Tributes for Dynasty star Kate O’Mara

The English film, stage and television actress died yesterday morning in a Sussex nursing home after a short illness.

She was best known for playing Alexis Colby’s scheming sister Cassandra “Caress” Morrell in the US soap in the mid 1980s, along with roles in British series Doctor Who, Howards’ Way and Triangle.

Her agent Phil Belfield said: “She was extraordinary, she had so much energy and vitality with a love for theatre and acting.”

He added: “A shining star has gone out and Kate will be dearly missed by all who knew and have worked with her.”

Mr Belfield said there would be a private funeral for Ms O’Mara and a memorial service on a date to be confirmed.

O’Mara’s first television roles were in the 1960s. But it was in the 1980s that she landed her biggest and longest-running roles.

As well as Dynasty she starred as a ruthless businesswoman in BBC drama Howards’ Way, which was dubbed the “Dallas of the Seas”.

She also appeared in the original run of Doctor Who opposite both Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy as renegade Time Lord The Rani.

In the 1990s she starred in the comedy show Absolutely Fabulous as Jackie, the sister of Joanna Lumley’s character Patsy.

Joan Collins, who played Alexis Colby in Dynasty, paid tribute to O’Mara on Twitter yesterday afternoon. She wrote: “Tragic news about Kate O’Mara, we had great fun on Dynasty when she played my sister Caress who Alexis insisted on calling CASSIE ! RIP.”

The daughter of John F. Carroll, an RAF flying instructor and actress Hazel Bainbridge, Kate O’Mara is survived by her sister, the actress Belinda Carroll.

As well as her acting work, she was a vegetarian and animal rights activist.