'Young and the Restless' star Jennifer Leak remembered by fans after she dies at 76 from rare disease

JUPITER, FLORIDA: Jennifer Leak, a veteran TV and movie actress known for her work in ‘The Young and the Restless’, lost her life on March 18. Leak was battling progressive supranuclear palsy for years before succumbing to it at the age of 76, East Hampton Star reported. 

Leak pledged her brain tissue to the Mayo Clinic for research purposes before her death. 

Jennifer Leak fought her health setbacks with 'courage and bravery' 

Leak's husband James D’Auria reportedly said, “Her courage and bravery tried in vain to fight the disease.”

D’Auria also noted that his wife was “a shy and private person, never desiring to be the center of attention or having the need for an audience. She saved those feelings and exhibited them only when on camera, and then she became electric.”

Jennifer Leak's ex-husband Tim Matheson pays tribute to her

Besides, Leak, who became popular after working in ‘Yours, Mine and Ours’ as Colleen North, has also been remembered by her former husband, Tim Matheson.

The 76-year-old actor in an Instagram post shared, “It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Jennifer Leak's passing. She wasn't just my screen sister in ‘Yours, Mine and Ours,’ but also my beloved first wife.”

Calling her “a remarkable woman, strong, lovely, and incredibly talented,” he stated, “My deepest condolences go out to her husband of 47 years, James D'Auria and their multitude of friends.”

Leak began working in the entertainment industry at the age of 17 after she appeared in a 1966 Canadian television series ‘Wojeck’. But after moving to Los Angeles, she got her break in films as she played Lucille Ball’s daughter in 1968’s ‘Yours, Mine and Ours’.

Leak’s work profile also includes TV shows, like ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’, ‘Another World’, ‘Hawaii Five-0’, and more.

Internet pays tribute to Jennifer Leak

Internet paid tribute to Leak as a person commenting below Matheson’s post wrote, “So sad to hear this Tim. Her warm smile and charm would light up the room! Be well from your from your little screen sister.”

Another person commented, “She will be missed aunt Jennifer was my mum's first cousin. She had fond memories of their childhood growing up in Cardiff xx RIP to a great lady xxxx.”

“Condolences please,” a user tweeted on X.

The second user wrote, “So sad to hear of the passing of Jennifer Leak. :(“

“May she rest in peace,” the third user shared.

The fourth one noted, “May God rest her soul.”

The fifth user added, “Oh wow, that's really sad to hear about Tim Matheson's first wife, Jennifer Leak. It's amazing how they met while playing step-siblings in the film 'Yours, Mine and Ours' back in 1968. She must have been a remarkable woman. It's always tough to lose someone you care about. My thoughts are with Tim Matheson during this difficult time.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.