An actress and entertainer featured in the 1980 movie “The Blues Brothers” has died as a result of the Los Angeles fires.
Dalyce Curry, who also appeared in films such as “The Ten Commandments” and “Lady Sings the Blues,” died in the Eaton Fire. She was 95.
Just before 6 p.m. on Sunday, the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to her family that the former actress’ remains were found at her burned-down home, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.
Known to her loved ones as Momma D, Curry was last seen on Tuesday when her granddaughter, Dalyce Kelley, dropped her off around midnight at her house in Altadena, California, the area that would be hardest hit by the Eaton Fire.
Kelley, who was Curry’s part-time caregiver, told ABC7 that her grandmother was exhausted when she brought her home, having spent all day at a local hospital.
The Eaton Fire had ignited only a few hours earlier, and Kelley didn’t believe the blaze would grow so quickly and have such devastating effects.
After receiving a text alert later that night notifying her that power went out at Curry’s house, she raced to check on her grandmother.
But by the time she reached Momma D’s Altadena neighborhood, it was too late.
“I’m sorry your grandmother’s property is gone,” a law enforcement officer told Kelley when she arrived at the edge of the burn zone, which was cordoned off. “It totally burned down.”
The officer suggested Kelley look for her grandmother at the Pasadena Civic Center, where displaced residents sought shelter as the fire raged.
Unfortunately for Kelley and her family, they did not find Momma D that night and began to fear the worst.
Kelley was able to visit what was left of her grandmother’s home on Friday, thanks to the National Guard, which escorted her to the site.
“It was total devastation,” Kelley told ABC7. “Everything was gone except her blue Cadillac.”
On Sunday, shortly before learning the news of her grandmother’s passing, Kelley said she was “still praying for a miracle” but wasn’t holding out hope.
“Honestly, we don’t feel very hopeful that she’s still here with us,” she confessed.
Described as being part of Old Black Hollywood in the 1950s, Momma D reportedly acted for decades.
Working consistently as a background actress, Curry was seen in legendary films such as “The Ten Commandments,” “The Blues Brothers” and “Lady Sings the Blues.”
Loree Beamer-Wilkinson, another of Curry’s granddaughters, said she was still energetic despite her age.
“She was very active, you would not think she was 95,” she said.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Kelley paid tribute to her late grandmother.
“We had a great run. She impacted my life in so many ways,” Kelley wrote. “This loss is devastating.”
As of Monday, the combined death toll among the LA fires that began last week has risen to at least 24 people. Nearly 200,000 others have been displaced, and 39,000 acres of land have burned down.
