'Ruth-Anne' from Northern Exposure dies :(
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: 'Ruth-Anne' from Northern Exposure dies :(

Max

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 09:18 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Just saw this and it makes me sad. She was such a great character on a great show. Smoking kills, people! :(

'Northern Exposure's' Ruth-Anne dead at 84
Tuesday, November 12, 2002 Posted: 11:24 AM EST (1624 GMT)

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.

Marysafan

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 09:25 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I loved Ruth Ann. She was my favorite character on that off beat series. I hope I am as spunky and as wise as she was when I get there.

Rest in peace, fine lady.

Teatime

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 09:30 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh I just loved her! I always figured the Ruth-Anne character couldn't have been too far away from what the actress Peg was like in real life: feisty and independent. My favorite Northern Exposure episode with her had her and Chris going out on the mountainside to her chosen final resting place, and she showed Chris how she was dancing on her own grave.

Marysafan

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 09:36 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Wow...teatime! I was just sitting here thinkng about that episode! I loved it!

Wargod

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 09:44 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh no....I loved Ruth Anne! I'm so sad to hear this that I have tears in my eyes. She was one of my favorites on that show.

Jkm

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 09:50 am EditMoveDeleteIP
She was in a Mary-Kate and Ashley movie too -- one of my girls old tapes - dude ranch or something.

Babyruth

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 10:32 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Noooo! :( She was my favorite character on that terrific show, too. I agree, TeaTime, that she was probably very much the same person off camera. Thanks for posting the article, Max.

Kstme

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 10:49 am EditMoveDeleteIP
A sad day for sure. I love NE and have a stuffed moose from the series. She will be missed!

Weinermr

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 12:13 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
How sad to hear. I loved that show, and loved her in it. She will be missed.

Calamity

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 12:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh, what sad news. NX is one of my all-time favorite shows and I loved Ruth-Anne. Just like Teatime, I immediately thought of the episode where she & Ed danced on her grave. I'm going to go mourn on the NX mailing list. What a lovely, vibrant lady.

Meggieprice

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 02:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I loved her also. I have all the episodes on tape. My DH never watched so I am inspired to watch with him now.

Pagal

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 06:15 am EditMoveDeleteIP
One of my favorite characters on Nothern Exposure! She was feisty and full of life.

Teatime - that was one of my favorite episodes too! I just loved that show.

Hippyt

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 07:21 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Max, I was sad to hear of it too. Yes, smoking kills people. She was 84 years old,I'd say she got away with it!

Max

Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 07:54 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yeah, she got away with it, but ended up dying of lung disease which, IMHO, is one of the worst, most painful ways to go. :(