Veteran Ray Donovan and ER actress Mary Mara’s family and colleagues are now remembering the ways she made their lives brighter in the wake of her tragic passing.
Sometimes an entertainer will make us realize that we didn’t know how great they were until they’re gone. Because when someone does their job well but doesn’t seek any glory for it , we can find ourselves appreciating what they did even if we didn’t recognize it as their work at the time.
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But in such cases, it’s not unusual to find that their colleagues knew exactly how underrated they were and were happy to sing their praises before the public at large would listen.
And from the sounds of it, that was very true in Mara’s case as her sudden drowning prompted those she had become close to over the years to share how much she meant to them both as a performer and as a person.
On June 26, Mary Mara’s body was discovered in Cape Vincent, New York after she had drowned in the St. Lawrence River at the age of 61.
According to People , the New York State Police are still investigating what happened before her body was found, but haven’t uncovered any signs to suggest Mara’s death was anything but an accident.
And in the days since, those who knew and worked with her have expressed their appreciation for the kind of person she was.
Professionally, Mara was remembered as a gifted actress whose 32-year career may not have launched her into stardom, but gave her the opportunity to serve as an important part of some “winning teams.”
According to The Daily Mail , that description comes from her obituary as written by her family.
They went on to describe her work in film, television, and off-Broadway productions as well as her penchant for “complex portrayals of often-troubled characters.”
And while her ER character Loretta Sweet was a popular example of this gift, that also described her work in Criminal Minds , Ray Donovan and Dexter.
But while this might make her performances sound sombre and understated, colleagues such as her manager Craig Dorfman and fellow actress Annette O’Toole described her as an electric and funny performer as well.
And from the sounds of it, that sense of humor was a favorite trait among her friends and family, as they all found her an immensely funny and outgoing person in general while also showing a great deal of kindness.
And these aspects of her personality shined through some serious challenges in her life that she seemed to know just how to deal with.
For instance, writer and actor Bill Corbett considers her a “soulmate for life” partially because he credits her for her faithful help and inspiration while he was overcoming addiction.
For his part, General Hospital actor Jon Lindstrom emphasized the strength she showed when they were in a production of Malcolm Danare’s In Heat as Mara had just beaten cancer and was going through the aftereffects of chemotherapy at the time.
In Lindstrom’s words, “This world will be a much less colorful place without her.”
Mara is survived by her sisters Martha and Susan Mara as well as her stepdaughter Katie Mersola, her brother-in-law Scott Dailey, and her nephew Christopher Dailey.
h/t: People , The Daily Mail
