Ruth-Anne died.

Kalsedony · 11-12-2002, 05:32 PM

SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- Margaret "Peg" Phillips, a retired accountant who took acting classes at age 65 and won fame as the tart-tongued shopkeeper Ruth-Anne Miller in the television series "Northern Exposure," has died. She was 84.

Phillips, an unrepentant smoker, died Thursday morning of lung disease at a suburban Seattle care center.

CBS issued a statement saying, "Peg Phillips' memorable portrayal of Ruth-Anne Miller on 'Northern Exposure' left an indelible imprint with the millions of loyal fans of this groundbreaking series, as well as with everyone at the network who had the opportunity to know and work with her."

In 1990, she was cast in what was supposed to be an intermittent role in "Northern Exposure," a CBS series on the fish-out-of-water travails of a New York doctor working off his student loan in the fictional town of Cicely, Alaska.

Shot in Washington state, the show began as a summer replacement series but became so strong in the ratings it ran through 1995.

Similarly, Phillips made her character so popular she was given a regular role.

On occasion she wrote her own lines. Criticized for smoking in one episode, she retorted, "I've been smoking since I was 13 years old, and during the Eisenhower administration I peaked at three packs a day. I'm not about to stop now."

Scorning pretension, she wore blue jeans, a red and white checked blouse, blue suspenders and brown sandals to the Emmy award ceremony when she was nominated for best supporting actress in 1993. When asked who designed her outfit, she replied, "Me."

Phillips appeared in at least eight movies, a number of television commercials and made guest appearances in such TV series as "Seventh Heaven," "Touched By An Angel" and "E.R."

She appeared with Shirley MacLaine in "Waiting for the Light" (1990) and in the made-for-TV movies "How the West Was Fun" (1994) and "Chase" (1985).

Born in Everett, Phillips overcame polio, peritonitis, a ruptured aorta and, at age 81, a broken hip and wrist from being hit by a car.

Ah, well--she had a long life, and a smoker on top of that! It's people like her who've convinced me that being old won't be too terrible...

11-12-2002, 05:32 PM	#1
Kalsedony Ownz Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 766	Ruth-Anne died. SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- Margaret "Peg" Phillips, a retired accountant who took acting classes at age 65 and won fame as the tart-tongued shopkeeper Ruth-Anne Miller in the television series "Northern Exposure," has died. She was 84. Phillips, an unrepentant smoker, died Thursday morning of lung disease at a suburban Seattle care center. CBS issued a statement saying, "Peg Phillips' memorable portrayal of Ruth-Anne Miller on 'Northern Exposure' left an indelible imprint with the millions of loyal fans of this groundbreaking series, as well as with everyone at the network who had the opportunity to know and work with her." In 1990, she was cast in what was supposed to be an intermittent role in "Northern Exposure," a CBS series on the fish-out-of-water travails of a New York doctor working off his student loan in the fictional town of Cicely, Alaska. Shot in Washington state, the show began as a summer replacement series but became so strong in the ratings it ran through 1995. Similarly, Phillips made her character so popular she was given a regular role. On occasion she wrote her own lines. Criticized for smoking in one episode, she retorted, "I've been smoking since I was 13 years old, and during the Eisenhower administration I peaked at three packs a day. I'm not about to stop now." Scorning pretension, she wore blue jeans, a red and white checked blouse, blue suspenders and brown sandals to the Emmy award ceremony when she was nominated for best supporting actress in 1993. When asked who designed her outfit, she replied, "Me." Phillips appeared in at least eight movies, a number of television commercials and made guest appearances in such TV series as "Seventh Heaven," "Touched By An Angel" and "E.R." She appeared with Shirley MacLaine in "Waiting for the Light" (1990) and in the made-for-TV movies "How the West Was Fun" (1994) and "Chase" (1985). Born in Everett, Phillips overcame polio, peritonitis, a ruptured aorta and, at age 81, a broken hip and wrist from being hit by a car. Ah, well--she had a long life, and a smoker on top of that! It's people like her who've convinced me that being old won't be too terrible...