Rebecca Luker has died aged 59 after battling ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
The television and Broadway star passed away on Wednesday, leaving her family and friends devastated.
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and Rebecca was diagnosed with the illness last year.
Her agent Sarah Fargo confirmed her death to The New York Times.
Rebecca is known for starring in television shows including Boardwalk Empire, Good Wife and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
The three-time Tony Award nominee made her Broadway debut in The Phantom of the Opera in 1988.
She played an array of iconic characters in theatre, including the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Winifred in Mary Poppins, Helen in Fun Home, and Claudia Nardi in Nine.
Broadway star Rebecca Luker has died after battling ALS (Image: Getty Images)
Rebecca also starred in films such as Rewrite, Spectoria, and Not Fade Away.
The actress announced she’d been diagnosed with ALS in 2019.
She shared the heartbreaking news on Twitter, writing in a tweet: “Hello friends. I have some tough news. Late last year I was diagnosed with ALS.
“I have the best medical care in the world and the greatest support. My dear husband Danny has been an angel. I will get well. In the meantime, we fight and go forward. Keep us in your thoughts.”
Three-time Tony Award nominee Rebecca announced her ALS diagnosis in 2019 (Image: Getty Images)
Rebecca is survived by her Broadway star husband Danny Burstein, and stepsons Zachary and Alexander.
Danny and Rebecca both contracted and fought off coronavirus earlier this year.
The broadway actor spoke about their experience with Covid-19 in a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter.
He wrote: “I was recovering and Becca was just starting her own bout with the virus.
“No health care worker in their right mind would come to our home as we were both suffering with the aftereffects of the coronavirus. We were very much on our own,’ he continued.
“The next month was spent pretty much alone in isolation. Despite being dizzy and in a constant state of exhaustion, I was somehow able to care for her.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
