Judy Pace, star of the 1971 film 'Brian's Song', has died at age 83. Her daughters confirmed she passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday while surrounded by family in Marina Del Rey.
Judy Pace's daughters, Shawn and Julia Pace Mitchell, confirmed her death to Deadline. They stated she died peacefully in her sleep Wednesday during a family trip to Marina Del Rey and was surrounded by loved ones at the time. The family has requested donations to the NAACP in lieu of flowers to honor her memory. Pace was 83 years old. A trailblazer in entertainment, she began her career as Ebony Fashion Fair's youngest model in 1961 before transitioning to film and television. She became known for roles in numerous 1970s Blaxploitation films and earned an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress playing Pat Walters on the TV series 'The Young Lawyers'. Her television appearances spanned popular shows including 'I Spy', 'Batman', 'Bewitched', 'Days of Our Lives', 'The Mod Squad' and 'Tarzan'. Pace also gained recognition for her supporting role in the classic 1971 TV movie 'Brian's Song'. Her pioneering presence broke barriers for Black actresses during a pivotal era in Hollywood.