The Young And The Restless star Meg Bennett dies aged 75 after 40 years as Julia Newman

Meg Bennett, known for her 40-year role as Julia Martin on The Young and The Restless, has passed away at the age of 75.

The news was confirmed over the weekend, with her obituary revealing that she sadly lost her battle with cancer on Thursday, April 11.

Fans will remember her best as the captivating Julia Newman in CBS' long-standing drama The Young And The Restless, where she first appeared as Victor Newman's (played by Eric Braeden) wife in 1980.

She continued to make appearances on the show for four decades, most recently in 2020 as part of a special storyline honoring Braeden's 40 years as Victor.

Bennett also played Megan Richardson in Santa Barbara in the 1990s and Allegra Montenegro in General Hospital in 2005.

Read more: Michael Jackson's Neverland theme park eerily recreated for upcoming movie

Her career began on stage as Marty Maraschino in the original Broadway production of Grease in 1972.

Three years later, she joined Search For Tomorrow, playing Liza Walton for several episodes before joining The Young And The Restless cast.

In addition to her on-screen roles, Bennett was also recognized for her writing talent, having written for The Young And The Restless, The Bold And The Beautiful, Santa Barbara, and Sunset Beach, and serving as the associate head writer for General Hospital.

Bennett, who penned 197 episodes of the beloved medical drama, earned five Daytime Emmy nods for her exceptional writing skills.

She was a key member of the writing team that clinched a Daytime Emmy Award in 1995 and also garnered nominations from the Writers Guild of America for her work on both General Hospital and Sunset Beach.

Don't miss:

Kanye breaks silence on alleged attack to claim Bianca was 'sexually assaulted' [COMMENT]

Bachelorette star says Golden Bachelor divorce scandal 'stains' franchise [OPINION]

Kim Kardashian praised for 'natural beauty' as she shows off 'cellulite' in snap [SOCIAL]

In a revealing 1985 interview, Bennett shared her preference for writing over acting: "I'll admit, acting makes me a little crazy sometimes: You wait to audition. You wait for the part.

"When you're writing, you're in control. I can initiate things on my own when I'm writing."

Her tenure at General Hospital was not just professionally rewarding but also personally significant as it's where she met her future husband, Robert Guza Jr, the former head writer.

Guza Jr later co-created Sunset Beach, which Bennett contributed to as well.

The couple tied the knot in 2004. Bennett's legacy is carried on by her husband, two step-daughters, four grandchildren, a brother and sister, and a host of nieces and nephews.

An AI tool was used to bring an extra layer to this story.