Samantha Ibrahim
Soap opera star Jennifer Leak, who shot to fame in the series “The Young and the Restless” and the 1968 film “Yours, Mine and Ours,” has died.
She was 76.
Her ex-husband, actor Tim Matheson, announced her death on Wednesday.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Jennifer Leak’s passing,” the “Virgin River” actor, 76, penned on Facebook.
“She wasn’t just my screen sister in ‘Yours, Mine and Ours,’ but also my beloved first wife. Jennifer was a remarkable woman, strong, lovely, and incredibly talented,” Matheson continued.
Leak and Matheson played step-siblings in the family comedy and were married from 1968 until 1971.
“My deepest condolences go out to her husband of 47 years, James D’Auria and their multitude of friends,” he concluded his message.
The “Guiding Light” alum died on March 18 at her home in Jupiter, Florida. According to her obituary, she was battling progressive supranuclear palsy for the last few years of her life.
In “Yours, Mine and Ours,” Matheson played Mike, the son of Frank Beardsley, portrayed by Henry Fonda. Leak took on the character of Colleen, the daughter of Lucille Ball’s Helen North.
The wacky film chronicled Frank and Helen getting hitched and merging their families, bringing 18 children into one home.
A remake of the comedy dropped in 2005, starring Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo, Drake Bell, Miranda Cosgrove, Rip Torn and Sean Paris.
Before walking away from Hollywood in the 1980s, she gained prominence starring on other soap operas such as “Guiding light,” “Another World” and “One Life to Live.”
After her retirement, she found work as a real estate agent and married D’Auria in 1977. Leak was born in Wales and got her start in the 1966 Canadian drama series “Wojeck,” before transitioning to film.
She also starred in the films “Eye of the Cat” in 1969 and 1974’s “The Photographer.”
Leak is survived by her husband and brother.
This post was originally posted by NYPost
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