‘Jennifer was a remarkable woman’: Tim Matheson pays tribute to ex-wife Jennifer Leak after The Young And The Restless star dies at 76

Jennifer Leak, a well-known actress, died at the age of 76 on March 18. She is remembered for her portrayal of Gwen Sherman on the soap opera The Young And The Restless and as Colleen North in the 1968 film Yours, Mine, and Ours. For over 20 years, from 1964 to 1986, she dedicated her career to the film and television industry.

Jennifer Leak was previously married to James D’Auria. In a recent Facebook post, Tim Matheson, Leak’s ex-husband who is now 76 years old, paid tribute to the former actress. Matheson wrote:

“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. Jennifer was a remarkable woman, strong, lovely, and incredibly talented.”

Tim Matheson also extended his sympathies to Leak’s husband.

“My deepest condolences go out to her husband of 47 years, James D’Auria and their multitude of friends.”

Leak lost her life at her residence in Jupiter, Florida as a result of a rare neurological condition known as progressive supranuclear palsy.

Exploring the accomplishments and journey of Jennifer Leak

Jennifer Leak was born on September 28, 1947 in Wales. She was raised by her parents, Kenneth Leak and Bernice Howard, in Hertfordshire, England, as well as in Nova Scotia, Toronto, and Jerusalem.

Leak began her professional journey with the Canadian TV show Wojeck when she was only 17 years old. She was initially set to star in Nichols’s The Graduate, but due to immigration complications, she was unable to join the production. She then relocated to Los Angeles and was swiftly cast in the film Yours, Mine and Ours. In 1968, she tied the knot with Tim Matheson, but their marriage ended in separation in 1971.

As Leak’s career progressed, she began appearing in nighttime Television shows such as Hawaii Five-0, Nero Wolfe, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Her husband later revealed that daytime soap operas became her preferred medium. This led her to work on TV soap operas Bright Promise and The Young and the Restless.

In 1977, Leak relocated to New York to join the cast of Another World. It was in New York where she met James D’Auria, her husband of 47 years until her passing. During the early 1980s, she also appeared in soap operas Guiding Light and One Life to Live. Following her successful television career, Leak transitioned into real estate and became a sales agent at the Devlin McNiff company.

In his tribute, Leak’s husband described her as a reserved and introverted individual who did not seek the spotlight. He mentioned that she only displayed these characteristics when in front of the camera.

Following the announcement of Leak’s passing, an outpouring of tributes has flooded social media, honoring her impactful career.

Prior to her passing, Leak made the generous decision to donate her brain tissue to the Mayo Clinic for further research on the rare disease. Her ashes were laid to rest at her childhood church in Rumney, Wales, while her husband and brother Kenneth Leak remain as her surviving family members.