Mary Alice Cause of Death Mysterious: ‘The Matrix Revolutions’ Actress Dead at 85
Mary Alice, an actress popularly known for playing the role of The Oracle in the 2003 film "The Matrix Revolutions" and tv show "Sparkle," has passed away at the age of 85.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the theater actor died in her home in New York City earlier this week.
A New York Police Department spokesperson confirmed the tragic news, but they never revealed her cause of death.
Per the outlet, Alice's career in the 90s was successful as she starred in numerous movies like "Awakenings" with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro.
She also starred alongside Danny Glover in "To Sleep With Anger" by Charles Burnett" and "The Bonfire of the Vanities" by Brian De Palma.
The actress not only starred in movies but also dominated the field of television as she portrayed the role of Marguerite Peck on the NBC legal drama "I'll Fly Away" with Sam Waterston and Regina Taylor.
Her hard work paid off as she was nominated for an Emmy two years in a row in 1992 and 1993. She won the award in the second year.
For her television roles, she starred in the 1976 show "Sparkle" which was inspired by the girl group "The Supremes." She played the role of Effie, a single mom raising her three daughters alone.
The three children were played by Lonette McKee, Dwan Smith, and Irene Cara.
In 2009's "Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television," writer Bob McCann praised her for playing the role as she was "beautifully crystallized" and saluted all mothers who exerted extra efforts for their children.
Another notable role of Alice was The Oracle in the 2003 movie "The Matrix Revolutions."
Initially, Gloria Foster played a role in the first two films, but she was replaced by the actress after she died in 2001. The New York Times reported that her cause of death was diabetes.
In addition to her successful credits in the film and TV industry, Alice was also a theater actor. In fact, she won the best featured actress in a play award in 1987 for playing the role of Rose in "Fences" by August Wilson.
She then received another nomination in 1995 after starring in "Having Our Say."
Mary Alice was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 2000.
Her last credit was in 2005 for an episode of the rebooted "Kojak."
