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Actress Diane Delano, who played Officer Barbara Semanski in Northern Exposure, passed away at age 67, her representative and family members confirmed in heartfelt statements.
In Memoriam: Everyone We Lost in 2024
Hollywood is mourning one of their own.
Diane Delano, who was known for her role as Officer Barbara Semanski in Northern Exposure, died Dec. 13 after a brief illness, her rep Dennis Sevier confirmed in a statement. She was 67.
"When Diane entered any room you knew she was there,” the rep told People in a Dec. 16 statement. “She was full of life and loved being an actor. She will be missed.”
E! News reached out to her rep for comment but has not heard back.
The Los Angeles native became a household name when she starred in six seasons of the CBS dramady from 1990 to 1995. And after her time on Northern Exposure—which won seven Emmys during its run—she went on to land roles in other shows including Popular, Days of Our Lives, Pen15 and Perfect Strangers.
Beyond her TV performances, Diane also appeared in films like The Wicker Man, Miracle Mile, The Lady Killers, and most recently, Paradise: A Town of Sinners and Saints.
“She was big and bold and brought her sharp wit and perfect comic timing to every role,” her friend Stepfanie Kramer told Deadline. “Her earthy and raucous presence enabled her to always own the room. She was one of a kind.”
Her 40-plus-years in Hollywood also spoke to Diane’s talents as a voiceover actress, with credits including Rugrats, Lego Star Wars, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Teen Titans and Ben 10.
And it turns out, she had her sights set on fulfilling these dreams from a very young age.
(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
“Diane was destined to thrive within the entertainment industry,” her cousin Rick Sparks noted to Deadline. “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. Uncle Lane Bradford would take Diane and cousins often to watch him film.”
“Although it was in her DNA,” he continued, “I believe those early studio visits cemented Diane’s love for a life within the industry.”
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