Doc Lesley

Thanks @SoapDope78 for posting the link to the 1978 episode. That episode aired Friday, January 20, 1978. The scene between Rick Webber and David Hamilton also appears in the Michael Gregory edits which are on YouTube. In the second half of the episode, David with Rick's encouragement decides to apply for a job as a commercial artist. It's the following episode, Monday, January 23, 1978, where Bobbie is introduced to Lesley and Rick as "Barbara Spencer." I think having Monica's eyes appear in that flashback is creepy. I'm glad that trend didn't last.

It was only recently announced that Denise Alexander passed away on March 5, 2025. She was my all time favorite actress and role model. She will be dearly missed. Denise Alexander, ‘General Hospital' and ‘Days of Our Lives' Actress, Dies at 85

Per Tune In Tomorrow: February 7 – 11, 1977 Jeff told Heather he can't marry her, even though she's pregnant with his child, because he reconciled with Monica. Lesley found a bitter Laura in a Canadian commune. Diana worried about Mike having nightmares. So, that would be in line with the 2-8-1977 reference. They were taping about 2 weeks ahead of time in 1977. So, perhaps 12-28-76 was a screen test or something.

The story I heard (not substantiated by any articles) was that Gloria Monty wanted Chris Robinson for the role of Rick Webber. She actively pursued Chris Robinson. He steadfastly declined stating that he had previously done a soap opera, did not like the experience and did not wish to do another one. Gloria told him that his experience with General Hospital would not like any other soap opera. Ultimately, he consented when she agreed to write into his contract that he could have a break to do a movie. A few months into his stint as Rick Webber, he was offered a movie role. Gloria told him that he was well within his contractual rights to take the break but that doing so would ruin everything she was building on General Hospital. He did not take the break at that time, Spring/Summer of 1978, but instead took the break from 8/29/80 - 10/15/80 (while Luke and Laura are on the run.) Michael Gregory bowed out of the role with class. Michael Gregory attended Gina Dante's wedding to Gary Lansing, approx 3/24/78. Per a Jon-Michael Reed article, Chris Robinson was playing Dr. Rick Webber by 4/15/1978. Does anyone remember when in the storyline the change took place. It was before David Hamilton was killed.

This is really pathetic on my part, but the only detail I can remember about Kin Shriner leaving GH the first time was that he was leaving to appear on "Texas", which was in the same time slot as GH on NBC. Scotty Baldwin's last episode was September 19, 1980.

Cameron Faulkner funded a free clinic for Lesley in December of 1974. It's named after her grandmother, Mary Sullivan. Lesley wanted to name the clinic after her grandmother because she was raised by her grandmother from a very young age. Her grandmother was a nurse, and they lived in a rural area. Many of their neighbors didn't have much money so they would come to Lesley's grandmother when they were ill, looking for home remedies and such. This is what led to Lesley's interest in medicine, and especially in providing health care to the poor. After her grandmother died, Lesley was adopted by well-off gentleman , Walter, (I've also read that she was adopted by a couple) who helped her fulfill her dream of graduating from medical school. Walter is the one who paid off the nurse to tell Lesley that Laura died at birth. I do not know if Mary Sullivan was Lesley Williams maternal or paternal grandmother. But that is where the assumption that Sullivan is her maiden name came from. The character summary is the first I've seen her maiden name officially listed as Peters. Again thank you for the information. I do not know what happened to Lesley's Free Clinic? I believe that it was not located within General Hospital. But I'm not sure as it pre-dates my watching GH. Does anyone know where Lesley's clinic was and what happened to it? I find it interesting that Lesley was operating a Free Clinic in 1975; five years before Rick Webber would go on to open his Waterfront Free Clinic in 1980. As far as I remember, there was never a mention that Lesley used to also have a free clinic when her ex-husband opened his. I appreciate the "Peters" insight from DOOL.

Thank you so much for posting all of these daily summaries! I've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Dr. Lesley Williams. I love the character development sheet. I've learned some Lesley Williams facts that I did not know as this summary predates my watching General Hospital. By 1973 Denise Alexander was leading most of the actress popularity polls. According to Denise, her contract with Days of Our Lives had expired. However, she continued to work in good faith for them. At the time Bill Bell was launching The Young and the Restless and DOOL did not have time to renegotiate her contract. GH got word that Denise was not currently under contract and they made her an offer for "multiple times" her DOOL salary. Denise went to Betty Corday with GH's offer and Betty encouraged her to take the offer.