Mary Mara, the actor best known for roles in ‘Law & Order’ and ‘ER’, died in Cape Vincent, New York, on Sunday, at the age of 61. The cause of death seems to be apparent drowning

New York State Police confirmed in a report published Monday, that Mara was found in the St. Lawrence River. She was staying in a summer home with sister Martha, and a preliminary report suggests the actor drowned while swimming. 

Born on September 21, 1960, in Syracuse, Mara went to San Francisco State University and Yale to complete her studies. The actor began her television and film career with a role in the television movie ‘The Preppie Murder’. During her career, she amassed over 80 screen credits. Some of her notable appearances have been in shows like ‘Ray Donovan’, ‘Dexter’, and ‘Criminal Minds‘. 

“Mary was one of the finest actresses I ever met”, her manager Craig Dorfman said in a statement to Variety, confirming the actor’s death. He added, “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.”

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Speaking of Mara’s onstage appearance, it includes the New York Shakespeare Festival’s production of ‘Twelfth Night’ which also had acting greats Michelle Pfeiffer and Jeff Goldblum in the cast. 

Her film debut came in 1992 with ‘Love Potion No. 9’ but Mara also appeared in other works like ‘Gridiron Gang’ and ‘Prom Night’. She also appeared in the 2020 film ‘Break Even’, which marked Mara’s last acting appearance, after which she retired to live in Syracuse. 

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She’s survived by stepdaughter Katie Mersola, sisters Martha Mara and Susan Dailey, as well as Scott Dailey, who’s her brother-in-law, and Christopher Dailey, who’s her nephew. 

Mara will best be remembered as Loretta Sweet, the recurring patient, on ‘ER’, or inspector Bryn Carson in ‘Nash Bridges’, the police procedural.