How did Meg Bennett die? ‘The Young and the Restless’ star dies at 75

'The Young and the Restless' star Meg Bennett passed away at the age of 75 after a long battle with cancer
PUBLISHED APR 22, 2024
'The Young and the Restless' star Meg Bennett dies at 75 (Instagram/@youngandrestlesscbs)
'The Young and the Restless' star Meg Bennett dies at 75 (Instagram/@youngandrestlesscbs)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Legendary actress Meg Bennett well-known for playing the role of Julia Martin in the soap opera 'The Young and the Restless' has died at the age of 75. She took her last breath on April 11, 2024.

Her obituary, published in the Los Angeles Times on April 21, focused on her work as an actress and writer for various daytime soap operas such as 'The Young and the Restless', 'General Hospital', and 'Santa Barbara.'

"Meg lost her battle with cancer. Until nearly the end she was devotedly working with children, writing and engaging with her far-flung family and friends," the obituary read. 

For those who may not be familiar, Helen Bennett was born in October 1948 but adopted the stage name Meg after deciding to pursue an entertainment career. This decision was made to avoid confusion with another individual named Helen who was already established in Hollywood.

“She was a Vogue model who never made it as an actress, but she was on record as having that name at Screen Actors Guild. There couldn’t have been two of us. And Margaret Bennett is my mother’s name, so I became Meg," she told Daily TV.

'The Young and the Restless' star Meg Bennett died after a battle with cancer (X/@YandR_CBS)
'The Young and the Restless' star Meg Bennett died after a battle with cancer (X/@YandR_CBS)

‘The Young and the Restless’ star Meg Bennett was an Emmy-winning actress

Helen Margaret Bennett, known professionally as Meg Bennett, was born on October 4, 1948. She achieved great success in the television industry, winning a Daytime Emmy Award for Best Writing for her work on 'General Hospital' in 1995. 

In addition to this, Bennett received three Writers Guild of America Awards for her exceptional writing on 'General Hospital' in 1994, 1995, and 1997, as well as two wins for her contributions to 'Santa Barbara' in 1991 and 1992. Bennett's talent and dedication to her craft solidified her place as a respected and accomplished writer in the world of daytime television.

CBS's soap opera 'The Young and The Restless' celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 (@YandR_CBS/Twitter)
‘The Young and the Restless’ star Meg Bennett was an Emmy-winning actress (X/@YandR_CBS)

All about ‘The Young and the Restless’ star Meg Bennett’s early life

Meg, a Pasadena, California native was born to a printing company executive and a psychologist. After graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in drama, she was crowned homecoming queen and pursued acting opportunities during her college breaks by performing in summer stock productions. 

Following her graduation from Northwestern University, Bennett relocated to New York City in the 1970s to pursue a career in acting.

“She got a modeling job as the ‘Cadillac Eldorado Convertible Girl,’ but her first real break was an acting and singing role in the off-Broadway musical Godspell,” her obituary stated.

It further read, “From there she went to Grease on Broadway, became a champion of the TV quiz show Three on a Match, and in 1974 began her long and successful soap opera career as the ingénue Liza on Search for Tomorrow.” 

During the 1980s, Bennett relocated to the bustling city of Los Angeles, embarking on a new chapter of her career as she landed the role of Julia Newman in the popular television series 'The Young and the Restless.'  

Over the years, Bennett's involvement with the show expanded beyond acting, and she ventured into the realm of scriptwriting, contributing creatively to the very same production that had catapulted her into the spotlight.



 

Was ‘The Young and the Restless’ star Meg Bennett married?

On the other hand, when we talk about the personal life of the Daytime-Emmy-winning actress Meg Bennett, she was a happily married woman. 

Meg tied the knot with the 'Sunset Beach' co-creator and writer Robert Guza Jr in the year 2004. The two of them crossed paths for the first time when they were hired to write the script for a soap opera 'General Hospital.'

Since then, the pair joined hands to write several soap operas. The couple would have celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary this year.

Meg is survived by her husband, Robert Guza Jr, her two stepdaughters, four grandchildren, a brother and a sister.

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