Footloose star Lynne Marta has passed away at the age of 78 in her Los Angeles home after battling cancer.

Her friend, Chris Saint-Hilaire, confirmed the heartbreaking news of her passing to The Hollywood Reporter.

Marta had a lengthy career spanning four decades, with her most prominent work coming in the popular films Joe Kidd and Footloose, and on the TV shows Barnaby Jones, Medical Center, Starsky & Hutch, and Love American Style.

Marta was the younger daughter of father George, who served as New Jersey’s air and water pollution commissioner.

She played the role of Elma in the 1972 movie Joe Kidd.

In the 1984 film, the late star played Lulu Warnick, the aunt of Kevin Bacon’s Ren character.

She also appeared on many shows produced by the late Aaron Spelling, including Charlie’s Angels, The Mod Squad, and The Rookies.

Marta, who had been married to late star Brick Huston from 1968 to 1975, also worked on numerous series produced by the late Quinn Martin, including The Manhunter, The Streets of San Francisco, Caribe, Dan August, and Cannon.

She also made appearances on other TV shows such as The Rockford Files, Marcus Welby, M.D., Designing Women, Law & Order, Gunsmoke, Trapper John, M.D, Kojak, and Knight rider, with he final role coming on American Dreams in 2004.

Marta’s passing comes only weeks after her ex, Starsky & Hutch star David Soul, died aged 80 on January 4.

In a 1983 interview with PEOPLE, Soul described their relationship as an ‘open’ one as he had been married at that time.

According to the magazine, throughout the Starsky & Hutch years, ‘David and Lynne lived together but spent time with other people.’

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