Mira Furlan, ‘Babylon 5’ and ‘Lost’ Star, Dies at 65

Actress Mira Furlan, best known for roles in Babylon 5 and Lost, has died at the age of 65. According to her official Twitter account, Furlan passed away on Wednesday, January 20 from unidentified causes.

Shortly after Furlan’s account shared news of her passing, on Thursday evening, Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski posted a tribute to the late star. “It is a night of great sadness, for our friend and comrade had gone down the road where we cannot reach her,” wrote Straczynski. In the accompanying tribute, he explained, “We’ve known for some time now that Mira’s health was failing… I’m not sure that this is the right time or place to discuss the sheer randomness of what happened…and have all been dreading this day We kept hoping that she would improve. In a group email sent to the cast a while back, I heard that she might be improving.”

“Mira was a good and kind woman, a stunningly talented performer, and a friend to everyone in the cast and crew of Babylon 5, and we are all devastated by the news,” continued Straczynski. “If you are a fan of Mira’s work, fire up those special moments when she shook the heavens, and relive the art she brought to her work.”

Born in the former Yugoslavia, Furlan emigrated to the United States in 1991, after establishing a successful acting career overseas. In 1993, she joined drama series Babylon 5, in which she played Minbari ambassador Delenn. Furlan appeared in all five episodes of the sci-fi epic, as well as two TV movies, Babylon 5: In the Beginning and Babylon 5: Thirdspace.

After Babylon 5 ended in 1998, Furlan appeared in various film and TV projects, including NCIS, Night Stalker, and Take a Deep Breath. In 2004, she joined Lost as Danielle Rousseau, a scientist who was shipwrecked on the island long before the crash of Oceanic Fight 815. Furlan was featured in 20 episodes of Lost over its six seasons, with her final appearance coming in the drama’s penultimate episode, “What They Died For.”

In recent years, Furlan continued to act in the United States and abroad in projects such as Just Add Magic, Space Command, and TV movie The Art of Murder. Her final credited role can be seen in forthcoming drama Burning at Both Ends.

Rest in peace, Mira Furlan. You will be missed.

Where to stream Babylon 5