Elizabeth Sung Dies; Veteran TV Actress Was 63

Elizabeth Sung, a veteran actress whose three-decade career included stints on such small screen classics as The Sopranos and The Young and the Restless, died on Tuesday.

She was only 63 years old.

The Associated Press confirmed this sad news late Friday, but not provide any additional details.

Sung was likely best known to television fans for her popular run on The Young and the Restless.

From 1994 through 1996, she portrayed Luan Violen Abbott, the owner of the Saigon Shack restaurant, on this beloved CBS soap opera.

The character was married to Jack Abbott, played by Peter Bergman, until her passing.

But if this was considered the highlight of Sung’s career, it was merely one stop among a great many.

Sung had over 90 credits on her resume, starting with a 1988 episode of The Equalizer, according to her IMDb page.

She also appeared in the films Tango & Cash (1989), Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), The Joy Luck Club (1993) and House Under Siege (2010), among other films.

Sung and Burton covered this old edition of Soap Opera Digest.

In the world of television, Sung guest-starred on nearly too many shows to even list.

Among them: episodes of CSI, The Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bones, NCIS: Los Angeles, Elementary, Shameless, Mike & Molly, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, House, Crossing Jordan, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, The Night Shift, Flashforward, Passions, ER, Touched by an Angel and Knots Landing.

Sung was born in Hong Kong.

Multiple outlets have confirmed she was fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin, having earned a BFA in dance from Julliard.

Moreover, Sung was a member of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company and had an MFI in directing from the American Film Institute.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sung was a strong supporter of AIDS charities after her older brother died of the disease back in 1985.

Sung is survived by her husband, screenwriter Peter Tulipan.

“SAG-AFTRA is saddened by the loss of soap pioneer, dedicated unionist and #sagaftramember Elizabeth Sung,” SAG-AFTRA said in a statement on Twitter.

A handful of celebrities also took to Twitter to mourn her death, such as actor Carl Weathers, who wrote:

RIP Elizabeth Sung. Your lovliness and talent are unmatched. #BePeace.

And Ming-Na Wen:

I was shocked and sadden ro hear about the passing of Elizabeth Sung. #TheJoyLuckClub sisters/family mourn the loss of this lovely, talented lady.

Too soon, too sudden. My heart goes out to Peter, her family & friends. RIP.

We share these same sentiments.

May Elizabeth Sung rest in peace.

View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2018: In Memoriam

ReadMore…

Reg E. Cathey Dies; Veteran Actor Was 59 Years Old

Reg E. Cathey, a veteran actor likely best known to television fans for roles in House of Cards and The Wire, died this week from lung cancer.

He was 59 years old.

According to TMZ sources, Cathey was surrounded by friends, family members and loved ones at the time of his passing, which took place at his home in New York.

It’s unclear at the moment for how long Cathey had been battling his illness.

The Wire creator David Simon confirmed Cathey’s death on Twitter, leaving the following statement along with a photo of the veteran star:

Reg Cathey, 1958-2018.  Not only a fine, masterful actor — but simply one of the most delightful human beings with whom I ever shared some long days on set.

On wit alone, he could double any man over and leave him thinking. Reg, your memory is a great blessing.

Cathey was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2014, 2015 and 2016, each time for his portrayal Freddy Hayes on HBO’s House of Cards.

The character was the owner of a rib restaurant that provided the Kevin Spacey’s Frank Underwood a sanctuary and secret hideout.

He won this Emmy Award in 2015.

On Season 4 of The Wire – generally considered to be the legendary drama’s best – he played Norman Wilson, a reporter-turned-political operative who consulted with Tommy Carcetti as the latter quickly rose to prominence up in Maryland politics.

Cathey also played a part on The Corner, Simon’s predecessor to The Wire on HBO.

A native of Alabama, Cathey’s big screen resume included roles in Fantastic Four and Se7en.

In response to this sad news, House of Cards creator Beau Willimon said the following on Friday evening:

Reg Cathey was one of a kind. Brimming with life force, generosity, humor, gravitas and a fountain of talent.

Loved by everyone lucky enough know him and work with him. He will be greatly missed. Rest In Peace, Reg.

Having been in the business for so long, Cathey was mourned on social media by a wide range of actors from both the TV and movie worlds.

To wit…

Mike Colter: Go gentle into that good night my brother. It was an honor spending time with you on set. Getting to know you as a person and an artist. You will be missed. Condolences to your family. I salute you.

Michael McKean: Reg Cathey was my friend and my wife’s friend and a great actor. I am very very sad. RIP, Reg.

Bobby Cannavale: We lost a sweet, sweet man and a sweet, sweet, SWEET artist today. Rest In Power, Reg E. Cathey We will miss you.

Chandra Thomas: Absolutely heartbroken. Reg, miss your brilliance, sharp wit and gracious love for your Cheremio beyond words….

Our thoughts go out to the family of Reg E. Cathey.

May he rest in peace.

View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2018: In Memoriam

ReadMore…

Rose Marie Dies; Veteran Actress Was 94

Rose Marie, a veteran actress and show business legend best known for her role on The Dick Van Dyke Show, died Thursday at her home in California.

She was 94 years old.

The late star’s publicist has confirmed the sad news.

Marie’s extensive career started as a child singing sensation in the 1920s and 1930s.

In an interesting note, she was the last surviving entertainer to have charted a hit before World War II. Pretty cool, right?

The artist and actress landed her first major TV role in 1960 on the CBS sitcom My Sister Eileen, prior to rising to prominence alongside Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore.

Marie portrayed Sally Rogers on all five seasons of The Dick Van Dyke Show; she was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1963, 1964 and 1966.

“We were a tight-knit, hard-working crew,” she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2004, adding at the time:

“I couldn’t wait to get to the set each day.”

Marie appeared on several television shows and films, and was also became active in animal welfare issues as the years went on.

Born Rose Marie Mazetta on August 15, 1923, the multi-talented star began acting and singing at age three, performing on stage at New York’s Mecca Theater.

She was dubbed “Baby Rose Marie the Child Wonder” and was often heard on the NBC Radio Network.

In the 1930s, Marie toured in vaudeville; and in the 1940s, she performed in nightclubs and theaters, even becoming a co-headliner on opening night of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.

Later in life, Marie gained new fans as a frequent celebrity on Hollywood Squares. How frequent?

Marie appeared on 629 episodes of the game show!

She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2001.

All in all, Marie’s amazing career spanned nine decades and was chronicled in the documentary “Wait for Your Laugh,” which was released earlier this year.

Tweeted Carl Reiner, who created The Dick Van Dyke Show, upon learning of Rose’s passing:

I was so sad to learn of the passing of Rosemarie. There’s never been a more engaging & multi-talented performer.

In a span of 90 years, since she was four, dear Rosie performed on radio, in vaudeville, night clubs, films, TV, & Vegas & always had audiences clamoring for “more!!”

May she rest in peace.

View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2017: In Memoriam

ReadMore…

Veteran News Anchor, En Route to Funeral, Dies of Stroke

Shocking and tragic news out of the world of television this week:

Amanda Davis, a popular news anchor in Atlanta, died on Wednesday after she suffered a “massive spontaneous stroke” while on the way to to her stepfather’s funeral.

She was 62 years old.

According to local reports, the CBS46 reporter was rushed to a hospital on Tuesday evening due to a medical emergency at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

She passed away the next night.

Davis had only just informed Twitter followers a few hours earlier that her "pops" had died and that his funeral was planned for Wednesday.

Per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, she was at the airport and heading to Texas to say farewell when she suffered this fatal stroke.

Her final post on Facebook was shared on Christmas Eve and featured a text graphic about the difficulty of experiencing one"s first Christmas after losing a close friend or relative.

It included the caption: “Stay strong, keep praising the Lord."

Davis had served as a news anchor in Atlanta for more than three decades,having previously worked at FOX5 Atlanta, where she helped launch Good Day Atlanta way back in 1992. 

She left that station in 2013 and went to work for a local CBS affiliate, which Tweeted the following in the wake of her passing:

Today we"re taking the time to remember a member of our family, #AmandaDavis, who tragically passed away after suffering a stroke on Tuesday.

If you have a favorite memory, please share them with us.

Davis gained a unique following and formed a close bond with viewers after she opened up about an alcohol addiction in 2016 with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“It felt good,” she said about her treatment program, adding at the time:

“I had learned a lot and gotten to the underlying issue for the drinking and my depression, which was the loss of that relationship. I was wallowing in that grief and drinking to feel better.”

In the wake of this stunning news, many former and current colleagues took to social media to express their condolences.

For example, CBS46 morning traffic reporter Julie Smith Tweeted:

“In total and complete shock right now. Please pray for comfort and peace for Amanda’s family. They’ve been through a lot & need our prayers.

"Please pray also for all of our @cbs46 family as we deal with the loss of our colleague & friend. Rest In Peace Amanda.”

Added anchor Sharon Reed:

“RIP Amanda Davis. Our dear colleague passed away minutes ago. She was surrounded by her family and friends. We loved her here at CBS46.

"We will miss her and honor her memory."

Watch the following video for more on this sad situation:

ReadMore…

John Dunsworth Dies; Veteran Actor Was 71

John Dunsworth, a long-time actor from Canada likely best known for his role as Jim Lahey on the sitcom The Trailer Park Boys, died Monday.

He was 71 years old.

No official cause of death has been confirmed, with The Hollywood Reporter citing an “unknown illness” as the basis for Dunsworth passing.

The sad news was relayed on social media by the popular actor’s daughter.

“With heavy and broken hearts the family of John F. Dunsworth would like to let people know that our amazing husband, father and grandfather John Dunsworth has passed away,” Sarah Dunsworth wrote on her dad’s Twitter page.

She added:

“John left this world peacefully after a short and unexpected illness. The family would like to request that our privacy is respected in our time of grief.”

Dunsworth was part of the original cast of Trailer Park Boys, a Canadian sitcom that has run for 11 seasons, portraying park supervisor Jim Lahey on the series.

You may also recognize him from his time as newspaper editor Dave Teagues on Syfy’s Haven.

Dunsworth’s other TV credits included Forgive Me, Lexx, and Pit Pony, where he acted alongside a 10 year-old Ellen Page, along with The Jim Henson Hour.

However, he was best known as the trailer park supervisor on the Trailer Park Boys, the nemesis for Ricky, Julian and Bubbles, a threesome of stoners played by John Paul Tremblay, Robb Wells and Mike Smith.

Dunsworth was born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia on April 12, 1946.

He started his career in show business on the stage, actually turning a dilapidated waterfront building into Pier One Theatre, an alternative theater company, The Hollywood Reporter states.

Wrote the  with the official Trailer Park Boys Twitter account in the wake of his passing:

“We’re in shock and heartbroken by the sudden loss of our dear friend John Dunsworth. We respect the family’s wishes for privacy at this time.”

Added co-star Bubbles on his Twitter:

“I am beyond devastated. John was a beautiful guy. Brilliant and fascinating. I am forever grateful for having known him. RIP my friend.”

We send our condolences to the friends, family members and loved ones of John Dunsworth.

May he rest in peace.

View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2017: In Memoriam

ReadMore…

Harry Dean Stanton Dies; Veteran Actor Was 91

Harry Dean Stanton, a veteran star of the big screen and small screen, died on Friday afternoon at Cedars-Sinai Hospital.

He was 91 years old.

The actor broke out in the film Paris, Texas and was also famous for roles in Twin Peaks, Big Love, Pretty in Pink and Repo Man.

Altogether, the legendary thespian’s career spanned six decades and his final performance will air later this month when the movie Lucky hits theaters.

It centers on an atheist who comes to terms with his own mortality.

On HBO’s Big Love, Stanton portrayed Roman Grant, while he recently appeared as Carl Rodd in the Twin Peaks revival on Showtime.

Stanton was already 58 years old when he nabbed his first leading role in the aforementioned Paris, Texas.

Written by Sam Shepard, the movie won the Palme d’Ora at the Cannes Film Festival in 1984, catapulting Stanton to the big time in the process.

“Stanton has long inhabited the darker corners of American noir, with his lean face and hungry eyes, and here he creates a sad poetry,” wrote famed critic Roger Ebert in response to the performance.

In 1986, Stanton found mainstream success when he played Molly Ringwald’s unemployed father in Pretty in Pink.

Years later, he portrayed a fiery Paul/Saul in Martin Scorsese’s controversial movie The Last Temptation of Christ, although the actor was among those in the film criticized by many as being miscast.

The late star was also good friends (and former roommates) with Jack Nicholson; the two appeared opposite each other in Ride in the Whirlwind.

Along with acting, Stanton sang and played rhythm guitar and harmonica in a Tex-Mex band that did weekly gigs at The Mint in Los Angeles.

Said Twin Peaks creator David Lynch upon learning of Stanton’s death:

“The great Harry Dean Stanton has left us.

“There went a great one. There’s nobody like Harry Dean. Everyone loved him. And with good reason. He was a great actor (actually beyond great) — and a great human being — so great to be around him!!! You are really going to be missed Harry Dean!!!

“Loads of love to you wherever you are now!!!”

Stanton was in the Navy in World War II and fought in the Battle of Okinawa.

His agent says that Stanton “is survived by family and friends who loved him.

May he rest in peace.

View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2017: In Memoriam

ReadMore…

Mark LaMura Dies; Veteran Actor Was 68

Mark LaMura, an Emmy-nominated actor best known for his role as Mark Dalton on All My Children, died on Monday after a battle with lung cancer.

He was 68 years old.

The veteran star appeared on the aforementioned soap opera from 1977 to 1989, although he continued to stop by now and then throughout the 1990s.

During his stint as Pine Valley’s Dalton, La Mura’s most memorable storylines included romancing his (at the time unknown to him) sibling Erica (played by the incomparable Susan Lucci) and undergoing an intervention about his drug addiction.

The character was eventually written off the series, but returned at one point to play a role in Erica’s intervention for substance abuse.

LaMura was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 1988.

And he left quite an impression on his famous co-star.

“How can this be? I just received the shocking and deeply saddening news that wonderful Mark LaMura has passed away,” wrote Lucci as a caption to the following image.

She added:

“Mark played my brother Mark on All My Children–he was such a talented and accomplished actor/ a bright and charming presence in all our AMC lives–and a really great guy.

“Mark was loved and he will be missed! RIP, my friend.”

Along with his well known gig on All My Children, LaMura also appeared on the following shows:

• Star Trek: The Next Generation


• L.A. Law


• One Life to Live


• The Sopranos


• 30 Rock


• Law & Order: SVU 


• Damages

In a 2012 interview with We Love Soaps, La Mura said that acting on daytime television “was like being able to play all 88 keys on a piano and only being allowed to plunk out the same eight every day.

“To be fair; the writers have to write an hours’ worth of story every day. The director has to shoot it, the actors have learn ‘all them words’ the night before.”

Did he love it, however?

“Love? No,” he said at the time. “Thanks for the dough. It was a heavy-like affair.”

Gotta appreciate that honesty, don’t you?

Over the years, La Mura also appeared in many theatrical productions, Shakespearean plays and The Rise Of Dorothy Hale.

He portrayed Oscar Madison in the 2013 revival production of The Odd Couple alongside Jeff Talbott as Felix Ungar.

May he rest in peace.

View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2017: In Memoriam

ReadMore…

Jay Thomas Dies; Veteran Sitcom Star Was 69

Jay Thomas, a long-time actor best known for roles in such timeless sitcoms as Cheers and Murphy Brown, died this week after a battle with cancer.

He was 69 years old.

The winner of two Primetime Emmy Awards, Thomas also starred on Ray Donovan for three years and most recently appeared on an episode of Bones in 2015.

His agent and friend, Don Buchwald, confirmed Thomas’ passing via a statement on Thursday to The New York Daily News.

“Jay was one of a kind, never at a loss for words and filled with so much fun and wonderfully whacky thoughts and behavior,” wrote Buchwald, who represented Thomas for 35 years.

Thomas’ wife, Sally, and his sons Sam, Max and J.T. were by the actor’s side when he passed away.

Thomas portrayed Jerry Gold on Murphy Brown from 1989-1998 and also took on the character of Rhea Perlman’s TV husband Eddie LeBec on Cheers” from 1987-1989.

Thomas went on to anchor the series Love & War from 1992-1995.

The star was also a regular on The Late Show with David Letterman, becoming a frequent guest over the years around the holidays.

Back in the day, he and the host would attempt to knock a meatball off the top of a Christmas tree by throwing footballs at it.

“It’s been fun. I’ve always wanted to be one of those guys on late-night talk shows who everybody wants to see,” he said in 2014 of these appearances, adding at the time:

“Like on Carson, when Rickles would come out. I became that guy. And I love football, so my two big dreams were totally realized.”

Thomas also hosted a popular radio show on SiriusXM.

On the big screen, the actor’s feature film appearances included roles in Mr. Holland’s Opus, Dragonfly, The Santa Clause 2 and The Santa Clause 3.

A native of Kermit, Texas, Thomas was raised in New Orleans and rose to prominence as a deejay on radio stations in New York and Los Angeles. 

He got his start on TV in 1979 by playing Remo DaVinci, the co-owner of a New York deli, on Mork & Mindy.

He is survived by his aforementioned wife and two kids.

May Jay Thomas rest in peace.

View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2017: In Memoriam

ReadMore…

Sam Shepard Dies; Veteran Actor Was 73

Sam Shepard, a long-time actor, playwright and director, has passed away at the age of 73.

Broadway World was the first website to report this sad news and no other details are available at this time.

Shepard was a well-respected star of the big screen and of the stage, having penned an incredible 44 plays and numerous books throughout his career.

He won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1979 for the play Buried Child and was also nominated for an Academy Award for the role of Chuck Yeager in The Right Stuff in 1983.

At one time, New York magazine dubbed Shepard “the greatest American playwright of his generation.”

Shepard was born on November 5, 1943 and started his acting career opposite Richard Gere and Brooke Adams in 1978’s Days of Heaven.

He later received praise for his work in 1980’s Resurrection, prior to his Best Supporting Actor nomination for The Right Stuff three years later.

By the mid-1980s, with the film adaption of his play Fool for Love, Shepard was successfully straddling the worlds of play-writing and acting.

He ended up on a cover of Newsweek as a result.

Shepard was elected to The American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1986 and elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences that same year.

His is survived by his three children from his marriage to O-Lan Jones and from his relationship with Jessica Lange.

The late star was married to Jones from 1969 until their divorce in 1984; while his relationship with Lange lasted from 1982 until 2009, when they broke up.

Wrote Broadway World upon reporting on Shepard’s death:

“[His] plays are chiefly known for their bleak, poetic, often surrealist elements, black humor and rootless characters living on the outskirts of American society.

“His style has evolved over the years, from the absurdism of his early Off-Off-Broadway work to the realism of Buried Child and Curse of the Starving Class.”

His most recent work was in the Netflix show Bloodline, in which he appeared as the character of Robert Rayburn.

May Sam Shepard rest in peace.

Note: Click through the following photo gallery for a look at a variety of actors, actresses and singers who have passes away in 2017.

View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2017: In Memoriam

ReadMore…

Michael Nyqvist Dies; Veteran Actor Was 56

Michael Nyqvist, a Swedish actor who took on the lead role in the initial big screen adaption of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, died on Tuesday in Stockholm.

He was 56 years old.

Nyqvist portrayed journalist Mikael Blomkvist in the original film and its sequels, which were based on the blockbuster novel by the same name.

He had been suffering from lung cancer for over a year at the time of his death.

“Michael’s joy and passion were infectious to those who knew and loved him,” his family said in a statement yesterday, adding:

“His charm and charisma were undeniable.”

Gerard Butler, who starred opposite Nyqvist in the movie Hunter Killer, also paid tribute to the actor upon learning of his death.

“I just found out that he passed today,” Butler said on Instagram, expounding as follows:

“It feels important to send my condolences because of all the movies I’ve made, he was right up there.

“He’s one of my favorites, if not my favorite, in terms of somebody who just had such incredible talent and childlike qualities and playfulness.

“But more than anything, just incredible humility and warmth and this cheeky kind of glint in his eyes.

“And to see all the young actors we worked with thinking how are they going to be if they ever make it, and if you see somebody like that and see how they handle themselves with such dignity and integrity and fun like he still loves what he does, and anyway it breaks my heart.”

In the caption to this Instagram video, Butler wrote:

“Sending my condolences to Michael Nyqvist and his family. Incredibly talented and an extraordinary human being. My heart is broken.”

Nyqvist, who spent the first year of his life in an orphanage, fell in love with acting during his senior year of high school in Nebraska after landing a small role in a production of Death of a Salesman.

After years of trying to break through in the industry, Nyqvist got his big break as Rolf, an abusive alcoholic husband, in the 2000 film Together.

He earned his first nomination for a Guldbagge, the annual cinema awards in Sweden, for the role and went on from there to anchor various television shows and films.

To U.S. audience, Nyqvist was likely best known for playing villains in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and in the first installment of John Wick.

In addition to acting, Mr. Nyqvist penned several books, including “Just After Dreaming,” an autobiography published in 2010 in which he described his search for his biological parents.

Nyqvist is survived by his wife, Catharina, and his kids, Ellen and Arthur, who are both in their 20s.

May he rest in peace.

View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2017: In Memoriam

ReadMore…

Powers Boothe Dies; Veteran Actor Was 68 Years Old

Powers Boothe, a veteran actor of both the big screen and the small screen, died on Sunday in his sleep.

He was 68 years old.

According to publicist Karen Samfilippo, Boothe passed away inside his Los Angeles home from natural causes.

A private service will be held for him this week in his native state of Texas, while his family is contemplating a more public memorial at some point in the future.

Beau Bridges, another long-time star in the industry, Tweeted confirmation of the sad news on Sunday afternoon, writing the following message:

Boothe was mostly known for portraying fictional villains, from saloon owner Cy Tolliver on HBO’s Deadwood to one of his more recent appearances on ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

He grew up on a Texas farm and began his acting career on stage, starring in a number of Shakespearean productions, including Henry IV.

After becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college, he made his Broadway debut in the 1970s in Lone Star & Pvt. Wars.

In 1980, Boothe won an Emmy Award for lead actor in a limited series or special for playing cult leader Jim Jones in CBS’ Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones.

He took home that trophy during an actors strike and decided to cross the picket line to accept it, saying at the time:

“This may be either the bravest moment of my career or the dumbest.”

Boothe also was nominated two ensemble SAG Awards, first in 1996 alongside the cast of Nixon and then again in 2007 with the cast of Deadwood.

He’s probably best known to current movie goers for having players Senator Roark in the Sin City franchise.

Also in the film universe, he portrayed Alexander Haig in Nixon (1995)… a sheriff in another Oliver Stone movie, U Turn (1997)… and was unforgettable as the evil gunman Curly Bill Brocius in Tombstone (1993).

Boothe played Connie Britton’s father on Nashville and the President of the United States on a season of 24.

“I loved acting with you #PowersBoothe you were a gentlemen and a great actor,” wrote Lea Thompson in response to Boothe’s passing.

His Deadwood co-star, Garret Dillahunt, described the star on Facebook as “a formidable adversary, baseball lover and poser hater,” adding as a tribute:

“Give em hell Powers.”

In 2009, Boothe was inducted in the Texas Film Hall of Fame, along with actor and singer Billy Bob Thornton.

Those who wish to honor the late star can send donations to the Gary Sinise Foundation, which assists the country’s defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need.

View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2017: In Memoriam

May Powers Boothe rest in peace.

ReadMore…

Joni Sledge Dies; Veteran Singer Was 60 Years Old

Joni Sledge, a founding member of the popular R&B group Sister Sledge, was found dead Friday in her home in Phoenix, Arizona, according to publicist Biff Warren.

She was 60 years old.

The cause of death is unknown at this time, but Warren told CNN that Sledge was not sick at the time of her passing.

The news came as a shocking tragedy to those close to her.

“Yesterday, numbness fell upon our family. We are saddened to inform you that our dear sister, mother, aunt, niece and cousin, Joni passed away yesterday,” reads a statement on the band’s Facebook page.

It adds:

“Please pray for us as we weep for this loss. We do know that she is now eternally with Our Lord.”

Along with siblings Debbie, Kim and Kathy, Joni formed the Sister Sledge in 1971.

The group was based out of Philadelphia, yet struggled for years before finding success.

The group is likely best remembered for the 1979 dance anthem “We Are Family,” along with such hits as “He’s the Greatest Dancer” and “My Guy.”

Speaking to The Guardian last year, Joni said the following of the group’s early years:

“The four of us had been in the music business for eight years and we were frustrated. We were saying: ‘Well, maybe we should go to college and just become lawyers or something other than music, because it really is tough."”

But the popularity of “We Are Family,” considered to be a female empowerment track that preached unity, changed everything.

The song was nominated for a Grammy and the album on which one could listen to it sold more than one million copies.

It peaked at number-two on the Hot 100 and topped the R&B and disco charts.

At one point, years later, Kathy left the group for a solo career, but the trio of sisters continued to play concerts and record, including a performance for Pope Francis in 2015.

They last took the stage together in October and were scheduled to perform a show on March 18; a series of European performances was also on tap.

Joni Sledge is survived by an adult son, her sisters and other family members.

May she rest in peace.

Scroll around below for a look at other well-known singers, actors and actresses who have passed away in 2017.

We send our condolences to their loved ones.

View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2017: In Memoriam

ReadMore…