Hey everyone, welcome to Trend Street. If you’re one of the fans who have been watching *The Young and the Restless* since day one, then you will definitely recognize Jennifer Leek. Leek is

famously recognized for her role as Gwen Sherman on Y&R during the 1970s. She played the role for three years, starting out as a prostitute who fell in love with Greg Foster and later became a

nun. But her credits expand more than just Y&R. She made her soap debut back in *Bright Promise* as Elaine Boft on NBC. Besides that, she also made appearances in other soaps like *Ryan’s Hope*, *Another World*, *Guiding Light*, and *Loving*.

But sadly, on March 18th, 2024, it was announced that the soap vet had passed away at the age of 76 in her home in Jupiter, Florida. According to East Hamster Star, Leek died after battling a rare neurological disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, for the past six years. This heartbreaking news was shared by Leek’s ex-husband, Tim Maughan, who had been married to her for four years back in 1968.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Jennifer Leek’s passing,” he wrote. “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. My deepest condolences go out to her husband of 47 years, James Dorr, and their multitude of friends.”

Leek got her major breakthrough role as Lucille Ball’s on-screen daughter in the 1968 film *Yours, Mine, and Ours*. She was even in prime-time hits such as *Hawaii 5-0*, *McMillan and Wife*, *The Mary Tyler Moore Show*, and *Ironside*. But although she had huge success in prime-time shows as well, according to her husband, soaps were her favorite medium and what she loved performing in most.

After the news of Leek’s death, her closest friend and another Y&R soap vet, Janice Lynde, had some great memories together that she shared. Janice is one of the original cast of Y&R who played Leslie Brooks. Janice and Jennifer first met each other on the set of Y&R and became real close friends. In an interview with Soap Hub, she said, “Jennifer was just wonderful. She had a way of working that was just effortless; you never caught her acting. It was one of those times in life where you just recognized another person’s soul.”

“We became fast friends immediately and stayed friends all these years,” she added. She also explained how Jennifer was the perfect casting for Gwen, who Greg Foster fell madly in love with. “I thought that it was such a fascinating casting. Jennifer was the classiest woman I’d ever known; she had impeccable taste.”

Leek’s portrayal had viewers falling hard for Gwen, even when she was completely against type. Even after leaving the show, Leek and Lynde’s friendship remained solid. According to Lynde, Jennifer was incredibly giving, always going above and beyond. “She was always trying to help people; if she learned something, she wanted to share it with somebody.”

Now Jennifer Leek is survived by her husband and brother, Kenneth Leek. May her soul rest in peace. Let’s all share some love for the family of the lost one and heartfelt condolences in the comments below. Thank you for checking out this video. Don’t forget to hit that like button and subscribe to our channel for new videos every day. Turn that bell notification on if you want to hear from us, and comment down below if you’ve subscribed, and we’ll make sure to reply and thank as many of you as we possibly can.

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