Mira Furlan, Babylon 5 and Lost star, dies at 65

Mira Furlan
(Image credit: Chris Weeks/Getty Images for Hollywood Film Festival)

Mira Furlan, the actress known best for her performances on Babylon 5 and Lost, has died at 65.

A statement posted to Furlan's Twitter account announced her death on Thursday night, according to Variety. Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski confirmed the news in a statement, in which he said "we've known for some time now that Mira's health was failing." He did not disclose a cause of death.

Furlan starred as Minbari ambassador Delenn on Babylon 5, and on Lost, she had a recurring role as Danielle Rousseau, the "French woman" who was already stranded on the island when the series began.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Straczynski in his tribute noted that Furlan, who was from the former Yugoslavia, had previously been "part of a touring theater group that continued to cross borders of the disintegrating country despite receiving death threats from both sides in the civil war," and he reflected on this "fiery, fearless side" of her that "fought ceaselessly for her art."

"Mira was a good and kind woman, a stunningly talented performer, and a friend to everyone in the cast and crew of Babylon 5, and we are all devastated by the news," Straczynski wrote, going on to add, "As much as this is a time to grieve, it is also a time to celebrate her life and her courage."

To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.