The Heartbreaking Death Of ER Actor Mary Mara

Beloved actress Mary Mara, known for her expansive TV roles, was found dead on June 26 at the age of 61.

Syracuse's News Channel 9 reports that Mara's body was discovered in the St. Lawrence River in the New York town of Cape Vincent. Police, along with paramedics and the local fire department, arrived on the scene on Sunday morning to find the actress without vital signs. In a press release, New York State Police note that it is believed that she drowned while swimming and that there were no signs of foul play. However, the investigation is ongoing, and a pending autopsy will determine an official cause of death.

According to Deadline, Mara had been staying at her sister's summer home located on the river just outside of Cape Vincent. It's currently unclear if she had been staying in the area alone.

Most recently, Mara appeared in the 2020 film "Break Even," per IMDb, but the star had a stunning Hollywood career spanning as far back as the 1980s.

Mary Mara had been active in TV and film since she landed her first role as Susan Bird in the 1989 TV movie "The Preppie Murder" (via IMDb). Since then, she took on several recurring roles in dramas and TV series. Her obituary, obtained by People, says that the actress specialized in playing "often-troubled characters," including her role as Loretta Sweet in NBC's hit show "ER," starring George Clooney. 

Many fans may also recognize Mara for her roles in "Criminal Minds," "Law & Order," "NYPD Blue," "Star Trek: Enterprise," "Lost," and "Nash Bridges," among others.

Craig Dorfman, the star's manager, confirmed her death, telling Variety, "Mary was one of the finest actresses I ever met ... I still remember seeing her onstage in 1992 in 'Mad Forest' off Broadway. She was electric, funny and a true individual. Everyone loved her. She will be missed." Others took to Twitter to remember Mara, including actor Jon Lindstrom, who wrote, "Crushed to learn of Mary Mara's untimely passing ... Brave, brilliant, Uber-talented. Earth will be much less-colorful without her. R.I.P."