The actress’ sister Tami Colbert told The Hollywood Reporter that she died on at her home in Compton, Calif. According to the outlet, the news of the star’s death comes after she experienced three strokes over the past decade.
Colbert was born on January 16, 1947, in Los Angeles, according to her IMDB profile. She worked as a model for department store campaigns and as a fashion consultant before setting her eyes on Hollywood, according to THR.
She made her first TV appearance in 1979’s Eischiled as a model before co-starring in Flamingo Road, which ran from 1980-1981. Colbert appeared in the pilot and as a recurring character in the first season.
From there, she obtained roles in several television shows including Capitol, Benson, The Fall Guy, Knots Landing, A Death in California, Sisters and True Colors. Ultimately, Dallas would become one of her most well-known projects, as she appeared in 67 episodes of the long-running series, which aired from 1983 to 1991.
Colbert began starring in Dallas’ sixth season as the Oil Baron’s Club host Dora Mae. The private club was sometimes featured on the show as a place where the main characters, the Ewing family and their associates would often hold events and dealings.
Though Colbert’s role in the series was a supporting one, Hill Place blogger Shaun Chang told THR that she had “played the role with elegance and intelligence.”
The leading characters, and the show itself, treated her with respect and without any sense of condescension,” he told the outlet. “Dallas had many recurring supporting characters who helped create a sense of community for a show set in a major city, and Dora Mae was part of the fabric of the series.”
She also appeared in several films including as a nurse in S.O.B. and Hysterical, and held a prominent role in the comedy Leonard Part 6 as the character Allison Parker.
Colbert appeared to take a break from acting in the late 90s and 2000s before appearing in 2014’s Thom and Dusty Go to Mexico and 2015’s If Not For His Grace — the last time she was seen onscreen.
She is survived by her son, Michael, and her siblings Tami, Aaron and Johnetta, per THR.