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According to sources, Pat Colbert, a former Dallas star, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 77. Before her death, the actress—who was best known for playing Dora Mae in the classic American drama—had already experienced three strokes during a ten-year span.
Her sister Tami Colbert confirmed her passing to The Hollywood Reporter on June 23, the day she died away at home in Compton, Los Angeles.
Colbert and Lee Majors costarred in the 1980s American soap opera Capitol, where Colbert played Cora Mullens, and the action series The Fall Guy.
Alongside Bill Cosby, she starred in the spy comedy Leonard Part 6 in 1987. Roles in prominent television programs including Sisters, True Colors, Flamingo Road, Benson, and Knotts Landing would be considered for future work.
The low budget motion pictures Thom & Dusty Go to Mexico: The Lost Treasure and If Not for His Grace, which were released in 2014 and 2015, respectively, were among Colbert's final works.
Between 1983 and 1991, Colbert played the renowned hostess and manager of the Oil Baron's Club, Dora Mae, in 67 episodes of the television series Dallas.
The character, who appeared sporadically, never had a major plot yet was nevertheless well-liked by Dallas viewers for her grace, elegance, and sense of style.
During the show's 13-year run, Colbert was notably the only Afro-American actress to appear on it.
Shaun Chang of the movie and TV blog Hill Place discussed her role with the Hollywood Reporter, saying, "She played the role with elegance and intelligence, but as the only recurring African-American character on the series, Dora Mae never had a storyline, because Dallas never tried to pretend to be anything more than the saga of the Ewing family." The main characters and the program as a whole showed her dignity and without showing any hint of condescension. "Dallas featured numerous recurrent supporting characters that contributed to establishing a feeling of community for a program set in a major city, and Dora Mae was an integral part of the show's narrative."
She was raised in a home constructed by her own father, LeRoy, and is a resident of Los Angeles. Sandra Patricia Colbert was born in the city on January 16, 1947, in southern California. Eula, her mother, was a foster care worker.
Later, she went to Centennial High School in Compton, which is in the southern part of Los Angeles County. After graduating from junior college, she started an acting and modeling career.
On July 20, Colbert is scheduled to have a funeral in Los Angeles.
Her son Michael, sisters Johnetta and Tami, and brother Aaron all survive her.
