Mary Pat Gleason, an American actress with over 170 roles to her name, died Tuesday at the age of 70, according to reports.
The prolific star died after spending one month at the hospital following “a recurrence of uterine cancer,” according to ET. Gleason previously beat the disease back in 2015, but it recently recurred, her nephew told the outlet.
Gleason is known for her starring role in CBS sitcom “Mom” where she played the role of Mary. Her most notable movie role is in the 2004 American teen romantic comedy “A Cinderella Story,” where she played the role of Eleanor, the kind-hearted waitress who always encouraged Sam, played by Hilary Duff, even though she was down.
Born and raised in Lake City, Minnesota, by the time she was studying at St. Paul, she had already starred in the theater production of “Once Upon a Mattress” and received rave reviews. But her decades-long career started in 1982 with her role in the NBC soap opera “Texas.”
Since her first screen role in “Texas” she appeared in dozens of television series including “Full House,” “Friends,” “Will & Grace,” “Desperate Housewives,” and many more.
Gleason also starred from 1983 to 1985 as Jane Hogan in the drama “The Guiding Light,” where she won a Daytime Emmy-Award as part of the writing team on the show in 1986.
Some of her most notable featured movie credits include “Basic Instinct,” “Bruce Almighty,” “The Crucible,” and many more. Her most recent film role was in the yet-to-be-released drama Pencil Town, Deadline reported.
Gleason also starred as Professor Foxtrot in the web show WTF 101 platform: “CollegeHumors Dropout.”
‘A Fond Farewell in Her Memory’
Following the news of her passing, many fans and celebrities paid tributes to their friend on social media.
American actor Ron Fassler said Gleason was “one of the dearest and sweetest people I have ever had the pleasure to know.”
“She was so much more than a wonderful actress: she was one of a kind. So caring, so funny, and so delicious to be around, that I find it hard to imagine a world without her shining presence and smiling face,” Fassler continued in the tribute posted on Facebook.
“Let’s all raise a glass to her this evening as one and offer a final toast and a fond farewell in her memory.”
American actress Allison Janney, who starred alongside Gleason in the sitcom “Mom” posted to Instagram after hearing the news sharing to her followers in the caption of the post: “We said goodbye to Mary Pat Gleason yesterday.”
“She was part of our [“Mom”] family and we loved her so much. She was one of our favorite guest stars. Her kind heart and warm smile will be missed. RIP dear Mary Pat,” the post reads.
A fan of Gleason said on Twitter: “Very sad to learn one of my favorite character actresses, Mary Pat Gleason, passed away yesterday aged 70. In her decades-long career, she guest-starred on many popular shows.”
“R.I.P. Mary Pat Gleason Thanks for the memories…May they always be a blessing,” another fan wrote, adding a picture of the actress.
