Kate O’Mara, British actress best known for playing glamorous yet tough villains, died Sunday, according to her agent Phil Belfield. She was 74.
Belfield said she died in a southern England nursing home after battling a short illness. She had recently tweeted to her followers, thanking them for well wishes.
Hello all – thank you so much for your kind tweets. It’s both humbling and completely overwhelming to read all of your messages. Much Love x
— Kate O’Mara (@KateOmara_) March 17, 2014
O’Mara is most widely known for starring in long-running American soap “Dynasty” in the ’80s. In it, she played Cassandra ‘Caress’ Morell, the manipulative sister of Joan Collins’ Alexis Colby. Collins tweeted about the news this morning.
Tragic news about Kate O Mara , we had great fun on Dynasty when she played my sister Caress who Alexis insisted on calling CASSIE ! RIP — Joan Collins (@joancollinsobe) March 30, 2014
O’Mara became a fixture of British television as well after starting her television career in the ’60s, and played a similarly villainous role in BBC’s “Howard’s Way.” The thesp has a large following from her role on the original run of “Doctor Who,” where she played The Rani.
O’Mara recently said that she’d love to return to her “Doctor Who” role during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the skein. She played alongside two different doctors, Sylvester McCoy and Colin Baker, the latter of whom tweeted about her this morning.
Oh my goodness. Kate O’Mara is no longer with us. Sad sad news. A delightful, committed and talented lady and actress. We are the poorer
— Colin Baker (@SawbonesHex) March 30, 2014
O’Mara also appeared in “Triangle,” a BBC soap set on a real ferry that, despite being called one of the worst pieces of British television, lived on for three series. She also starred in comedy series “Absolutely Fabulous” with Joanna Lumley in the ’90s. Most recently, she appeared publicly in October when she hosted “An Evening with Kate O’Mara.” In 2012, she appeared in the onstage Agatha Christie adaptation “Death on the Nile.” She is survived by her sister Belinda Carroll, who is also an actress. Bonnie Langford, who appeared with her on “Doctor Who,” was one of many to tweet out tributes to her Sunday morning.
So sad to hear that the wonderful Kate O’Mara has gone. Treasured memories xxx pic.twitter.com/GP4jZX851H
— Bonnie Langford (@bonnie_langford) March 30, 2014
Kate O’Mara is no more. Only 74! I loved every encounter I had with her. Today doesn’t seem so sunny.
— graham norton (@grahnort) March 30, 2014
Kate O’Mara god rest her soul! R.I.P!
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) March 30, 2014
Kate O’Mara has died. For a teenage lad of the 70s/80s it was a nightmare watching her on TV while sitting in the same room as your parents.
— Graham Spiers (@GrahamSpiers) March 30, 2014
By Alex Stedman