95-Year-Old Hollywood Actress Dalyce Curry Passes Away in Los Angeles Wildfires
The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have tragically taken another life: retired actress Dalyce Curry, a prominent figure in 1950s “Old Black Hollywood.” She was 95 years old.
Curry, affectionately referred to as “Momma D” by family and friends, was discovered deceased at her home in Altadena, California, which had been devastated by the Eaton Fire. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office confirmed her passing on Sunday.
Dalyce Kelley, one of Curry’s grandchildren who shares her name, announced the heartbreaking news on Facebook on January 12.
“We had a wonderful time together. She shaped my life in countless ways. This loss is truly devastating.”
“She was very tired,” Kelley recounted, noting that the fire in the distant mountains posed a significant risk.
“I had no idea the winds would reach the residential areas and obliterate Altadena,” Kelley remarked.
Kelley mentioned that an evacuation alert was issued via text at 3:30 a.m. but doubted her grandmother would have seen it, as she wasn’t very comfortable with smartphones.
“We need a different approach,” she expressed. “I assumed that evacuations would involve directly notifying residents instead of just sending a message.”
On January 11, the National Guard granted Kelley access to her grandmother’s home’s ruins.
Kelley expressed her gratitude to the media for raising awareness of her grandmother’s tragic passing and her extraordinary story.
She also extended her appreciation to the public for their expressions of sympathy.
“Given the tragic circumstances of her passing, the overwhelming compassion and effort to share her story has been a source of comfort.”
Curry had a long career in Hollywood, working as an extra in many classic films, including “The Ten Commandments,” “The Blues Brothers,” and “Lady Sings the Blues,” among others.