Soap Opera Icon Dies: 'Young And The Restless' Star Meg Bennett Dead Following Cancer Battle
Meg Bennett has passed away after a battle with cancer. She was 75.
Helen Margaret Bennett, professionally known as Meg, lost her battle with cancer on April 11, according to her obituary published by the Los Angeles Times Sunday.
"Until nearly the end, she was devotedly working with children, writing, and engaging with her far-flung family and friends," her family wrote.
Rest In Peace Meg Bennett. The beloved daytime star made her mark as Julia Newman on “The Young and the Restless,” but soon became an incomparable soap opera writer as the great Bill Bell once called her a “script doctor,” and therefore giving her a 2nd job on his co-created soap pic.twitter.com/Om1OxfXdix
— The Chat (@TheChat_Podcast) April 21, 2024
Bennett is survived by her husband and former co-writer, Robert Guza Jr., her two step-daughters, four grandchildren, her brother, her sister and "a bevy" of nieces and nephews.
Per her obituary, she and her spouse were supposed to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this year.
Bennett grew up in Pasadena and attended John Muir High School and Northwestern University. Upon graduating from her major in drama, she moved to New York to pursue a career as an actress.
In New York, she got a modeling job as the "Cadillac Eldorado Convertible Girl" before getting her first real break in acting and singing with the off-Broadway musical "Godspell."
Her career continued to take off, and she starred in "Grease" on Broadway," won on the TV quiz show "Three on a Match" and began her successful soap opera career as Liza on "Search for Tomorrow" in 1974.
When she moved back to Los Angeles, she played the role of Julia Newman on "The Young and the Restless" in 1980. Her last appearance on the soap opera was in 2020.
Eventually, she started scriptwriting for the same soap opera. Per @YRInsider on X, formerly Twitter, she stayed as a writer under the tutelage of show creator Bill Bell.
She also wrote scripts for other shows such as "The Bold and the Beautiful," "General Hospital," "Santa Barbara" and "Sunset Beach."
Sending our condolences to Meg Bennett’s family and loved ones. Y&R was lucky enough to have Meg share her talent both on camera as “Julia Newman” and off camera as member of the Writing staff under Bill Bell. pic.twitter.com/pUdmQbBB7Y
— Young & The Restless (@YRInsider) April 22, 2024
The official "The Young and the Restless" account also sent Bennett's family and loved ones condolences.
"Sending our condolences to Meg Bennett's family and loved ones. Y&R was lucky enough to have Meg share her talent both on camera as 'Julia Newman' and off camera as a member of the Writing staff under Bill Bell," the tweet read.
