Lindsey Pearlman was an iconic actor known for her roles on some of the biggest TV shows. Let’s take a look at her legacy, from her brief role in General Hospital to her tragic death.
Many fans don’t know that aside from acting, Pearlman was a devoted animal rights activist. She even helped to abolish the use of wild animals in the Ringling Brothers Circus and spent much of her time fostering and rehoming pets.
Let’s take a deeper look in tribute to the actressess’ legacy…
Inside Lindsey Pearlman’s life
Pearlman was born on October 5, 1978, in Chicago, Illinois.
At a young age, she caught the acting bug and pursued it at school. She graduated from Second Conservatory and was awarded the Joseph Jefferson Award for her role in the play Never The Bridesmaid.
The Chicago-based actor has appeared in the legal drama Chicago Justice for five episodes, playing the role of Dr Joy Fletcher, who is a pathologist.
She also had small guest roles in the crime drama Sneaky Peate, along with roles in American Housewife and popular horror series, The Purge. She also played Martha on The Ms Pat Show, Karen in Vicious and Diane Warren in Netflix’s Selena: The Series.
Her most recent appearance was in the 2022 TV show The Tam and Kevin Show which aired in 2022, following her death.
Lindsey Pearlman’s General Hospital role
Pearlman played a character called Margaret ‘Maggie’ McMorris for two episodes in 2020. Her character was a Barista at the Brooklyn Union Pub and appeared in two episodes, first appearing on January 29 and then again the following day, January 30.
Whilst her GH appearance may have been short it was full of chaos as gunfire broke out at her workplace, a coffee shop in Port Charles.
Sonny and Jason brought Sonny’s dad Mike to Brooklyn for a clinical Alzheimer’s trial and before the appointment, they stopped for coffee at the Brooklyn Union Pub.
Maggie and Mike began chatting until a gunman started shooting at Sonny and Jason. It’s no surprise that drama follows their mob around, but suddenly Maggie got dragged into it.
As she hid behind the counter, the gunman grabbed her and held her hostage, Jason then came to the rescue as he shot and killed him. In the following episode, Maggie could be seen recounting what had happened to the police officer.
Lindsey Pearlman’s tragic final phone call
Her TV producer husband Vance Smith had called her just a day before her death, and she expressed her intention to end her life.
After being reported missing when she didn’t return home, Pearlman was tragically found dead inside a car in Hollywood on February 18.
The Los Angeles Police Coroner’s Office confirmed the body to be hers after the Police Department said in a statement: “Today around 8:30 a.m., Hollywood Area officers responded to a radio call for a death investigation at Franklin Avenue and North Sierra Bonita Avenue.”
Pearlman’s cause of death has finally been revealed six months after the actress tragically passed away.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner ruled her death as a suicide on Tuesday, August 16. She died from an intentional overdose.
Pearlman left two suicide notes
TMZ reports that Pearlman had left a suicide note at her home and left one in her car which indicated that whoever found her should call 911.
“Investigators learned Lindsey suffered from bouts of depression over the years, and it appears it just became too overwhelming,” the publication reports.
“Please know that you are never truly alone,” Pearlman’s cousin, Savannah, wrote on Twitter, following Lindsey’s death. She added, “Lindsey’s sister has asked that we share the National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255.”
If you are affected by any issues raised in the article or would like someone to speak to, please call the Samaritans for free on 116 123. You can also email them at [email protected] or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch in the UK. In the US, please visit Samaritans USA for more information.
You can also contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text 741741 to get in touch with the Crisis Text Line. Americans can now call or text 988 to reach out and speak to a counsellor.