The cause of death of actress Mary Mara on Sunday in the St. Lawrence River is asphyxiation by drowning, New York State Police confirmed Wednesday.
“The Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted a post-mortem examination of the deceased and determined that the deceased’s manner of death was an accident, due to suffocation, resulting from drowning in warm water,” he said. Jack Keller, NYSP Troop D Public Information Officer. PEOPLE†
On Tuesday, Mara’s representative, Craig Dorfman, told TMZ that investigators may have slipped and hit her head, resulting in her heartbreaking drowning after diving into a river in Upstate New York on Sunday.
Mara, 61, and actress known for her roles in ‘ER’, ‘Ray Donovan’ and ‘Shameless’, drowned on Sunday after diving into the St. Lawrence River in Cape Vincent.
Now researchers believe Mara came out of the river after swimming, slipped and hit her head, causing her to fall back into the water and drown.
Investigators say Mara’s face was covered in abrasions. It’s not yet known what she hit her head on to cause the injury, but investigators believed she came into contact with an object that knocked her unconscious.
Detectives have ruled out the idea of malicious intent, TMZ reports. Mara’s representative also says that he and Mary’s family do not believe that drugs or alcohol played a role in her death.
Actress Mary Mara died at age 61 after drowning in the St. Lawrence River
A July 2019 Instagram post from Mara showing her stepping into the St. Lawrence River for a swim. She captioned it ’63 degrees! Life-affirming swim in the river, the first of the season.’ The river in the farthest reaches of New York State is chilly even in the summer
Her body was found Sunday morning in water in the town of Cape Vincent, New York, after police received a report of a possible drowning around 8:10 a.m.
Her rep said she had visited her sister’s summer home in the Thousand Islands region — on one of the northernmost borders of New York State — where water temperatures are cool even in the summer.
The water temperature near where she was found is currently about 66F, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Posts on Mara’s Instagram account show that she enjoyed spending time in St. Lawrence River, including one from July 2019, in which she showed herself stepping a dock in the water and wrote, ’63 degrees! Life-affirming swim in the river, the first of the season.’
Dorfman issued a statement to People magazine calling her “electric, funny and a real individual,” adding that “everyone loved her” and “she will be missed.”
Mara (second from right) appears alongside William H. Macy (far right) and Tony Shalhoub (far left) in the 1998 film A Civil Action
Police confirmed her death in a statement.
“When Troopers, along with Cape Vincent Fire and Ambulance, arrived at the scene, they discovered a dead woman in the St. Lawrence River,” a police statement read, “The victim has been identified as 61-year-old Mary T. Mara from Cape Vincent, NY.”
The preliminary investigation suggests that the victim drowned while swimming. The victim’s body showed no signs of malicious intent,” it continued.
An autopsy will be performed at the Jefferson County medical examiner’s office to determine an official cause of death.
Mary was one of the best actresses I’ve ever met. She had a great sense of humor and a unique outlook on life,” said Mara’s manager Craig Dorfman. “I remember the first time I saw her on stage in Mad Forest in ’92. She was extremely captivating, loved and will be missed.”
‘She specialized in complex renditions of often troubled characters; Perhaps the most famous was her recurring role in the 1990s of Loretta Sweet, a sympathetic, morose prostitute and single mother on the NBC series “ER,” an obituary read by PEOPLE.
Mary Mara (left) and one of her sisters. Mara was visiting her sister’s summer home near the St. Lawrence River when she drowned
Mara has had an extensive career in Hollywood, television and stage, working with some of the biggest names in the business.
She played Susan in the Billy Crystal movie ‘Mr. Saturday Night” and played Loretta Sweet in nine episodes of “ER” from 1995 to 1996.
Over the years she had roles in ‘The West Wing’, ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’, ‘Star Trek: Enterprise’, ‘Nip/Tuck’ and ‘The Practice’.
In 2013, she played Ms Sullivan in ‘Ray Donovan’ and Nance in ‘Shameless’.
Her last role was in the 2020 film ‘Break Even’.
Mara is a native of Syracuse, New York. She attended San Francisco State University and the Yale School of Drama.
She is survived by a stepdaughter, Katie Mersola, her sisters, Martha Mara and Susan Mara, her brother-in-law, Scott Dailey, and her cousin, Christopher Dailey.
Mary Mara pictured in 2001 at the ‘Stranger Inside’ premiere at Hollywood’s Galaxy Theater
Mary Mara pictured in 2018 at the opening of the play ‘Sweat’ at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, California.
Billy Crystal, who played opposite Mara in the movie ‘Mr. Saturday Night,” the Tuesday edition of the Broadway adaptation dedicated to the late actress.
Writer-actor Bill Corbett said he was “shaky and heartbroken” when he learned of Mara’s passing.
“One of my lifelong soul mates, early stage performers and constant help/inspiration in my recovery from my addiction,” Corbett said. “I love you, Mary.”
He added a photo he took with her with the caption: ‘I hadn’t seen Mary in a few years since we met after seeing her perform in Lynn Nottage’s SWEAT at the Mark Taper Forum. She was brilliant.’
Billy Crystal, who appeared opposite Mara in the movie Mr. 1992’s Saturday Night, the Tuesday edition of the Broadway adaptation dedicated the late actress
Writer-actor Bill Corbett said he was ‘shattered and heartbroken’ when he learned of Mara’s passing
‘The Office’ star Rainn Wilson said: ‘I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of actor Mary Mara. We had our first professional appearances together on 12th Night at the New York Shakespeare Festival. I hadn’t seen her since, but fondly remember her talent and infectious spirit. REST IN PEACE’
‘Smallville’ actress Annette O’Toole tweeted that Mara was “funny, kind and brilliantly talented,” adding: “I’m so sorry she left us.”
‘General Hospital’ actor Jon Lindstrom said he was ‘devastated to hear of Mary Mara’s untimely passing’ alongside a photo of the couple together
General Hospital actor Jon Lindstrom said he was “devastated to learn of Mary Mara’s untimely passing” alongside a photo of the couple together.
“In 2008, we starred in a play by Malcolm Danare’s In Heat at the Lost Playhouse in LA,” he said. “She had conquered cancer and somehow battled through the after-effects of Chemo while we were working. She was brave, brilliant, funny and just an Uber talent.
“I last saw her in a play at the Music Center in DTLA, where she put on a typically brilliant performance, just before going back to upstate New York. This world will be a much less colorful place without her. REST IN PEACE’
New York State Police authorities said on Monday that Mara was found after 8 a.m. Sunday in the St. Lawrence River near Cape Vincent.
“The victim’s body showed no signs of malicious intent and was transported to the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office pending an autopsy to determine an official cause of death,” police said.