Debra Messing, ‘Will & Grace’ co-stars mourn Shelley Morrison, who played maid Rosario Salazar

Associated Press | Associated Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Shelley Morrison, Rosario Salazar on 'Will & Grace', dies at 83 Shelley Morrison's "Will & Grace" co-stars remembered her fondly on social media, calling her a "beautiful soul."

LOS ANGELES — Shelley Morrison, an actress with a 50-year career who was best known for playing a memorable maid on “Will & Grace,” has died.

Publicist Lori DeWaal says Morrison died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from heart failure. She was 83.

Morrison played Rosario Salazar, a maid from El Salvador, in the original run of “Will & Grace” from 1999 to 2006, becoming part of a cast that won a Screen Actors Guild award for best ensemble in a comedy series.

Before “Will & Grace,” Morrison was best known for playing Sister Sixto on “The Flying Nun” alongside Sally Field from 1967 to 1970.

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She guest-starred on dozens of television series starting in the early 1960s, and appeared in films alongside Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn and Salma Hayek.

"Will & Grace" star Eric McCormack lauded Morrison on Twitter Sunday night as "a beautiful soul & a wonderful actor. Her work as Rosario, season after season, was as nuanced and real as it was hysterical." He sent words of condolence to Morrison's family that were echoed by his fellow actors.

Shelley was a beautiful soul & a wonderful actor. Her work as Rosario, season after season, was as nuanced and real as it was hysterical. She will be missed by everyone at #WillandGrace, she’s a huge part of it. Sending so much love to Walter and Shelley’s whole family. #Rosario https://t.co/C1vkDTU6Qk — Eric McCormack (@EricMcCormack) December 2, 2019

His co-star Debra Messing also took to Twitter Sunday to mourn the loss of Morrison, saying, "Shelley had a career that spanned decades, but she will always be our dear Rosie."

Oh, Shelley... what a loss. Our dear Rosario has passed on. Shelley had a career that spanned decades, but she will always be our dear Rosie. All my love to Walter and the entire family. #shelleymorrison 😢 https://t.co/3cWY6gdCYQ — Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) December 2, 2019

just got a bulletin on my phone that shelley morrison has passed. my heart is heavy. putting shelley, her beloved husband walter & their children in the light. thank you for your friendship & partnership, shell. you accomplished wonderful things in this world. you will be missed. pic.twitter.com/WeLGrWlRye — Megan Mullally (@MeganMullally) December 2, 2019

Megan Mullally said her "heart is heavy."

"thank you for your friendship & partnership, shell. you accomplished wonderful things in this world. you will be missed," she

"Such sad news," Sean Hayes posted to Instagram. "Our beloved Shelley Morrison passed away today. She was absolutely hilarious and had the biggest heart. She was a part of our Will and Grace family and will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to her entire family."