Denise Alexander has died

'General Hospital' ex ecutive producer Frank Valentini paid tribute to the trailblazing star following the news.

He wrote on social media: "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."

And her friend Susan Seaforth Hayes, who played her on-screen rival Julie Olson Williams in 'Days of Our Lives', vowed her love for Denise "will never be over".

She wrote on Instagram: "Denise Alexander was a friend to treasure and an actress to applaud. She was well established on Days when I joined the cast as Julie #4 (a replacement for 4 previous actresses).

"She watched Billy [Hayes] and I fall madly in love and, being a romantic lady herself, cheered us on. Such happy memories of her years in Salem and her great success on General Hospital.

"We both began as child actors, both had strong mothers and both were raised as Christian Scientists in our early years. I was grateful for her wisdom, taste, humor, and goodness every time I saw her. It was never enough. And my love for her will never be over. [heart emoji] #DeniseAlexander (sic)"

Denise began her career in the 1950s, making her Broadway debut in 'The Children's Hour' before landing guest roles in programmes such as 'The Twilight Zone' and 'Father Knows Best'.

She briefly starred in CBS soap 'The Clear Horizon' before landing a role in the unscreened pilot for 'General Hospital', which was then known as 'Emergency Hospital', in 1962. Three years later, she landed a minor role in the show before bagging her part as Lesley in 1973, the same year she exited 'Days of Our Lives'.

During her stint on 'Days', which she joined in 1966, Denise appeared in more than 800 episodes of the soap, and met her husband, actor-and-director Richard Colla, who she was married to for over 40 years until his death in 2021.

Denise previously reflected on how her move to 'General Hospital' generated a "big press uproar" but she stayed on until 1984, when her character was killed off due to her personal priorities changing and failed contract negotiations.

However, 12 years later, it was revealed her character was still alive and with her daughter Laura (Genie Francis), prompting Denise to return to the show on and off until 2009. She returned again in 2013 for the show's 50th anniversary, as well as 2017 and 2019, before making her last appearance in 2021.