober) stop accosting Laura.

Reunited on Another World

In between GH stints, Alexander was lured back to NBC to play Mary McKinnon (AKA Marissa LaSalle) on Another World. There, she was reunited with Robinson, who played Jason Frame.

Alexander was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as General Hospital's Lesley in 1976.

Off-screen, Alexander wore many hats. She served as a still photographer and production coordinator in the Katharine Hepburn film Olly, Olly, Oxen Free, which was directed by Alexander's husband, Richard Colla. (She and Colla met at DAYS where he played Tony Merritt.

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She appeared in the Web series Pretty the Series and The Inn, both executive produced and written by Steve Silverman. Alexander is survived by a stepdaughter, Elizabeth Colla.

Soap Central sends sincere condolences to Alexander's family, friends, and fans at this difficult time.

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