Television and film actress Judy Pace has died at 83. She passed away peacefully in her sleep Wednesday while visiting family in Marina del Rey, California, her daughters confirmed.
Born June 15, 1942, in Los Angeles, Pace began as a model before breaking into television in the 1960s. She appeared on shows like Peyton Place, The Mod Squad, Ironside, Mannix, and Sanford and Son, becoming one of the first African American women to hold regular roles in major dramas.
Pace also starred in 1970s Blaxploitation films and the acclaimed sports drama Brian’s Song (1971). She was married to actor Don Mitchell and later baseball star Curt Flood.