Olivia Cole, Emmy-Winning ‘Roots’ Actress, Dead at 75 | lovebscott.com

Olivia Cole, Emmy-Winning ‘Roots’ Actress, Dead at 75

Actress Olivia Cole, best-known for her role on the TV series ‘Roots,’ passed away last Friday.

She was 75.

via NYDN:

Cole starred on the ‘70s series as Mathilda, the wife of Ben Vereen’s character Chicken George. She received an Emmy for her performance on the hit miniseries based on Alex Haley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book.

Deadline confirmed she passed away at her home in San Miguel Allende, Mexico, on Jan. 19.

The New York Times reported Cole died of a heart attack. Susie Schwarz from SBD Partners, where Cole had been for over 35 years, told Deadline she was not aware of the actress being ill.

In addition to her famous “Roots” role, Cole went on to star on TV series like “Szysznyk” from 1977 to 1978. She appeared on several other mini series in the late ‘70s, ‘80s and early ‘90s, including “Report to Murphy,” “North and South,” “The Women of Brewster Place” and “L.A. Law.”

Her last role was in the short “Be Good, Be Nice” in 2011.

She was married to actor Richard Venture, who died in December. The pair had divorced in 1982.

Cole had been living in Mexico for nearly 30 years.

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