Shelley Morrison, the actress best-known for playing the stoic and cantankerous maid Rosario Salazar on Will & Grace, has died aged 83.

She died of heart failure on Sunday, December 1, at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. 

Ms. Morrison starred in Will & Grace as the no-nonsense Salvadoran maid of socialite Karen Walker (Megan Mullally) in the original run of the series from 1999 – 2006. 

In a biography, Morrison referred to Rosario as one of her “all-time favourite characters” and said she reminded her of her own mother, “who loved animals and children, but she would not suffer fools”.

“It is very significant to me that we were able to show an older, Hispanic woman who is bright and smart and can hold her own,” she added.

Another of Ms. Morrison’s memorable roles was as Sister Sixto on The Flying Nun opposite Sally Field in the Sixties. 

In 1973, she met writer Walter Dominguez, whom she married. Together they adopted six children through a traditional Native American ceremony. She is survived by Dominguez, their children and grandchildren. 

Megan Mullally shared a tribute to her former co-star upon hearing the news, tweeting: “Just got a bulletin on my phone that Shelley Morrison has passed. My heart is heavy. Putting Shelley, her beloved husband Walter and their children in the light. 

“Thank you for your friendship and partnership. You accomplished wonderful things in this world. You will be missed.”