MASH star Kellye Nakahara dead at 72 after cancer battle
M*A*S*H star Kellye Nakahara has died after a short battle with cancer. The actress, who played Lieutenant Nurse Kellye, passed away on Sunday in her family home in Pasadena, California. According to TMZ, Kellye was surrounded by her family members and reportedly passed away “peacefully”. Kellye was married to David Wallet and the pair tied […]
M*A*S*H star Kellye Nakahara has died after a short battle with cancer.
The actress, who played Lieutenant Nurse Kellye, passed away on Sunday in her family home in Pasadena, California.
According to TMZ, Kellye was surrounded by her family members and reportedly passed away “peacefully”.
Kellye was married to David Wallet and the pair tied the knot in 1968.
The pair share two children and also have two grandchildren.
The half-Asian, half-Hawaiian actress moved to San Francisco after high school to pursue a career in art.
She soon found her way into acting before being cast Lt. Kellye Yamato on Korean war dramedy M*A*S*H in 1973.
The actress was part of the show for the entire time it was on air, it eventually came to an end in 1983 after 167 episodes.
The 2.5-hour M*A*S*H series finale in February 1983 remains the most-watched episode of series television in history, with more than 105 million viewers and a still impressive 60.2 rating/77 share, surpassing viewing figures normally reserved for the Super Bowl.
After the show, Kellye went on to have roles in 1985 comedy Clue, Eddie Murphy’s 1998 version of Doctor Dolittle and Sabrina, The Teenage Witch.
Kellye was also a watercolor artist who painted and exhibited under her married name, Kellye Wallett.
Her death comes just weeks after M*A*S*H co-creator Gene Reynolds passed away aged 96.
READ MORE IN SHOWBIZ
The six-time Emmy Award winner passed away in Burbank at the Providence Saint Joseph Medical Centre.
He is best known for his co-creation in cult classic series M*A*S*H, a dramedy set in the Korean War, along with Larry Gelbart, and being at the helm as director, writer and producer of hundreds of episodes of shows like Room 222 and Lou Grant.
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552.