“My beloved first wife”: Tim Matheson mourns the death of Jennifer Leak aged 76

Tim Matheson, the American actor and director, recently honored his late ex-wife and former costar in Yours, Mine, and Ours, Jennifer Leak. She sadly passed away on March 18, 2024, at the age of 76 in her Jupiter, Florida home.

On March 27, 2024, Matheson posted a heartfelt message to the actress on both Instagram and Facebook. He 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.”

Leak had been fighting against progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare disease, for the past seven years.

Tim Matheson reflects on the life and legacy of his late ex-wife Jennifer Leak

Born on December 31, 1947, in Glendale, California, United States, Tim Matheson started his acting journey at the young age of 13. He rose to fame for his portrayals of the lead character in the animated Jonny Quest TV series, Eric “Otter”Stratton in Animal House, and as Vice President John Hoynes in the popular NBC drama, The West Wing, in the 2000s.

On March 27, 2024, Tim Matheson took to his social media accounts to reflect on his late first wife, Jennifer Leak. He shared memories of their past relationship and concluded by saying,

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

In 1968, the actor and Jennifer Leak got married, but their marriage ended in divorce in 1971. After their split, Tim Matheson was married to Megan Murphy Matheson from 1985 to 2010. Currently, he is married to Elizabeth Marighetto, whom he wed in 2018.

Jennifer Leak is survived by her husband, James D’Auria, and brother, Kenneth Leak. In an obituary posted in The East Hampton Star, James paid tribute to his beloved wife and shared fond memories of the late actress. He stated,

“She 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.”

Uncovering the Life and Career of Jennifer Leak

Jennifer Leak, also known as Leak D’Auria, was born on September 28, 1947, in Montreal, Canada. She embarked on her acting journey in 1966, starting with the Mike Nichols-directed TV series Wojeck. Determined to achieve success, she made the move to Los Angeles and secured her first film role as Lucille Ball’s daughter in the 1968 production of Yours, Mine and Ours.

Playing alongside Tim Matheson, the role propelled her to fame in the entertainment industry. She continued to appear in a number of well-known shows such as Hawaii Five-0, Nero Wolfe, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Leak’s involvement in the NBC daytime soap Bright Promise solidified her love for the medium of television. According to James, it quickly became her favorite form of performance. She continued to pursue her passion by joining the cast of The Young and the Restless as Gwen Sherman for three years. Leak also had a recurring role on Another World as Olive Randolph for an additional three years.

Jennifer, who was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, chose to take part in clinical research programs at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Her obituary states that her brain tissue will be given to the Mayo Clinic to support ongoing research efforts.