Meg Bennett, famed for her sizzling stint on “The Young and the Restless,” has died at the age of 75 following a lengthy fight with cancer, leaving fans and family mourning the loss of a television legend.
The obituary uncovered by The Daily Caller revealed her death on April 11. Known off-screen as Helen Margaret Bennett, she spent her final days immersed in philanthropy, penning stories, and staying connected with loved ones spread across the globe.
Born in the sun-kissed city of Pasadena, California, Bennett’s flair for the dramatic was sparked at Northwestern University. There, not only did she snag the Homecoming Queen crown, but she also strutted her stuff in the Miss America pageant before chasing the bright lights of New York City. Her Big Apple days were headlined by a breakout role in the off-Broadway hit “Godspell.”
By 1974, Bennett was gracing the small screen as Liza on “Search for Tomorrow,” but it was her turn as Julia Newman in Los Angeles that made her a household name. As the alluring young bride of a powerhouse tycoon on “The Young and the Restless,” she captivated audiences with her on-screen escapades and soap opera romances, including a controversial storyline involving a child with a lesser-known character.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bennett was a master of the multi-role, juggling parts on “General Hospital” and “Santa Barbara” alongside her iconic role. After exiting the screen in ’86, Y&R’s creator Bill Bell tapped her talents for the writing room.
‘Young And The Restless,’ ‘General Hospital’ Actress Meg Bennett Dies At 75 https://t.co/BzHOQfMJAO
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 22, 2024
“I’d been acting on the show for almost two years when this happened, so I knew the characters,” Bennett reflected in a 1985 interview. Even after her script-flipping career move, she continued to dazzle as Julia now and then, last appearing in 2020.
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Her scriptwriting chops earned her several Emmy nods, culminating in a win for Best Writing for “General Hospital” in 1995, the same year she scooped up a Writers Guild Award, a feat she repeated two years later.
2004 saw Bennett marrying “General Hospital” chief scribe Robert Guza Jr., with their union lasting nearly two decades, just shy of a milestone anniversary at her time of death. Bennett’s legacy includes her step-daughters, four beloved grandchildren, and a slew of nieces and nephews, ensuring her memory will live on.
As “The Young and the Restless” celebrates its 55th year, it continues to honor past stars like Jennifer Leak, a former castmate of Bennett’s who recently passed away at 76, remembered for her role as a prostitute-turned-nun. Meg Bennett’s star may have dimmed, but her dramatic and creative contributions to television will forever gleam in Hollywood history.