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Actress Mary Mara, known for her roles in “ER,” “Nash Bridges” and “Ray Donovan,” died Sunday in what authorities describe as an “apparent drowning” in a river in New York State . She was 61 years old.
New York State police responded Sunday morning to a call for a possible drowning in Chief Vincent, authorities said in a press release. When the first lifeguards arrived at the Sant Llorenç river, they discovered a dead woman later identified as Mara.
“Preliminary investigation suggests the victim drowned while swimming,” wrote Major Michael S. TenEyck. “The victim’s body showed no signs of foul play and was transported to the Jefferson County Forensic Office pending an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.”
Craig Dorfman, its manager, confirmed Mara’s death on Tuesday in The Washington Post.
“Mary was one of the best actresses I’ve ever met,” Dorfman said. “She was electric, funny and a real person, and dedicated to her family. Everyone loved her. She will miss her.”
A family spokesman told Deadline that Mara was staying at her sister Martha Mara’s summer home. The property is close to the St. Lawrence River, which separates the United States and Canada.
Mara was a famous character actress with over 80 screen credits to her name. She is best known for her time in the 1990s as a recurring character on NBC’s hit “ER” program, playing patient Loretta Sweet, and her time as Inspector Bryn Carson, a main character in “Nash Bridges”. CBS. He later played recurring characters on the Showtime shows “Dexter” and “Ray Donovan.”
Born on September 21, 1960 in Syracuse, Mara studied at San Francisco and Yale State University before beginning her acting career. Roger Mara, their brother, told the San Francisco Examiner in 1996 that he encouraged them to continue acting after seeing “their mother’s talent for drama.”
Mary Mara’s first credited role was in the 1989 television movie “The Preppie Murder,” according to her IMDb page. After appearing in Billy Crystal’s 1992 film, “Mr. Saturday Night,” Mara entered “ER” at a time when the NBC program was the most popular medical drama on television. . She appeared in nine episodes between 1995 and 1996, playing Sweet, a former prostitute diagnosed with cervical cancer.
The recurring spot on “ER” helped catapult Mara to a lead role in “Nash Bridges,” which appeared in 23 episodes of the first two seasons between 1996 and 1997. After appearing on programs such as NYPD Blue “,” Ally McBeal “and” Law and Order, “Mara landed recurring roles as Valerie Hodges in” Dexter “in 2009 and Mrs. Sullivan in” Ray Donovan “in 2013.
He most recently appeared in the 2020 film “Break Even.”
Dorfman told The Post that the mourning he has received since Sunday has been “extraordinary.” Some of the people who had worked with Mara over the years went on social media to remember a colleague described as the consummate professional.
Actor and director Jon Lindstrom recalled working with Mara during a theatrical performance of “In Heat” in Los Angeles at a time when, he said, she had undergone chemotherapy for cancer.
“He was going through the consequences of chemotherapy,” Lindstrom wrote, saying Mara’s death left him “crushed.” “Brave, bright, talented. The Earth will be much less colorful without it. “
Crushed to learn of Mary Mara’s untimely death. We performed together in 2008 on Malcolm Danare’s “In Heat” at LA’s Lost Playhouse. He was going through the consequences of chemotherapy. Cute, bright, super talented. The Earth will be much less colorful without it. RIP pic.twitter.com/sj1U8c6hyK
– Jon Lindstrom (@thejonlindstrom) June 28, 2022
Screenwriter Bob Saenz posted a black and white photo of Mara, with whom he said he worked for “2 great years.”
“This is the Mary I remember,” Saenz tweeted. “Consume professional, fun, sharp, kind, a first-class human being. He was kind enough to take part in a reading table of one of my first scripts. “
He added, “RIP Mary. You will be missed.”
This is the Mary I remember. I had the absolute pleasure of working with Mary Mara for 2 great years. Consummate professional, funny, sharp, kind, a first-class human being. He was kind enough to participate in a reading table of one of my first scripts. RIP Maria. You will be missed. pic.twitter.com/QLqMHUmt0v
– Bob Saenz (@BobSnz) June 28, 2022
Mara is survived by stepdaughter Katie Mersola, sisters Martha Mara and Susan Dailey, brother-in-law Scott Dailey and nephew Christopher Dailey, according to Variety.
The investigation into Mara’s death is ongoing, police said.