Yahoo Lifestyle Diane Delano, of Popular and Northern Exposure, Dead at 67
Diane Delano, best known to TV audiences for her roles as Barbara Semanski on CBS’ Northern Exposure, and Roberta “Bobbi” Glass on The WB’s Popular, has died of cancer at the age of 67, TVLine has confirmed.
“She was big and bold and brought her sharp wit and perfect comic timing to every role,” Delano’s friend Stepfanie Kramer said in a statement to Deadline. “Her earthy and raucous presence enabled her to always own the room. She was one of a kind.”
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Delano’s career spanned more than 40 years. Her extensive list of ’80s credits included episodes of Doogie Howser, M.D., Falcon Crest, Growing Pains, Hunter, Just the Ten of Us, L.A. Law, Matlock, Major Dad, Perfect Strangers, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, St. Elsewhere and thirtysomething, while her string of ’90s guest spots included Coach, Dharma & Greg, Married… With Children, Quantum Leap, 3rd Rock From the Sun, Step by Step and Who’s the Boss?
Her two most prominent roles also came in the ’90s — a 12-episode stint as the aforementioned Alaska state trooper Barbara on Northern Exposure (1993-95), and a series-regular gig as Bobbi on Ryan Murphy’s Popular (1999-2001), opposite such up-and-comers as Leslie Bibb, Carly Pope, Christopher Gorham, Sara Rue and Leslie Grossman.
She continued to work steadily following the cancellation of Popular, appearing on such beloved programs as Cold Case, Days of Our Lives, Desperate Housewives, ER, Everwood, Joan of Arcadia, Monk, NCIS, Six Feet Under and Two and a Half Men. Her most recent credits included episodes of PEN15 and The Upshaws.
On the big screen, she was most commonly associated with her turn as Sister Beech in the 2006 film The Wicker Man, opposite Nicholas Cage.
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