Mary Mara has been found dead after drowning in the St Lawrence River over the weekend.
According to a New York State police statement, troopers responded to a possible drowning call at 8:00AM on Sunday (June 26) and discovered the 61-year-old actor's body in Cape Vincent.
A preliminary investigation indicated Mara, who lived in the vicinity, was visiting her sister and went swimming to exercise, and later died by drowning.
As reported by TMZ, officials said that the actor's body displayed no signs of foul play. However, her cause of death is still pending, and her body has been taken to the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
Mara's manager, Craig Dorfman, confirmed her death and shared a statement to Variety, saying: "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," Dorfman added.
Mara was born in 1960 and was raised in Syracuse, New York before going on to study at San Francisco State University and Yale. She began her acting career in 1989 with the television movie The Preppie Murder and went on to amass over 80 screen credits.
Mara appeared in a New York Shakespeare Festival production of Twelfth Night on stage with Michelle Pfeiffer, Jeff Goldblum, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Gregory Hines.
Perhaps her most notable role was in the TV series ER, which saw her play recurring patient Loretta Sweet. Fans will also know Mara for playing inspector Bryn Carson in the police drama Nash Bridges.
Other significant television credits include NYPD Blue, Ally McBeal, Farscape, Law and Order, The West Wing, Monk, Lost, Shameless, Ray Donovan, Dexter, and Criminal Minds.
The veteran actor was also known for her roles on the big screen, in movies such as Mr. Saturday Night, Love Potion No. 9, and A Civil Action.
According to Mara's IMDb page, her most recent appearance was in the action film Break Even, which premiered in 2020. After, Mara retired from acting and returned to live in Syracuse after living in New York City and Southern California.
Mara is survived by her stepdaughter Katie Mersola, her sisters Martha Mara and Susan Dailey, her brother-in-law Scott Dailey and her nephew, Christopher Dailey.
Our thoughts are with Mara's family, friends, and fans at this time.