Overview

• An obituary published this week, including in The New York Times, states she died Aug. 2 from complications of chronic health conditions, with no additional medical details disclosed.
• She was known for a starring turn in Robert Zemeckis’ 1978 film I Wanna Hold Your Hand and earlier appearances in Slap Shot and Robert Altman’s A Wedding, following a 1975 Broadway debut.
• Transitioning to producing, she led the 1980 ABC Theatre adaptation of Michael Cristofer’s The Shadow Box, directed by Paul Newman and featuring Joanne Woodward, earning a Golden Globe and major award nominations.
• Her decades of advocacy included leadership at the Scott Newman Foundation on drug-prevention efforts, testimony before Congress, educational outreach such as student-made anti-drug PSAs, and work with the California Department of Education.
• Coverage highlights her later focus on education, juvenile justice, conservation and healthcare, as colleagues and fans post remembrances in response to the obituary.