Jennifer Leak, known for her role as Gwen Sherman on “The Young and the Restless,” has passed away at the age of 76, according to reports from the New York Post. Her ex-husband and fellow actor Tim Matheson announced her death on Facebook, expressing his condolences to her husband of 47 years, James D’Auria, and their friends.
Leak and Matheson first met on the set of “Yours, Mine and Ours” in 1968, where they played step-siblings. They remained close, and Matheson described Leak as a remarkable woman who was not only his screen sister but also his beloved first wife.
Leak battled progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare brain condition affecting body movements, for the past seven years. She passed away at her home in Jupiter, Florida.
Born in 1947 in Wales, UK, Leak began her acting career at age 17. Despite facing immigration issues that prevented her from landing a role in “The Graduate” in 1967, Leak found success in acting. Apart from her role in “Yours, Mine and Ours,” she made appearances in popular shows like “Hawaii Five-0,” “Nero Wolfe,” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” She also portrayed Gwen Sherman on “The Young and the Restless” for three seasons in the 1970s.
Leak retired from acting in 1977 after marrying James D’Auria. She pursued a career in real estate, dividing her time between East Hampton, New York City, and eventually Florida. Despite her diagnosis, Leak remained courageous and participated in research programs aimed at finding a cure for progressive supranuclear palsy. Her husband mentioned that Leak donated her brain tissue to the Mayo Clinic for further studies.
Jennifer Leak is survived by her husband, James D’Auria, and her brother, Kenneth Leak of Toronto. Her ashes will be laid to rest in the graveyard of her childhood church in Wales.