R.I.P. Shelley Morrison, Sister Sixto of The Flying Nun and Rosario Salazar of Will & Grace
She drew on her Spanish heritage in a career spanning four decades. She was 83.
She was not on the list.
Born in the South Bronx to Sephardic (Spanish) Jewish parents, Shelley Morrison grew up in a Spanish-speaking household. When she was 10 years old, Morrison moved with her family to California. After studying acting in Los Angeles, Morrison drew on her background in her screen career.
The quirky Sixties sitcom The Flying Nun centered around young Sister Bertrille (Sally Field), a Chicago native who becomes a nun in Puerto Rico. Due to her lightweight stature and massive habit, a strong wind could send her soaring in the air. It was the kind of family comedy that fit perfectly alongside the twitching noses of Bewitched and retractable antennae of My Favorite Martian.
A major source of laughs on The Flying Nun was Sister Sixto, played by Morrison, a native nun struggling with learning the nuances of the English language. Take this exchange, for example:
Sister Sixto: If at first you do not succeed, you cry, cry again.
Sister Bertrille: That's not "cry", it's "try."
Sister Sixto: No, you make them feel sorry for you. You know, if we did much more crying, I think it would be easier to sell the bed.
Prior to The Flying Nun, Morrison's biggest role had been that of a Native American, Linda Little Trees, on Laredo. She would go on to appear in 56 episodes of The Flying Nun. Following that series, Morrison would appear in guest roles on TV series for decades, everything from The Partridge Family to Columbo.
In 1999, Morrison at last landed another recurring role. Although, it was initially intended to be a one-off appearance.
In the Will & Grace episode "Object of My Rejection," Jack (Sean Hayes) agrees to marry the maid working for Karen (Megan Mullally). Fans loved Morrison's maid character, Rosario Salazar, so much, the writers kept her on the series. She would stay until the (original) series finale in 2006, gaining more screen time as the seasons rolled on.
"She was absolutely hilarious and had the biggest heart. She was a part of our Will and Grace family and will be greatly missed," Hayes said on Instagram.
"my heart is heavy. putting shelley, her beloved husband walter & their children in the light. thank you for your friendship & partnership, shell. you accomplished wonderful things in this world. you will be missed," Mullally wrote on Twitter.
Morrison was 83.
Her filmogprahy:
Actress (63 credits)
2012 Foodfight!
Lola Frutola (voice)
2006-2012 Handy Manny
(TV Series)
Mrs. Portillo
- Wedding Day (2012) ... Mrs. Portillo (voice)
- The Right Stuff/Vet Visit (2012) ... Mrs. Portillo (voice)
- Big Construction Job (2010) ... Mrs. Portillo (voice)
- A Night with Abuelito/Canine Case (2009) ... Mrs. Portillo
(voice)
- Home Sweet Home/Jackie's Old Shed (2009) ... Mrs. Portillo
(voice)
2011 Generator Rex
(TV Series short)
Abuela
- Night Falls (2011) ... Abuela (voice)
- Back in Black (2011) ... Abuela (voice)
2006 My Name Is Earl
(TV Series)
Maria
- South of the Border: Part Dos (2006) ... Maria
1999-2006 Will &
Grace (TV Series)
Rosario Salazar
- The Finale: Part 2 (2006) ... Rosario Salazar
- The Finale: Part 1 (2006) ... Rosario Salazar
- Whatever Happened to Baby Gin? (2006) ... Rosario Salazar
- Buy, Buy Baby (2006) ... Rosario Salazar
- The Definition of Marriage (2006) ... Rosario Salazar
2004 Shark Tale
Mrs. Sanchez (voice)
1998 Prey (TV Series)
Blanca
- Revelations (1998) ... Blanca
1997 Nothing Sacred
(TV Series)
Sylvia
- Parents and Children (1997) ... Sylvia
1997 Home Improvement
(TV Series)
Gail
- Clash of the Taylors (1997) ... Gail
1997 Fools Rush In
Aunt Carmen
1995 Courthouse (TV
Series)
Nell
- Child Support (1995) ... Nell
- Conflict of Interest (1995) ... Nell
- One flew over the Courthouse (1995) ... Nell
- Pilot (1995) ... Nell
- Justice Delayed ... Nell
1995 Live Shot (TV
Series)
Rosa Sandoval
- For Whom the Stinkin' Bell Tolls (1995) ... Rosa Sandoval
1994 Cries from the
Heart (TV Movie)
1994 L.A. Law (TV
Series)
Mrs. Escala
- He Ain't Guilty, He's My Brother (1994) ... Mrs. Escala
1993 Columbo (TV
Series)
Nick's Maid
- It's All in the Game (1993) ... Nick's Maid
1993 Johnny Bago (TV
Series)
Gloria
- Lady Madonna (1993) ... Gloria
1992-1993 Sisters (TV
Series)
Juanita
- The Whole Truth (1993) ... Juanita
- Good Help Is Hard to Find (1992) ... Juanita
1992 Murder, She
Wrote (TV Series)
María
- Day of the Dead (1992) ... María
1991 Love, Lies and
Murder (TV Mini-Series)
Yolanda Brown
- Episode #1.2 (1991) ... Yolanda Brown
- Episode #1.1 (1991) ... Yolanda Brown
1990 The Fanelli Boys
(TV Series)
Mrs. Goldblume
- A Very Fanelli Christmas (1990) ... Mrs. Goldblume
- You Can Go Home Again (1990) ... Mrs. Goldblume
1989 Troop Beverly
Hills
Rosa the Maid
1987 1st & Ten
(TV Series)
Mama Voytok / Mama Voytak
- Land of the Free (1987) ... Mama Voytok
- The Bulls Change Hands (1987) ... Mama Voytak
1985 Kids Don't Tell
(TV Movie)
Carol
1983 Max Dugan
Returns
Mother
1979 240-Robert (TV
Series)
Angie
- Poison Air (1979) ... Angie
1978 Lassie: A New
Beginning (TV Movie)
Lena
1978 Rabbit Test
Mrs. Borzoni
1977 Soap (TV Series)
The Maid
- Episode #1.12 (1977) ... The Maid
1976 Once an Eagle
(TV Mini-Series)
Bordello Madame
- Part 2 (1976) ... Bordello Madame
1975 Conspiracy of
Terror (TV Movie)
Mrs. Kojova
1975 The Night That
Panicked America (TV Movie)
Toni
1972-1974 The Rookies
(TV Series)
Mrs. Felker / Mrs. Eisenstadt
- Key Witness (1974) ... Mrs. Eisenstadt
- Cry Wolf (1973) ... Mrs. Felker
- The Bear That Didn't Get Up (1972) ... Mrs. Felker
1974 Devil Times Five
Ruth
1974 The Girl Who
Came Gift-Wrapped (TV Movie)
Louise
1973 Breezy
Nancy Henderson
1973 Blume in Love
Mrs. Greco
1973 The Streets of
San Francisco (TV Series)
Angela Barberio
- Trail of the Serpent (1973) ... Angela Barberio
1970-1972 Marcus
Welby, M.D. (TV Series)
Mrs. Sobel / Mrs. Florino
- Unto the Next Generation (1972) ... Mrs. Sobel
- To Carry the Sun in a Golden Cup (1970) ... Mrs. Florino
1972 The Partridge
Family (TV Series)
Mrs. Kornegge
- Whatever Happened to Keith Partridge? (1972) ... Mrs.
Kornegge
1972 Stand Up and Be
Counted
Rosa (uncredited)
1971 The Bold Ones:
The New Doctors (TV Series)
Anna
- Angry Man (1971) ... Anna
1971 Man and Boy
Rosita
1970 The Interns (TV
Series)
Mrs. Miller
- Some Things Don't Change (1970) ... Mrs. Miller
1967-1970 The Flying
Nun (TV Series)
Sister Sixto
- No Tears for Mrs. Thomas (1970) ... Sister Sixto
- When Generations Gap (1970) ... Sister Sixto
- A Gift for El Charro (1970) ... Sister Sixto
- The Candid Commercial (1970) ... Sister Sixto
- Papa Carlos (1970) ... Sister Sixto
1969 Three's a Crowd
(TV Movie)
Mona
1969 Mackenna's Gold
The Pima Squaw
1968 Funny Girl
Second Floor Woman (uncredited)
1968 Three Guns for
Texas
Linda Little Trees
1968 How to Save a
Marriage and Ruin Your Life
Marcia Borie
1967 Divorce American
Style
Jackie
1965-1967 Laredo (TV
Series)
Linda Little Trees
- Split the Difference (1967) ... Linda Little Trees
- No Bugles, One Drum (1966) ... Linda Little Trees
- Jinx (1965) ... Linda Little Trees
- Yahoo (1965) ... Linda Little Trees
1966 Occasional Wife
(TV Series)
Fran
- Peter by Moonlight (1966) ... Fran
1966 Castle of Evil
Lupe Tekal d'Esperanza
1966 My Favorite
Martian (TV Series)
Little Feather / Narita
- Pay the Man the $24 (1966) ... Little Feather
- When a Martian Makes His Violin Cry (1966) ... Narita
1966 Gunsmoke (TV
Series)
Addie Moonercan
- Which Dr. (1966) ... Addie Moonercan
1965 The Fugitive (TV
Series)
Ginny Stransel
- Set Fire to a Straw Man (1965) ... Ginny Stransel
1965 The Farmer's
Daughter (TV Series)
Molly
- High Fashion (1965) ... Molly
- Powder Puff Invasion (1965) ... Molly
1964-1965 Dr. Kildare
(TV Series)
Mrs. Ruiz / Mrs. Martinez
- A Marriage of Convenience (1965) ... Mrs. Ruiz
- An Ungodly Act (1964) ... Mrs. Martinez
1963 The Outer Limits
(TV Series)
Woman
- Tourist Attraction (1963) ... Woman (uncredited)
1963 General Hospital
(TV Series)
Mrs. Ramirez (1982)
1962 The Interns
Party Girl (uncredited)
1962 Target: The
Corruptors! (TV Series)
Mrs. Gomez
- The Malignant Hearts (1962) ... Mrs. Gomez
1961 Adventures in
Paradise (TV Series)
Mother
- Angel of Death (1961) ... Mother
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