‘General Hospital,’ ‘Days Of Our Lives’ Fan Favorite Dead At 85

The soap community suffered another loss this month. A fan favorite General Hospital and Days Of Our Lives vet passed away. Keep reading for more information and read GH head honcho’s sweet tribute.

Huge Losses Rock Soap Community

The past few years have been tough for soap fans. Not only are soaps constantly in danger of cancellation, but several stars from daytime have passed away.

General Hospital and Days Of Our Lives have been hit the hardest by the losses. Sonya Eddy, who played Epiphany on GH, passed away in 2022. Just when fans were starting to heal, longtime General Hospital star Jackie Zeman unexpectedly passed away in 2023.

Tyler Christopher and Billy Miller, who both appeared on General Hospital, passed away within a month of each other in late 2023.

Days Of Our Lives suffered two huge losses last year. Drake Hogestyn, who played John Black for decades, died in September 2024 after a quiet battle with cancer. With the actor’s permission, the soap plans to kill John Black off next month rather than recast.

DOOL alum Wayne Northrop passed away two months after Drake Hogestyn. He was married to GH star Lynn Herring (Lucy) for 43 years before his death.

The latest loss has soap fans in mourning once again.

 General Hospital, Days Of Our Lives Fan Favorite Dead At 85

News broke on May 9th that Denise Alexander had passed away at the age of 85. According to Variety, she passed away earlier this month but her family only now shared the news with the public.

The actress got her big break as Susan Martin on Days Of Our Lives. But to General Hospital viewers, she’s Leslie Webber, the most of the soap’s heroine, Laura Webber (Genie Francis.)

In the late 1970s and early 80s, Leslie Webber was involved in a love triangle with Rick (Chris Robinson) and Monica (played by Leslie Charleson, who passed away in January 2025.) In later years, she became a back-burner character who doled out advice to Laura and her grandkids.

GH Executive Producer Frank Valentini Shares Tribute

Denise Alexander last appeared on the ABC soap in 2021. Executive Producer Frank Valentini took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute to the actress. He said that it “meant so much” to have Alexander reprise her role on General Hospital.

“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,” he wrote.

Soap fans flooded the comments with condolences and memories of the actress.

• “She was mentioned so much recently on the show as Lulu questioned Laura’s adoption story.
• She was truly such an integral part of the wonder years of GH!”
• “She was a great actress and perfect as Leslie. Her memory will be a blessing.”
• “They’re all just going home now. When you’ve been on the air as long as GH, we’re gonna see most of them pass. It sucks”

Our condolences to the actress’s fans, co-stars and family. Share your favorite memory of Denise Alexander in the comments.