R.I.P. Lynne Marta, Footloose and Joe Kidd actor

Lynne Marta, the actor known for roles in Footloose and Joe Kidd, has died, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Marta’s friend Chris Saint-Hilaire confirmed to the outlet that she had been battling cancer. She was 78 years old.

Another friend, Joan Sobel, posted on Facebook (via Deadline), “We lost a beautiful light today. My friend, Lynne Marta lost her good fight. A wonderfully talented actress and a beautiful singer whose voice was of the angels. A dear heart who adored her friends both human and furry. I will miss her terribly.”

Born in New Jersey, Marta began her career as a teenager on the dance program The Lloyd Thaxton Show before appearing on ’60s series like Gidget and The Monkees, ultimately landing a recurring part on the anthology show Love, American Style. She would go on to have a prolific television career, with roles on Then Came Bronson, Dan August, Cannon, Mod Squad, The Rookies, The F.B.I., Gunsmoke, Marcus Welby, M.D., Kojak, The Streets Of San Francisco, Barnaby Jones, ChiPs, Matt Houston, Designing Women, Law & Order, The Young And The Restless, Crossing Jordan and ER. She also appeared on several episodes of Starsky And Hutch with her longtime romantic partner, the recently deceased David Soul.

On the big screen, she was notably cast opposite Clint Eastwood and Robert Duvall in 1972’s Joe Kidd; she played Elma, girlfriend of Duvall’s murderous landowner and object of gun-for-hire Joe Kidd’s (Eastwood) affections. Later, she played Lulu Warnicker, the aunt of Kevin Bacon’s character, in Herbert Ross’ 1984 hit Footloose. Offscreen, she made headlines testifying in the trial regarding the murder of her friend and neighbor, Rebecca Schaeffer.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Marta is survived by her sister MJ, and her cat, Mr. Peaches. R.I.P.