Shelley Morrison, Rosario on ‘Will & Grace,’ Dead at 83

Comic actress Shelley Morrison, best known as sarcastic maid Rosario on the original run of “Will & Grace,” has died at 83.

USA Today reports she died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. The cause was heart failure.

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Morrison was a part of “Will & Grace” from 1999-2006, and made her final appearance as an actress in a 2016 webisode of the series that inspired a new, three-season run. She was asked to reprise her role as the Salvadoran maid for the “Will & Grace” revival, but declined, having completely retired from acting.

Born on October 26, 1936, in the Bronx, she studied acting in L.A. and specialized in ethnic roles, including playing the Native American character Linda Little Trees on the series “Laredo” (1965-1967) and Puerto Rican nun Sister Sixto on the Sally Field series “The Flying Nun” (1967-1970). The winning Sixto could always be counted on to mangle the English language.

Morrison had extensive experience on episodic TV, including on “Adventures in Paradise” (1961; her debut), “The Outer Limits” (1963), “Gunsmoke” (1966), “My Favorite Martian” (1966), “The Partridge Family” (1972), “The Rookies” (1972-1974; three appearances), and “General Hospital” (1982).

She appeared less frequently in films, popping up in “Funny Girl” (1968), “Rabbit Test” (1978), and “Troop Beverly Hills” (1989).

Aside from “Will & Grace,” her last jobs were voice work on “Handy Manny” (2006-2012) and in the film “Foodfight!” (2012).

“Will & Grace” was a career-capping gig for Morrison — one she almost never took. Fed up with playing domestics, she had asked her agent not to bring her any more offers for such roles. Luckily, she recognized the unique qualities of Rosario, a constant foil to Megan Mullally’s airy Karen Walker, and bosom buddy (and eventual wife, in a marriage of convenience) to Sean Hayes’s Jack McFarland.

Morrison is survived by her husband of 46 years, Walter Dominguez, and by their six children.