Dallas star Roseanna Christiansen has died at the age of 71, her husband has confirmed.
The actress was best known for starring in the final nine seasons of the hit American drama series as the maid Teresa, the keeper of the Ewing family’s ranch.
Christiansen, who was also known for starring in The Jeffersons, died at the Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster, California on July 14, but no cause of death has been given.
Her husband Steven Rizzo confirmed the news of her death to
Christiansen starred in more than 100 episodes of the series, which revolved around the wealthy Texan family the Ewings, who owned the independent oil company Ewing Oil and ranch land Southfork.
She joined Dallas in 1982, four years after it started, and was a regular face until it ended in 1991.
Prior to appearing in Dallas, Christiansen was also a familiar face to viewers of US sitcom The Jeffersons, in which she starred as Carmen, a maid, alongside Sherman Hemsley (George Jefferson) and Isabel Sandford (Louise Jefferson).
The comedy show was her big break into acting after moving to Los Angeles from New York, having appeared in an off-Broadway play with her brother at the young age of nine.
As well as Dallas and The Jeffersons, she also had roles in the 1980s in the TV movies Temporary Insanity and This Is Kate Bennett, as well as the TV series Matlock in 1990.
However, in later life, she had fewer acting roles and instead focused on being an acting coach and was also, according to THR, an ordained minister.
Christiansen married Rizzo in 1989 and they had children Josiah and Grace together.
A memorial service was held in her honour on Saturday at the Heritage of Faith Christian Center in Crowley, Texas.
