“She believed that the best way to change hearts and minds was through comedy. Morrison died from heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, her publicist, Lori DeWaal, told ET. December 2, 2019 / 9:51 AM “Shelley was a beautiful soul & a wonderful actor.
She was 83 years old. The Associated Press was the first to report the news of the star’s death. (CNN)Shelley Morrison, a character actress best known for playing the feisty maid Rosario Salazar on "Will & Grace," has died, publicist Lori DeWaal tells CNN. The character has hit a chord," Morrison said.

She will be missed by everyone at #WillandGrace, she’s a huge part of it. All my love to Walter and the entire family. But Morrison Also Had A 60-year Acting Career Before The Show. putting shelley, her beloved husband walter & their children in the light. Morrison gained more popularity after her appearance in NBC Western TV series, "Laird". Debra Messing also honored Morrison on social media. She believed that the best way to change hearts and minds was through comedy. Coyote Ugly Turns 20: Where Is the Cast Now? My heart goes out to her entire family. Battleground Tracker: Biden leads in Michigan and Nevada, race tied in Iowa, With more mail-in ballots, officials urge patience on election night, Americans and the right to vote: Why it's not easy for everyone, Why some mail-in ballots are rejected and how to make sure your vote counts. She was a part of our Will and Grace family and will be greatly missed. "Rosario is one of my all-time favorite characters," Morrison said in a biography released by her agent. The couple adopted six children through a traditional Native American ceremony, the biography said. Meanwhile, costar Sean Hayes expressed his condolences on Instagram. "She was absolutely hilarious and had the biggest heart," Sean Hayes, who plays Jack on the sitcom, wrote on Instagram. you accomplished wonderful things in this world. Despite her humble beginnings, she rose to be a well-known name in the comedy scene due to her performance as the character, Rosario, on Will & Grace..

The actress also had featured roles in the late ’60s TV series The Flying Nun with Sally Field and Disney’s animated series Handy Manny as Mrs. Portillo. She also took pride in portraying a strong, loving yet feisty Latina character.
The actress played Rosario Salazar on "Will & Grace" from 1999 to 2006. Morrison's character Rosario was the no-nonsense Salvadoran maid to socialite Karen Walker, played by Megan Mullally, in the original run of "Will & Grace" on NBC from 1999 to 2006. Through Dominguez, she became interested in Native American traditions, specifically the Lakota Sioux, the biography said. It is a choice that she has made. “It was with a heavy heart that she gave us that information and that we received it, but it is the way that it goes. She'd battled health problems over the years and was a breast and lung cancer survivor. “Oh, Shelley… what a loss. ", "Rosario is not over the top. #shelleymorrison ?,” the actress wrote. A statement released by DeWaal said: "Shelley's greatest pride as an actress was in playing the indomitable Rosario, in a comedy series that furthered the cause of social equity and fairness for LGBTQ people. Shelley Morrison was a well known American television actress who was best known for her role as maid Rosario Salazar in the NBC comedy, "Will & Grace" for 7 long years.

Mullally tweeted that her “heart is heavy” following news of Morrison’s death. you will be missed. Other "Will & Grace" stars shared their condolences and fond memories of Morrison, who was married to director Walter Dominguez for 40 years.

“Putting shelley, her beloved husband walter & their children in the light. It was not an easy decision to make, but it’s one that she made.”. #Rosario,” he wrote. Fans Of 'Will And Grace' Remember Shelley Morrison As The Non-nonsense Maid Who Took Socialite Karen Walker Down A Notch. Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more. It is very significant to me that we were able to show an older, Hispanic woman who is bright and smart and can hold her own.”. Hear from WHO's chief scientist, Blitzer presses Pelosi on why she hasn't taken Trump stimulus deal, Early voters face long lines and equipment malfunctions, Watch Amy Coney Barrett's answers on key legal issues, Church could make teen 'genius' first millennial saint, How Biden's lead over Trump differs from Clinton's in 2016, Pennsylvania second lady reacts to getting called racial slur, Key moments from contentious McConnell, McGrath debate, Senator repeatedly presses Amy Coney Barrett on Roe v. Wade, White House chief of staff refuses to wear a mask with reporters, Camera captures moment Nobel Prize winner learns he won, These European countries are seeing record rises in Covid-19 cases, Dr. Fauci reacts to Trump ad: This is disappointing, More than half of US states report increase in Covid-19 cases. ", 'Will & Grace' actress Shelley Morrison dies at 83, Virginia governor reacts to alleged kidnapping plot, Barrett declines to answer if Trump can pardon himself, Can you catch Covid-19 twice? She also took pride in portraying a strong, loving yet feisty Latina character,” her husband of 46 years Walter Dominguez said in a statement.

She worked for more than six decades, guest starring in more than 150 television series.

She also said what made the character of Rosario Salazar "work" was that she was a "grounding influence. Morrison held many stage and screen roles throughout her 50-year career.

“Shelley has decided to retire,” he told reporters at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Morrison and the Will & Grace cast were nominated for the Screen Actors Guild award for best ensemble in 2002 and 2004. Our dear Rosario has passed on. Mullally tweeted that her heart was heavy after learning about her co-star's passing.

Shelley Morrison, a character actress best known for playing the feisty maid Rosario Salazar on "Will & Grace," has died, publicist Lori DeWaal tells CNN. She was absolutely hilarious and had the biggest heart. Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. you accomplished wonderful things in this world. The passing of Shelley Morrison has robbed the world of an amazingly talented woman. In August 2017, Will & Grace co-creator Max Mutchnick confirmed Morrison would not be participating in the series’ revival. Here is all you need to know about her background, the movie roles she has been in, and the cause of her death.

"thank you for your friendship & partnership, shell. Be in the know. She was the maid to Megan Mullally's character, Karen and the two often bantered back and forth. “Rosario is one of my all-time favorite characters,” Morrison said recently, according to the AP. If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. “Just got a bulletin on my phone that shelley morrison has passed,” she wrote.

“Such sad news. my heart is heavy. Shelley had a career that spanned decades, but she will always be our dear Rosie. Our beloved Shelley Morrison passed away today. Sending so much love to Walter and Shelley’s whole family. She played Sister Sixto alongside Sally Field on "The Flying Nun," and more recently, she voiced Mrs. Portillo on the children's cartoon "Handy Manny. Shelley Morrison, best known for her longtime role in Will & Grace, has died. "She reminds me a lot of my own mother, who loved animals and children, but she would not suffer fools.". ", Oh, Shelley... what a loss.

© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. She was 83. Our beloved Shelley Morrison passed away today.

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"It is very significant to me that we were able to show an older, Hispanic woman who is bright and smart and can hold her own," she said. Megan Mullally as Karen Walker and Shelley Morrison as Rosario Salazar in an episode of Will and Grace in 2000. #shelleymorrison , A post shared by Debra Messing (@therealdebramessing) on Dec 1, 2019 at 7:32pm PST, Such sad news. “Shelley’s greatest pride as an actress was in playing the indomitable Rosario, in a comedy series that furthered the cause of social equity and fairness for LGBTQ people. She was born as Rachel Mitrani on October 26, 1936 in the Bronx to Jewish Spanish parents, according to the biography. "She's an elder, a Hispanic with dignity, who doesn't take any guff and who says things a lot of people would like to say. Some of her roles included a Native American woman in "Mackenna's Gold" in 1969 as well as minor Hispanic roles in movies like "Man and Boy" in 1971 and "Troop Beverly Hills" in 1989. ", In the 2004 interview, Morrison explained how she got her stage name — her father's name was Morris, and in college, friends called her Shelley. For eight seasons, from 1999-2006, Morrison was in 68 episodes, starring opposite Megan Mullally’s Karen Walker as her longtime maid and confidant, Rosario Salazar. you accomplished wonderful things in this world. My heart goes out to her entire family,” the actor captioned a portrait of Morrison.

She was a kind soul with a huge heart and always had a smile on her face.

Actress Shelley Morrison, best known for her roles on "The Flying Nun" and "Will & Grace," died on Sunday, a representative told Entertainment Tonight.She was 83 years old. We really wanted Shelley to be a part of this series, so we find ourselves having to figure that out moving forward. Our dear Rosario has passed on. The 83 … Morrison died on Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from heart failure after a brief illness, her publicist Lori DeWaal confirmed to PEOPLE. Morrison died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from heart failure at the age of 83, DeWaal said.

❤️, A post shared by Sean Hayes (@seanhayes) on Dec 1, 2019 at 6:37pm PST, Morrison was born Rachel Mitrani to Jewish parents of Hispanic descent, according to an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from the height of "Will & Grace. ", First published on December 2, 2019 / 9:51 AM. ", just got a bulletin on my phone that shelley morrison has passed. Her last acting credit is voice work on the 2012 animated film Foodfight! How do I vote in my state in the 2020 election? The other great joy of her life was her 64-year marriage to her husband, filmmaker Walter Dominguez, and their many family members, including children and grandchildren who were adopted through traditional Native American ceremony,” the statement concluded. Actress Shelley Morrison, best known for her roles on "The Flying Nun" and "Will & Grace," died on Sunday, a representative told Entertainment Tonight. “She reminds me a lot of my own mother, who loved animals and children, but she would not suffer fools. Shelley Morrison starred opposite Megan Mullally's Karen Walker as her longtime maid and confidant, Rosario Salazar.

“Just got a bulletin on my phone that shelley morrison has passed,” she wrote. She was absolutely hilarious and had the biggest heart. thank you for your friendship & partnership, shell. All my love to Walter and the entire family.