Shelley Morrison obit

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