Denise Alexander
Encyclopedia
Denise Alexander is a well-known American
soap opera
actress, most known for her role as Lesley Webber
on General Hospital
, a role she originally played from 1973 to 1984 and 1996 to present.
Born in New York City
and raised on Long Island
, she moved to Los Angeles when her father, Alec Alexander, an agent who handled at that point such notables as Frank Gorshin
and Sal Mineo
, decided to make the switch from the east to the west coast. A successful child actress, Alexander had appeared on TV and radio by the time she was a junior at UCLA. She made her feature movie debut, aged fourteen, in the John Cassavetes
film Crime In The Streets.
Alexander first broke into the soap opera genre by playing Susan Hunter Martin on Days of our Lives
from 1966 to 1973. A popular actress, much of the show's early success had to do with Susan's rivalry with Julie Olson (played by Susan Seaforth Hayes
). In 1973, Susan H. Martin was written out of the show temporarily when the Days casting office hit a snag renewing her contract and the contract lapsed. ABC Daytime
rushed to offer her a then-unheard of salary/perks package to join General Hospital. When Susan H. Martin finally returned to Days, a new actress played her. A few months later, she started on General Hospital, playing the role of Dr. Lesley Webber, which would become her most popular and longest-tenured. She stayed with the show for eleven years, leaving in 1984. In 1986, she was offered a big salary to portray absent McKinnon matriarch, Mary, on Another World
. When the commute from her home in Los Angeles
to Another Worlds studio in New York City
proved to be difficult for her, she left in 1989. Since 1996, she has played the role of Lesley on General Hospital
.
Her career began as a child actress in radio and television, and has spanned virtually all forms of stage and screen (large and small) dramatic and comic entertainment---including, as a teenager, playing the daughter of a lawyer and a former fashion buyer (Hume Cronyn
and Jessica Tandy
) on the short lived NBC
radio comedy-drama, The Marriage (1953–1954).
She has produced for both network and cable television, spoken as guest lecturer/speaker to groups from charities, to civic groups to college audiences. In a 1981 People Weekly interview, she called the late Gloria Monty
"a wonderfully bossy little lady".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
actress, most known for her role as Lesley Webber
Lesley Webber
Lesley Webber, M.D. was a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. She was played by Denise Alexander from 1972-1984 on contract and from 1996-2009 recurring.-Arrival:...
on General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
, a role she originally played from 1973 to 1984 and 1996 to present.
Born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and raised on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, she moved to Los Angeles when her father, Alec Alexander, an agent who handled at that point such notables as Frank Gorshin
Frank Gorshin
Frank John Gorshin, Jr. was an American actor and comedian. He was perhaps best known as an impressionist, with many guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show...
and Sal Mineo
Sal Mineo
Salvatore "Sal" Mineo, Jr. , was an American film and theatre actor, best known for his performance as John "Plato" Crawford opposite James Dean in the film Rebel Without a Cause...
, decided to make the switch from the east to the west coast. A successful child actress, Alexander had appeared on TV and radio by the time she was a junior at UCLA. She made her feature movie debut, aged fourteen, in the John Cassavetes
John Cassavetes
John Nicholas Cassavetes was an American actor, screenwriter and filmmaker. He acted in many Hollywood films, notably Rosemary's Baby and The Dirty Dozen...
film Crime In The Streets.
Alexander first broke into the soap opera genre by playing Susan Hunter Martin on Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
from 1966 to 1973. A popular actress, much of the show's early success had to do with Susan's rivalry with Julie Olson (played by Susan Seaforth Hayes
Susan Seaforth Hayes
Susan Seaforth Hayes is an American dramatic actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Julie Williams on the long-running NBC drama Days of our Lives, and her intermittent portrayal of JoAnna Manning on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless...
). In 1973, Susan H. Martin was written out of the show temporarily when the Days casting office hit a snag renewing her contract and the contract lapsed. ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime is a programming block on the ABC Network which has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows and talk shows.-Schedule:...
rushed to offer her a then-unheard of salary/perks package to join General Hospital. When Susan H. Martin finally returned to Days, a new actress played her. A few months later, she started on General Hospital, playing the role of Dr. Lesley Webber, which would become her most popular and longest-tenured. She stayed with the show for eleven years, leaving in 1984. In 1986, she was offered a big salary to portray absent McKinnon matriarch, Mary, on Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
. When the commute from her home in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to Another Worlds studio in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
proved to be difficult for her, she left in 1989. Since 1996, she has played the role of Lesley on General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
.
Her career began as a child actress in radio and television, and has spanned virtually all forms of stage and screen (large and small) dramatic and comic entertainment---including, as a teenager, playing the daughter of a lawyer and a former fashion buyer (Hume Cronyn
Hume Cronyn
Hume Blake Cronyn, OC was a Canadian actor of stage and screen, who enjoyed a long career, often appearing professionally alongside his second wife, Jessica Tandy.-Early life:...
and Jessica Tandy
Jessica Tandy
Jessie Alice "Jessica" Tandy was an English-American stage and film actress.She first appeared on the London stage in 1926 at the age of 16, playing, among others, Katherine opposite Laurence Olivier's Henry V, and Cordelia opposite John Gielgud's King Lear. She also worked in British films...
) on the short lived NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
radio comedy-drama, The Marriage (1953–1954).
She has produced for both network and cable television, spoken as guest lecturer/speaker to groups from charities, to civic groups to college audiences. In a 1981 People Weekly interview, she called the late Gloria Monty
Gloria Monty
Gloria Monty was an American TV producer working primarily in the field of daytime drama.She died of cancer at the age of 84.-Education:...
"a wonderfully bossy little lady".
Daytime acting credits
- Lois Adams on The Clear HorizonThe Clear HorizonThe Clear Horizon is a soap opera which ran on CBS Daytime from July 11, 1960 to March 10, 1961 and from February 26, 1962 to June 11, 1962. The show was created and head written by Manya Starr. -Premise:...
(1960–1962) - Emily Sanders on Ben Jerrod (1963–1964)
- Susan Hunter Martin on Days of our LivesDays of our LivesDays of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
(1966–1973) - Dr. Lesley Williams Faulkner on General HospitalGeneral HospitalGeneral Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
(1973–1984), (1996–present) - Mary McKinnon on Another WorldAnother World (TV series)Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
on (1986–1989) - Sister Beatrice on Sunset BeachSunset Beach (TV series)Sunset Beach was an American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on January 6, 1997, and last airing on December 31, 1999. The show followed the loves and lives of the people living in a fictional coastal city named Sunset Beach, on the coast of California...
on (1997–1998)