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Actress Karen Black Dead at 74

Actress Karen Black Dead at 74

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The prolific actress succumbed to cancer on August 7.

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Karen Black, the prolific actress best known for her iconic roles in Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, and Nashville, has died, the Associated Press reports. Black was 74, and had been suffering from cancer. She is survived by her husband, Stephen Eckleberry, who had been chronicling her battle with cancer on a blog.

Black appeared in more than 100 films throughout her career that spanned more than four decades, often portraying troubled, complex women. She played an openly transgender woman in 1982's screen adaptation of Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, where she portrayed the post-operative trans woman portrayed pre-transition by openly gay actor Mark Patton. Black appeared opposite Cher, Kathy Bates, and out actress Sandy Dennis in Five and Dime.

Watch a fan-created trailer for Five and Dime heavily featuring Black's character below.

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Sunnivie Brydum

Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.
Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.