Diane McBain, Veteran TV & Film Actress, Dead at 81

Diane McBain, a veteran actress who appeared in series like Adam West's Batman and General Hospital, has passed away. She was 81. 

Her death was confirmed by Michael Gregg Michaud, close friend and co-author of her 2014 memoir Famous Enough. "My heart is heavy. My dear friend, and creative partner, actress Diane McBain, passed away peacefully today [December 21] at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills. She lost her bravely fought battle against liver cancer," he wrote on Instagram. "I'll miss her terribly." 

McBain got her start in series like Maverick, 77 Sunset Strip, and Sugarfoot, and broke out in the early 1960s with roles in detective series Surfside 6 and Elvis Presley film Spinout. She also appeared in Adam West's Batman series on several occasions. Over the course of her career, she also starred in series including Police Story, Hawaii Five-O, Dallas, and Charlie's Angels, as well as soaps like General Hospital and Days of Our Lives. 

She retired from acting in 2001 and became a rape victim counselor, having survived a violent assault in 1982. 

Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines and harboring dad-aged celebrity crushes. She was previously a reporter/producer at Decider and is a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.