Meg Bennett dead at 75 following cancer battle: Emmy-winning soap star appeared on The Young and the Restless and Santa Barbara

Veteran soap opera actress Meg Bennett has died after a cancer battle at the age of 75.

Bennett’s family announced that she had died April 11, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Bennett has a prolific career in the soap opera sphere as both an actress and a writer, having worked on a number of high profile daytime shows.

As an actress, Bennett appeared on 52 episodes of The Young and the Restless from 1980–2020 playing the role of Julia Martin/Julia Newman.

Bennett played the role of Megan Richardson on 55 episodes of the series Santa Barbara in 1989.

Veteran soap opera actress Meg Bennett has died after a cancer battle at the age of 75. Pictured in 1982 during her run on The Young and the Restless

Bennett has a prolific career in the soap opera sphere as both an actress and a writer, having worked on a number of high profile daytime shows

Bennett has a prolific career in the soap opera sphere as both an actress and a writer, having worked on a number of high profile daytime shows

She had also appeared on Broadway, appearing in the initial run of the musical Grease in 1972 playing the role of Marty Maraschino (portrayed by Dinah Manoff in the 1978 film adaptation) for more than two years.

Following her run on Broadway, she played the role of Liza Walton on the CBS series Search for Tomorrow on three episode from 1975-1977.

Bennett also racked up a significant credit as a writer on a number of soaps.

As her character on The Young and the Restless was being phased out of the storyline, Bennett said she had been asked by Bill Bell, the creator of the soap, to continue contributing creatively on the series as a writer.

‘I’d been acting on the show for almost two years when this happened, so I knew the characters,’ she told the outlet Daily TV in 1985.

She also appeared on two episodes of General Hospital as Allegra Montenegro in 2005. 

Bennett’s writing credits also included stints on the NBC soap Santa Barbara between 1991-93; and the ABC stalwart General Hospital between 1993-2011. 

As an actress, Bennett appeared on 52 episodes of The Young and the Restless from 1980–2020 playing the role of Julia Martin/Julia Newman. Pictured in 1982

As an actress, Bennett appeared on 52 episodes of The Young and the Restless from 1980–2020 playing the role of Julia Martin/Julia Newman. Pictured in 1982 

Pictured opposite co-star Pictured opposite costar Eric Braeden, who played her storyline husband Victor Newman on the soap

Pictured opposite co-star Pictured opposite costar Eric Braeden, who played her storyline husband Victor Newman on the soap

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