Diane Delano, known for her roles in Northern Exposure and The Wicker Man (2006) has died at 67.
Delano passed away in her hometown of Los Angeles on Dec. 13, her friend and fellow actor Stepfanie Kramker confirmed to Deadline. Delano was best remembered for playing tough-as-nails Alaska state trooper Barbara Semanski on 12 episodes of the series between 1991 and 1995.
Throughout a career which lasted over 40 years, Delano appeared as a guest on popular shows such as St. Elsewhere, Married…with Children, Pen15, and Good Girls. She also recurred on Ryan Murphy’s WB series Popular between 1999 and 2001, playing Roberta “Bobby” Glass and several other roles across 36 episodes.
Additionally, she had memorable roles in several notable films: as “Bus Driver Betty” in Jeepers Creepers 2; as Mountain Girl, one of the thieves at the center of the Coen Brothers’ comedy The Ladykillers (2004); and as Sister Beech, one of the nefarious inhabitants of an all-female conclave in Neil LaBute’s remake of The Wicker Man.
“She was big and bold and brought her sharp wit and perfect comic timing to every role,” Kramer said of her friend. “Her earthy and raucous presence enabled her to always own the room. She was one of a kind.”
In later years, Delano segued further into animated work, lending her voice to Infinity Train and Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. Her final on-screen appearance was in the film Paradise: A Town of Saints and Sinners, which was released earlier this year.
