Tanya Roberts, who played a Bond girl in 1985 A vision to kill and later had a recurring role as Midge Pinciotti in This 70’s program, died on Sunday, January 3, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She was 65 years old.
Roberts’ representative Mike Pingel confirmed his death to THR. The cause of death was not reported, although Roberts passed out while walking his dogs on December 24 and was admitted to the hospital.
“I’m devastated,” said Pingel. “She was brilliant and beautiful and I feel like a light was taken. Saying she was an angel would be at the top of the list. She was the sweetest person you have ever met and she had a huge heart. She loved her fans, and I don’t think she realized how much it meant to them. “
Roberts began his career in the 1970s as a model in TV ads and made his film debut in 1975 with the horror film Forced entry. After a series of horror films, police dramas and beach party comedies, Roberts was scheduled to replace Shelley Hack in the fifth and final season of Charlie’s angels. In 1982, she played Kiri in the adaptation of the Beastmaster and in 1984 she starred in the leading role in adapting Sheena: Queen of the Jungle.
The following year, Roberts was assigned to A vision to kill, the last James Bond film starring Roger Moore. Roberts played Stacey Sutton, a geologist and granddaughter of an oil tycoon whose company was acquired by Max Zorin (played by Christoper Walken).
Roberts’ career never fully took off afterwards A vision to kill, Yet. Throughout the rest of the eighties and into the early nineties, she took roles in comedies like Body Stroke and erotic thrillers like Night Eyes. She also made unique appearances on several TV shows, such as police drama Burke’s Law.
In 1998, Roberts was assigned to This 70’s program as Midge Pinciotti, mother of Laura Prepon Donna’s character and a fantasy object for all the boys in the series. Roberts left the show after only three seasons, but returned for some special appearances towards the end of the series. Her last acting credits were in 2005, when she made appearances on TV shows Eve and Barber Shop, although in recent years she has maintained an active social media presence and passed the pandemic by hosting video chats with fans on Facebook and Zoom.