‘Will & Grace’ Actress Dies at 83: Cast Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Shelley Morrison
Will & Grace actress Shelley Morrison has died. She was 83.
The beloved star, who's best known for playing Karen Walker’s maid, Rosario Salazar, on the NBC series from 1999 to 2006, passed away from heart failure after a brief illness, according to her husband Walter Dominguez.
"[Shelley] passed in Los Angeles this morning at 5:42 am at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from heart failure, after a brief illness," he confirmed in a statement. "Shelley had recently celebrated her 83rd birthday."
"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," Dominguez added. "She also took pride in portraying a strong, loving yet feisty Latina character. She believed that the best way to change hearts and minds was through comedy."
Following the news, Will & Grace star Megan Mullally, Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, and Sean Hayes all took to social media to share heartfelt tributes as they remembered their late co-star.
"Shelley Morrison has passed. she was such an integral and important part of my experience at Will & Grace, and became a friend in the intervening years," Mullaly wrote on Instagram. "she was loving, strong, supportive, and kind. she and her husband Walter Dominguez had a wonderful, loving, and inspiring 46-year marriage. he was always by her side. please put him and their children and grandchildren in your thoughts. i will miss you, Shelley. thank you for the years of partnership and for your friendship and support. te amo, mami."
"Such sad news. Our beloved Shelley Morrison passed away today. She was absolutely hilarious and had the biggest heart," Hayes penned alongside a photo of Morrison in character. "She was a part of our Will and Grace family and will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to her husband, Walter and her entire family."
"Oh, Shelley... what a loss. Our dear Rosario has passed on. Shelley had a career that spanned decades, but she will always be our dear Rosie," Messing captioned her post. "She was a kind soul with a huge heart and always had a smile on her face. All my love to Walter and the entire family."
"Shelley was a beautiful soul and wonderful actor, McCormack wrote in his tribute. "Her work as Rosario, season after season, was as nuanced and real as it was hysterical. She will be missed by everyone at #WillandGrace. She’s a huge part of it. Sending so much love to Walter and Shelley’s whole family."