This Was Mary Mara's Final Movie Role Before Her Tragic Death

Actor Mary Mara, known for her work in popular TV series like "ER" and "Nash Bridges" (via IMDb), died on June 26, 2022, in an apparent drowning, according to New York State Police. Though largely recognized as a TV actor in shows like "Star Trek: Enterprise" and "Law & Order: SVU," among others, Mara's big break in film acting came in "Blue Steel," alongside Jamie Lee Curtis in 1990. On that note, Mara's last movie role came just two years before she died, as reported by Deadline.

Mara was 61 when she died, and no foul play is suspected. Mara was swimming in the St. Lawrence River, near Cape Vincent, New York, while visiting her sister, per New York State Police. After Mara's death was announced, her manager Craig Dorfman released a statement, calling his client "electric, funny, and a true individual." Mara was one of the finest actor he ever met, Dorfman also added (via USA Today).

The last movie that Mary Mara appeared in also starred Steve Gutenberg (via IMDb). In addition to her film and TV work, Mara, who attended San Francisco State University and graduated from Yale School of Drama, appeared in such productions as "Ivanov" while in college, alongside William Hurt, according to Deadline. Mara also had a hand in founding HART, or the Haight Ashbury Repertory Theatre in San Francisco. She continued to act on stage all throughout her career.

Per People, Mara's obituary noted that in her work she "specialized in complex portrayals of often-troubled characters," citing the recurring role that the Angel Award-winning actor had on the popular NBC series "ER" in the `90s, a single mother and sex worker named Loretta Sweet. She also played Valerie Hodges, one of detective Harry Morgan's informants on the serial-killer Showtime series "Dexter." These sensibilities might have attracted Mara to her final film role as Molly in a drug-heist action movie released in 2020, according to IMDb.

Mary Mara's last film role was in "Break Even," directed by Shane Stanley, and starring Tasya Teles and Joseph D. Reitman. The movie tells the story of four friends who come across a large sum of money on a remote island, only to find themselves caught between the DEA and a drug cartel, according to the plot summary posted on IMDb. The "Break Even" trailer is available to watch now on YouTube. After learning that Mara had died, Billy Crystal tweeted his upcoming performance in "Mr. Saturday Night" on Broadway was dedicated to the late actor. Mara played Crystal's daughter in the original 1992 film version of the show. 

Mara's friend Bill Corbett from the popular sci-fi comedy series "Mystery Science Theater 3000" also tweeted, saying he was "[r]eeling and heartbroken to learn just now that my dear friend Mary Mara died," calling her "One of my soulmates for life." According to People, Mara is survived by two sisters and their husbands, as well as her stepdaughter and nephew. As of this report, an investigation into Mara's death is ongoing, and her exact cause of death is unconfirmed.