Diane Delano, the actress best known for her work in Northern Exposure, has died aged 67.

Her agent, Dennis Sevier, confirmed the news, telling People that Delano passed away at her Los Angeles home on December 13 after a brief battle with an illness.

“When Diane entered any room you knew she was there! She was full of life and loved being an actor,” Sevier said of the late star in a statement.

“She will be missed.”

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Delano rocketed to fame when she scored the role of Officer Barbara Semanski on Northern Exposure.

The show ran for a total of six seasons, from 1990 to 1995, and made Delano a household name.

One of her other biggest roles came in 2006, when she starred as Sister Beech in the 2006 remake of The Wicker Man.

Over her 40-plus years in showbusiness, Delano worked across a variety of projects.

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She appeared in Ryan Murphy’s TV series Popular as Roberta ‘Bobbi’ Glass, and in Days Of Our Lives she starred as Agent Hilda, and FBO agent tasked with protecting Sami Brady.

As far as films go, her credits include projects such as Miracle Mile, The Ladykillers, Out of These Rooms and A Mighty Wind.

But it didn’t stop there for Delano, the late actress also lent her voice to several projects, ranging from hit animated TV shows to video games.

She voiced characters in TV shows such as Teen Titans and Batman: The Brave and the Bold, as well as recently stepping into the voice booth for the video game Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

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Friends and family have paid tribute to the late star, remembering her fondly as they’ve confirmed the sad news with touching statements.

“She was big and bold and brought her sharp wit and perfect comic timing to every role,” shared her close friend Stepfanie Kramer.

“Her earthy and raucous presence enabled her to always own the room. She was one of a kind.”

Her cousin, Rick Sparks, remembered his late family member, reflecting on the early days of Delano’s passion which began when she was just six-years-old.

“Diane was destined to thrive within the entertainment industry,” he said.

“Our grandfather, Myrtland Vivian LaVarre, was a New York stage actor who was convinced by Cecil B. DeMille to change his name to ‘John Merton’ and move his wife Esther and their six children out to Hollywood.

“Eventually, the entire family became working professionals in various aspects of the studio system.”

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He added that their uncle, actor Lane Bradford, would often take Diane along with her cousins to watch him film.

“Although it was in her DNA,” Sparks continued. “I believe those early studio visits cemented Diane’s love for a life within the industry.”

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