Diane Delano Dies: ‘Northern Exposure’, ‘Popular’ & ‘Wicker Man’ Actor Was 67

Diane Delano, an actor with scores of film and TV credits including Northern Exposure, Popular and The Wicker Man, died December 13 of cancer at her home in Sherman Oaks, CA. She was 67.

The news was confirmed Monday by her friend Stepfanie Kramer.

Delano is best known for playing Barbara Semanski, the tough Alaska state trooper and sometimes love interest of Barry Corbin’s astronaut-turned-entrepreneur Maurice Minnefield on CBS’ Emmy-winning comedy Northern Exposure. She also played Roberta “Bobbi” Glass on Ryan Murphy’s WB Network series Popular, which aired from 1999-2001.

Other credits in her 40-plus-year career include the films The Wicker Man and the Coen brothers’ The Ladykillers, while TV credits include Mom, Mike & Molly, Everwood, Days of our Lives, Desperate Housewives, Six Feet Under, Monk, Cop Rock, Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Teen Titans.

More recently, she voiced roles in video games including Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, animated series including Infinity Train and the TV series Pen15 and Good Girls.

“She was big and bold and brought her sharp wit and perfect comic timing to every role,” says friend Stepfanie Kramer. “Her earthy and raucous presence enabled her to always own the room. She was one of a kind.”

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Born in Los Angeles on January 29, 1957, Delano begin acting at age 6. She was a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts/West.

“Diane was destined to thrive within the entertainment industry,” said her cousin Rick Sparks. “Our grandfather, Myrtland Vivian LaVarre, was a New York stage actor who was convinced by Cecil B. DeMille to change his name to ‘John Merton’ and move his wife Esther and their six children out to Hollywood. Eventually, the entire family became working professionals in various aspects of the studio system. Uncle Lane Bradford would take Diane and cousins often to watch him film.

“Although it was in her DNA, I believe those early studio visits cemented Diane’s love for a life within the industry.”