Carole Cook, legend of theater and screen and close friend of Lucille Ball, dead at 98

Carole Cook, an actress with a prolonged career in both theatre and film who was good friends with the late comedy legend Lucille Ball, has past away. She was 98.

A representative for Cook confirmed in a statement that the actress passed away on Wednesday afternoon in Beverly Hills, California, three days before her 99th birthday, of heart failure.

Infant Mildred Ball, who helped Cook in beginning her Hollywood career, encouraged Cook to change her first name when she was Frances Cook in Abilene, Texas.

Ball encouraged Cook to choose the name Carole in honour of the actress Carole Lombard since, like her, "you have the same healthy disrespect for all things in general."

Cook went on to make performances in "The Lucy Show" and "Here's Lucy," and Ball remained his mentor and buddy. Ball, who was wed to Tom Troupe from 1964 until her death, was the matron of honour at Cook's wedding.

Cook had a long stage career, starring in "Steel Magnolias" national tour and the Broadway hit "Romantic Comedy," for which she was shortlisted for a Helen Hayes Award. She though while a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for her work on the "Father's Day" tour.

Her career also includes "American Gigolo," "Sixteen Candles," and the Disney animated classic "Home on the Range." She additionally previously appeared in a number of TV shows, including "Grey's Anatomy."

Cook and Troupe made history in 2002 when they became the first husband-and-wife team to win a Theatre Ovation Award for professional achievement. The Entertainment Community Fund, which attempts to offer a safety net for professionals in the performing arts and entertainment, is accepting donations in place of flowers from Cook's family.