Marla Adams, The Young And The Restless Star, Dies Aged 85

Marla Adams no more! The now-deceased actress, who played Dina Abbott Mergeron on The Young And The Restless, has passed away at the age of 85. Adams died in Los Angeles on Thursday, 25 April, as confirmed by PEOPLE, though the cause of death has not been disclosed.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Josh Griffith, the executive producer and head writer for The Young And The Restless, honoured Adams for leaving an "unforgettable mark" on the show.

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"On behalf of the entire company of The Young and the Restless, we send our deepest sympathies to Marla’s family. We’re so grateful and in awe of Marla’s incredible performance as Dina Mergeron as both Marla and Dina made an unforgettable mark on Y&R," he said.

Before she became the Abbott family matriarch on The Young and the Restless in 1982, Adams had started her career competing in beauty pageants.

Born on 28 August 1938 in Ocean City, New Jersey, Adams won several titles, including Miss Ocean City and Miss Cape May. She was also a runner-up in the Miss New Jersey pageant and was crowned Miss Diamond Jubilee Queen during Ocean City's 75th-anniversary celebrations in 1954.

Adams pursued acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, which led her to early roles on Broadway, including The Visit in 1958 and the 1961 film Splendor in the Grass.

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Between 1968 and 1974, she starred as Belle Clemens in The Secret Storm and appeared in over 40 television and film productions, such as The Golden Girls, Hart to Hart, The Love Boat, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, Generations, and Capitol.

After appearing sporadically on The Young And The Restless for several years, Adams returned to the series full-time in 2017. Her role as Dina Mergeron earned her a Daytime Emmy Award in 2021, following an earlier nomination in 2018.

Adams is survived by her daughter, Pam Oates; her son, Gunnar Garat; her grandchildren, Gefjon and Stone; and her great-grandson, Remi.