Leslie Graves was a talented actress who rose to fame in the early 1980s as Brenda Clegg on the CBS soap opera Capitol. She had a captivating presence on screen and a promising career ahead of her. But behind the scenes, she struggled with drug addiction and personal problems that eventually led to her downfall. On August 23, 1995, she died of an AIDS-related illness at the age of 35. This is the tragic story of Leslie Graves’ life and death.
Early Years and Breakthrough
Leslie Graves was born on September 29, 1959, in Silver City, New Mexico. Her father, Michael Graves, was a theatre actor who introduced her to the entertainment industry when she was about 10. She started her career with a small role in the Broadway play A Cry of Players (1968–1969), written by William Gibson. She then moved to acting for TV series, including Sesame Street (1969, first 13 episodes), The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1971, in the episode titled “Baby Sit-Com”), and Here We Go Again (1973).
In the late 1970s, she left Hollywood, supposedly to move with a boyfriend to Texas, where she worked on a shrimp boat for three years. She returned to Hollywood in early 1980 and posed for some nude photoshoots for Oui, a Playboy corporation affiliate. She also had small roles in two exploitation movies: Piranha II: The Spawning (1982) and Death Wish II (1982).
In 1982, CBS cast her in the role of Brenda Clegg, the rebellious daughter of a powerful senator, in the daytime soap Capitol. She quickly became a fan favorite and a scene stealer, thanks to her charisma and chemistry with her co-stars. She also befriended Carolyn Jones, who played her mother, Myrna, on the show. Jones was a veteran actress who had starred in The Addams Family and other films and TV shows.
Downfall and Death
Leslie Graves’ success on Capitol was overshadowed by her personal troubles. She had a serious drug problem and a heroin overdose that caused her to pass out on the set in the summer of 1984. She recovered but was eventually recast by the producers. Her last public appearance was a nude photo shoot by Jean Rougeron published in the October 1984 issue of Oui.
She married and had two children, but her marriage did not last. She also contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and developed complications from the disease. On August 23, 1995, she died of an AIDS-related illness in Los Angeles. She was only 35 years old.
Her death was reported by Soap Opera Weekly, but did not receive much attention from the mainstream media. She was buried in an unmarked grave in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. Her former co-star and friend, Catherine Hickland, who played her sister, Julie, on Capitol, paid tribute to her on social media and said that she was “one of the most talented people I ever worked with”.
Legacy and Rememberance
Leslie Graves was a talented actress who had a bright future ahead of her, but her life was cut short by drugs and AIDS. She left behind a legacy of memorable performances and a loyal fan base that still remembers her fondly. She also left behind two children, who have grown up without their mother.
On the anniversary of her death, we remember Leslie Graves as a soap star who shone brightly but briefly, and whose tragic story serves as a cautionary tale for anyone who struggles with addiction and health issues. We hope that she rests in peace and that her children and family find comfort and healing.
