The sudden death of actress Mira Furlan (Lost, Babylon 5) at age 65

Consternation and confusion has befallen the fans 'Lost' and 'Babylon 5' since they learned of the sudden passing of actress Mira Furlan. She was 65 years old.

(Foto: ABC)

This is the photo chosen by Mira Furlan's family to announce her death on social media. Shortly after her passing, the family disclosed that she had died of the complications of the West Nile Virus. The illness is rarely lethal, but some people with pre-existing conditions and over the age of sixty can be very vulnerable to it.

Her former colleagues announced, with great sadness, that the actress had died. "It is a night of great sadness, for our friend and comrade had gone down the road where we cannot reach her," Michael Straczynski wrote on Twitter. "But as with all things, we will catch up with her in time, and I believe she will have many stories to tell us, and many new roles to share with the universe."

Straczynski shared a precious quote by the late Mira Furlan to honor the actress:

"I look at the stars. It's a clear night and the Milky Way seems so near. That's where I'll be going soon. 'We're all star stuff,' I suddenly remember Delenn's line from Joe's script. No a bad prospect. I am not afraid.
In the meantime, let me close my eyes and sense the beauty around me. And take that breath under the dark sky full of stars.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
That's all."

Mira Furlan played Delenn, the Minbari ambassador, during the five seasons of 'Babylon 5' (1993-1998).

In addition, Michael Straczynski described his first meeting with Mira and how she captivated him. "Mira was a good and kind woman," he wrote, "a stunningly talented performer, and a friend to everyone in the cast and crew of 'Babylon 5'. We are all devastated by the news."

Mira Furlan, born in Croatia but settled in the United States since the beginning of the Balkan War, died at the age of 65 for reasons that, for the moment, have not been disclosed. She was known around the world for the 90s' hit show 'Babylon 5' and later for her participation in the blockbuster mystery series 'Lost.'

In fact, it was thanks to her fame as Delenn that she joined the cast of one of the best series in history: 'Lost'. Furlan played Danielle Rousseau, a French woman who had been shipwrecked and lived on the Island when the group of air crash survivors arrived. She joined the group and became a well-known character.

While the role made her a global star, Mira Furlan confessed that she wasn't too happy with the ending they gave her character.

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The actress spoke about her disappointment at the San Diego Comic-Con. "For me it wasn't a great experience because I invested so much in Danielle," she said. "I thought I had finally been given a character with depth, complexity, that she was brilliant, psychologically unstable, mysterious, indefensible and that anything could happen with her. But in the end nothing happened."

"I would have liked them [the writers of 'Lost'] to have more love and respect," she added. "Not for me, but for the character and her story. It ended abruptly and I feel like it didn't get closure." Furlan kept the character alive by visiting conventions and talking a lot with fans.

Born in the former Yugoslavia, Mira Furlan left for the U.S. with her husband Goran Gajic after the Balkan War broke out. With her tremendous Balkan accent, Furlan had a difficult start in American cinema. She always remained very connected to her roots, even though she was far away from Croatia.

Despite her Balkan accent, Mira Furlan participated in various productions: the TV movie 'My Antonia', the 1997 'Spiderman' animated series (as a voice actress), and films like 'Dad's on a Business Trip' and 'Born Again'.

Obviously, Delenn from 'Babylon 5' and Danielle Rousseau from 'Lost' will be the characters she will always be remembered for. Fans of the legendary series will be eternally grateful that she brought about two of such strong and powerful female characters. May she rest in peace.

Read also: The sudden passing of Nathalie Delon, a legendary French actress