Kellye Nakahara.Photo: Mark Sullivan/WireImage
Actress Kellye Nakahara has died. She was 72.
“And fight she did, with humor, spunk and laughter.”
Nakahara is most known for her reoccurring role as Lt. Kellye Yamato on the hit seriesM.A.S.H.
The show followed staff of an army hospital during the Korean War as they use humor to escape the horror of the war. The series first aired in 1972 and went on for 11 seasons before ending in 1983.
courtesy Everett Collection
“She was a treasure. She was sunshine on the set. Sparkle. Laughter. Everyone loved her,” Loretta Switt, who played Maj. Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan on the series, said in the press release.
“A light has gone out of the world. A light that spread love and joy and beauty in every place, every time and every dimension in which Kellye moved. May her memory continue to brighten our days,” Mike Farrell, who played Captain B.J. Hunnicutt, expressed.
“What a good, feeling person she always was. Sensitive, kind and talented. I think often how, without even trying, she gave life to that spunky, adorable character in ‘Hey Look Me Over.’ And how, as a person, she possessed so much more,” Alan Alda said.
Nakaharaalso appearedinLittle House on the Prairie,Sabrina, the Teenage WitchandNYPD Blue.
Born in Oahu, Hawaii, Nakahara move to San Francisco to establish herself as a professional artist, according to the press release.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
It wasn’t until she met her husband David that she moved to Los Angeles. It was then that she embarked on a career in entertainment.
In addition to her career in Hollywood, Nakahara also served 8 years as the mayor’s appointee on the Pasadena Arts an Culture Commission.
She also sang with the California Philharmonic Chorale in Los Angeles, and served as the Artist-in-Residence, Artistic Advisor and Performance Coach for the Town Singers, a well-respected group, the Towne Singers perform to sell-out crowds for their annual Spring Concert, according to the press release.
source: people.com
