Shelley Morrison — who famously starred on “Will & Grace” as the maid, Rosario — died Sunday from heart failure … according to her publicist.
Shelley passed at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Her publicist, Lori DeWaal, told AP, the actress had a brief illness before her heart gave out at the hospital.
“Will & Grace” fans remember Shelley’s role as Rosario Salazar from the show’s original airings … from 1999 to 2006. The story goes … the show’s writers only had the character in one episode, but her chemistry with Megan Mullally was so popular … they kept writing her in more episodes.
Shelley would go on to appear in 68 episodes during the show’s 8-year run. Debra Messing tweeted about her “dear Rosie” after getting the news of her death.
https://twitter.com/DebraMessing/status/1201343449527508992
Shelley was a beautiful soul & a wonderful actor. 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. #Rosario https://t.co/C1vkDTU6Qk
— Eric McCormack (@EricMcCormack) December 2, 2019
just got a bulletin on my phone that shelley morrison has passed. my heart is heavy. putting shelley, her beloved husband walter & their children in the light. thank you for your friendship & partnership, shell. you accomplished wonderful things in this world. you will be missed. pic.twitter.com/WeLGrWlRye
— Megan Mullally (@MeganMullally) December 2, 2019
Now, Morrison was already a veteran actor by the time she became famous as Rosario. She’d started landing TV roles in the early 60s, and worked steadily as a charter actress in shows like, “Dr. Kildare,” “Gunsmoke,” “My Favorite Martian” and “The Partridge Family.”
Shelley was 83.
