Welsh soap icon dies aged 76 after battle with 'rare brain disease'

29 March 2024 , 08:54

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Jennifer Leak has died at the age of 76

Welsh acting legend Jennifer Leak, who starred in the classic film 'Yours, Mine And Ours', has died at the age of 76. She passed away after fighting a rare brain condition.

Jennifer was born in Cardiff and became famous for her role in the 1968 movie. She also acted in popular soaps like 'Another World', 'Guiding Light', 'One Life to Live', and 'The Young and the Restless'. Her former husband, Tim Matheson, who she starred with in 'Yours, Mine And Ours' and was married to from 1968 to 1971, shared the sad news on social media. He said: "It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Jennifer Leak's passing."

Tim added: "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. My deepest condolences go out to her husband of 47 years, James D'Auria and their multitude of friends."

Jennifer's first husband Tim paid his respects on social media (Instagram)

Jennifer had been struggling with a tough illness called progressive supranuclear palsy. This disease makes it hard to walk, keep balance, move eyes, and swallow, reports OK! The Mayo Clinic describes progressive supranuclear palsy as a "rare brain disease that affects walking, balance, eye movements and swallowing".

The clinic explains that it "results from the damage of cells in areas of the brain that control body movement, coordination, thinking and other important functions" and can get worse, leading to serious problems like pneumonia and trouble with swallowing.

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James, who was married to Jennifer for 47 years, shared that she was helping with research at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to fight a tough disease called progressive supranuclear palsy.

"Her courage and bravery tried in vain to fight the disease," James said, as reported by the East Hampton Star. "She was shy and private person, never desiring to be the centre 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 was famous for her role in the 1968 film Yours, Mine and Ours, where she played Colleen, the daughter of Lucille Ball's character Helen North. After her time in acting, she switched careers in the 1980s and started selling houses for a company called Devlin McNiff.

Zoe Delaney