An actress who starred in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers has sadly passed away as a result of the fires in Los Angeles.
Dalyce Curry, known for her roles in iconic films such as The Blues Brothers, The Ten Commandments, and Lady Sings the Blues, has died at the age of 95, as reported by the New York Post.
Curry perished in the Eaton Fire, one of several devastating wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles.
On Sunday evening, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Curry’s remains were discovered at her Altadena home, which was destroyed by the fire.
Curry, affectionately known as “Momma D” by her family, was last seen on Tuesday, January 7. Her granddaughter, Dalyce Kelley, who also served as her part-time caregiver, dropped her off at her Altadena home around midnight after a long day at a local hospital.
The Eaton Fire had ignited earlier that evening, but Kelley said she didn’t expect the blaze to grow so quickly.
Later that night, Kelley received a text alert that the power at her grandmother’s home had gone out. She rushed to check on Curry, but by the time she reached the neighborhood, it was too late.
“I’m sorry your grandmother’s property is gone. It totally burned down,” a law enforcement officer informed Kelley when she arrived at the edge of the burn zone, which had been cordoned off.
The officer suggested Kelley check the Pasadena Civic Center, where many displaced residents had sought refuge. Despite her efforts, Kelley was unable to locate her grandmother that night.
On Friday, Kelley visited what remained of Curry’s home with the help of the National Guard.
“It was total devastation,” Kelley told ABC7 Los Angeles. “Everything was gone except her blue Cadillac.”
Kelley shared footage of what remained on Instagram, the heartbreaking footage can be seen below:
By Sunday, Kelley said she was still holding out hope but acknowledged the likelihood of tragedy. “Honestly, we don’t feel very hopeful that she’s still here with us,” she told reporters.
Curry was part of what her family described as “Old Black Hollywood” in the 1950s. Though primarily a background actress, she appeared in several legendary films, leaving her mark on the entertainment industry.
The Eaton Fire is one of several wildfires that have wreaked havoc across Los Angeles County over the past week.
At the time of writing, the current death toll stands at 25 and has scorched more than 40,000 acres, per the Independent.
