NEW YORK (AP) – Tanya Roberts, who captivated James Bond in “A View to a Kill”, appeared in the final season of “Charlie’s Angels” and later played Midge Pinciotti on the sitcom “That ’70s Show”, died in Los Angeles . She was 65 years old.
Roberts’ death on Sunday was announced by his aide, Mike Pingel. She passed out at her home and was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. No cause of death was provided, but Pingel said it was not due to COVID-19.
One of her prominent roles was playing the geologist Stacey Sutton opposite Roger Moore in 1985’s “A View to a Kill”, where she pointed a gun at Bond after inducing him to think she was taking a shower. The character later joined him to stop the bandits on an aircraft over San Francisco.
“We are sad to hear of Tanya’s passing. She was a lovely person, ”wrote Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, in honor. Britt Ekland, who opposite Moore in 1974’s “The Man with the Golden Gun”, tweeted: “Once a Bond Girl, always a Bond Girl!”
“One of my favorite memories with Tanya was driving the car and the theme song ‘A View to a Kill’ by Duran Duran played on the radio – we both sang together. It is priceless, ”said Pingel.
Roberts also appeared in fantasy adventure films like “The Beastmaster” and “Hearts and Armor”. She replaced Shelly Hack in “Charlie’s Angels”, joining Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd as the third Angel Julie. She also played the heroine of comics Sheena – a female version of Tarzan’s story – in a 1984 film.
A new generation of fans saw her on “That ’70s Show,” playing Midge, the mother of Laura Prepon’s character, Donna. On Twitter, Topher Grace, one of the stars of the show, called Roberts “a truly charming person to work with”. He added: “I had never acted before and, to be honest, I get a little nervous around her. But she couldn’t have been nicer. We will miss you, Midge. “
Roberts, a great animal rights activist, leaves her husband, Lance O’Brien. “Tanya and I never parted. This is too much to handle. Her animals are lost without her and so am I, ”he said in a statement.