Law & Order 'legend' dies as tributes pour in for TV star who 'changed lives'
Joanna Merlin, known for her role in Law & Order has sadly died at the age of 92.
The actress, who also starred in hit movies such as Fame, passed away in Los Angeles, following complications of bone marrow disorder, myelodysplastic syndrome.
Joanna will be ‘deeply missed’
The sad news of the star’s passing was confirmed by the New York University Tisch Graduate Acting Program’s Instagram page, where she had been teaching budding actors for almost three decades.
In the emotional caption, they penned: “We are saddened to share news about the passing of our beloved Joanna Merlin. Joanna was a member of the Grad Acting faculty since 1998, where she taught Michael Chekhov’s Psychological Gesture work as well as Career and Camera classes to generations of our actors.”
The post then went on to list the actress’s accomplishments and credits, including Broadway credits included Becket opposite Laurence Olivier, and Fiddler on the Roof.
She was also a “former casting director for Harold Prince, Stephen Sondheim, Bernardo Bertolucci, and James Ivory.”
“Joanna will be deeply missed at Grad Acting, by the Chekhov community, and by the many people she touched through her artistry. Our thoughts are with her family, we send them love from the Grad Acting community,” the post continued.
Tributes came flooding through on the post, from friends, students, and fans of the Fiddler on the Roof star.
“Joanna gave us the gift of her insight and her selfless encouragement. I feel so blessed to have studied with her!” read one.
“Rest well, Joanna – what a privilege to know and to learn from you. thank you. you’ll be missed,” said another.
Another wrote: “Her warmth, brilliance, and generosity will be missed by colleagues and students alike.”
One fan of the hit TV show, Law & Order penned: “She was my favorite judge on Law and Order: SVU, RIP.”
“Love her so much. We were lucky to learn from her,” said another.
The star is survived by two daughters
Joanna is survived by two daughters, documentary film director, and producer Rachel Dretzin, and actor Julie Dretzin, who stars in Breaking Bad as Pamela Orbic.
She was married to her husband, David Dretzin, up until his death in 2004. The two tied the knot in 1964, sharing 40 years as husband and wife.
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