General Hospital star Joan Benedict dies aged 96

The star, who was best known for her role as Edith Fairchild in the US daytime soap, died on June 24th at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the family revealed Benedict died of complications from a stroke.

As well as General Hospital, Benedict also appeared in US soap operas Days of Our Lives and Capitol, and was known for starring in the likes of variety program The Steve Allen Show, and the original version of Candid Camera, in which she played a lost tourist seeking directions.

What s more, she made TV appearances in The Incredible Hulk, Fantasy Island, The Smith Family, and Apple's Way, among others.

Benedict was married to How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying actor John Myhers from 1962 until his passing in 1992, and she went on to wed On the Waterfront star Rod Steiger - who won an Academy Award for best actor for his role in 1967 movie In the Heat of the Night - in 2000.

They were together until his death in 2002, aged 77.

Following Rod's death, Benedict formed a relationship with actor Jeremy Slate until he died in 2006 aged 80.

Speaking in 2016 about her relationships, Benedict said: "Strangely, I met all three of these men when I was in New York, just beginning my career while I was still a teenager.

"Both of my husbands, and my lifetime partner Jeremy, were wonderful men who respected me as an actress.

"They all died from different forms of cancer, so my memories are sometimes bittersweet, but with no regrets."

Benedict appeared alongside Rod in 2001 movie A Month of Sundays, which was one of his final film roles.

Australian Associated Press