Y&R suffers tremendous loss _ Y&R cast members pay emotional tribute
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00 Fans everywhere are heartbroken to learn about the passing of Jennifer Leak, a cherished
00:04 actress from The Young and the Restless.
00:06 As her co-stars share their heartfelt tributes, let's take a moment to honor her memory
00:11 and her time in the soap world.
00:17 If you're one of the fans who have been watching Young and the Restless since day
00:20 one, then you will definitely recognize Jennifer Leak.
00:23 Leak is famously recognized for her role as Gwen Sherman on Y&R during the 1970s.
00:29 She played the role for three years, and in case you forgot, Gwen started out as a prostitute
00:34 who fell in love with Greg Foster and later ended up becoming a nun.
00:38 But her credits expand more than just Y&R.
00:41 She made her soap debut back in as Elaine Bancroft in the NBC sudser Bright Promise.
00:46 Besides that, she has also made appearances in other soaps like Ryan's Hope, Another
00:51 World, Guiding Light, and Loving.
00:53 But sadly on March 18, 2024, it was announced that the soap vet had passed away at the age
00:58 of 76 in her home Jupiter, Florida.
01:02 According to East Hamster Star, Leak died after battling from a rare neurological disease,
01:06 progressive supernuclear palsy, for the past seven years.
01:10 This heartbreaking news was shared by Leak's ex-husband, Tim Matheson, who had been married
01:14 to her for four years back in 1968.
01:16 "It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Jennifer Leak's passing," he wrote.
01:21 "She wasn't just my screen sister in yours, mine, and ours, but also my beloved first
01:26 wife.
01:27 Jennifer was a remarkable woman, strong, lovely, and incredibly talented."
01:32 My deepest condolences go out to her husband of 47 years, James Doria, and their multitude
01:37 of friends.
01:38 Leak got her major breakthrough role as Lucille Ball's on-screen daughter in the 1968 film
01:43 Yours, Mine, and Ours.
01:45 She was even in primetime hits such as Hawaii Five-O, Macmillan and Wife, The Mary Tyler
01:49 Moore Show, and Ironside.
01:52 But although she had a huge success in primetime shows as well, according to her husband, soaps
01:56 was her favorite medium and what she loved performing in most.
02:00 After the news of Leak's death, her closest friend and another Y and Her Soap vet, Janice
02:04 Lind, had some great memories together that she shared.
02:07 Janice is one of the original cast of Y&R, who played Leslie Brooks.
02:12 Janice and Jennifer first met each other on the set of Y&R and became real close friends.
02:17 In an interview with Soap Hub, she said, "Jennifer was just wonderful.
02:21 She had a way of working that was just effortless.
02:24 You never caught her acting.
02:26 It was one of those times in life where you just recognized another person's soul.
02:30 We became fast friends immediately and stayed friends all these years."
02:34 She also explained how Jennifer was the perfect casting for Gwen, who Greg Foster fell madly
02:39 in love with.
02:40 "I thought that it was such a fascinating casting.
02:43 Jennifer was the classiest woman I'd ever known.
02:47 She had impeccable taste."
02:49 She also mentioned how Leak also used to always try to class up her wardrobe and hair.
02:54 She said, "I was always in dance clothes with my hair in a ponytail.
02:58 She was always perfection."
03:00 As the storyline progressed, Gwen's decision to ditch her old life and become a nun spelled
03:04 the end for her relationship with Greg.
03:06 But according to Lind, Leak's portrayal had viewers falling hard for Gwen even when she
03:10 was completely against type.
03:13 Even after leaving the show, Leak and Lind's friendship remained solid.
03:17 According to Lind, Jennifer was incredibly giving, always going above and beyond.
03:22 She said, "She was always trying to help people.
03:24 If she learned something, she wanted to share it with somebody.
03:28 I hope she's soaring with the angels and lovingly navigating their flight.
03:32 She was lovely, navigating all of us."
03:35 But she isn't just an actress.
03:37 She also managed her husband's architect firm and when they moved to the Hamptons, she even
03:41 became a real estate agent.
03:43 And these ladies were so close that it was actually Leak who recommended Lind for the
03:47 role of Tracy DeWitt in the same show, Another World.
03:51 She even helped her find an apartment.
03:54 Jennifer was the most charming person.
03:56 She had a generosity of spirit, which was very different from the characters she played.
04:01 That generosity was just a part of her radiance Jennifer was always trying to make us the
04:04 best version of ourselves.
04:07 She always wanted to share and make your life better, said Janice as a tribute to her.
04:11 Now, Jennifer Leak is survived by her husband and brother, Kenneth Leak.
04:16 May her soul rest in peace.
04:18 So, let's all share some love for the family of the lost one and heartfelt condolences
04:22 in the comments below.
04:39 [Music]
04:44 [Music]
04:45 [Music]
04:45 [Music]
04:46 [Music]
04:46 [Music]
04:47 [Music]
04:47 [Music]
04:48 [Music]
04:48 [Music]
04:49 [Music]
04:49 [Music]
04:50 [Music]
04:50 [Music]
04:51 [Music]
04:51 [Music]
04:52 [Music]
04:52 [Music]
04:53 [Music]
04:53 [Music]
04:54 [Music]
04:54 [Music]
04:55 [Music]
04:55 [BLANK_AUDIO]