AceShowbiz - Mary Beth Hurt, the accomplished stage and film actress best known for her roles in The World According to Garp and Woody Allen’s Interiors, has passed away at the age of 79, her daughter announced Sunday.

Her daughter, Molly Schrader, shared the news on Instagram, stating, "Yesterday morning we lost my mom, Mary Beth, to Alzheimer's after a decade long battle with the disease." She described her mother as an actress and family figure who embraced her many roles with grace and fierce kindness. Molly also expressed comfort knowing her mother is no longer suffering and has been reunited in peace with her sisters.

Born Mary Beth Supinger in Marshalltown, Iowa, Mary Beth Hurt was married to actor William Hurt from 1971 until 1982. She later married director Paul Schrader in 1983 and appeared in several of his films, including Light Sleeper, Affliction, and The Walker.

Mary Beth Hurt was recognized as a skilled character actress, debuting in Woody Allen’s 1978 drama Interiors, where she played an artist struggling to step out of her siblings’ shadows. She also appeared in films such as Chilly Scenes of Winter and notably portrayed the wife of Robin Williams’ character in The World According to Garp. Her film credits further include Parents, Six Degrees of Separation, and The Age of Innocence.

Her true passion, however, was theater. Mary Beth Hurt studied drama at the University of Iowa and the Tisch School of the Arts. She was a frequent presence on and off-Broadway, earning three Tony Award nominations for her performances in Trelawny of the 'Wells', Crimes of the Heart, and Benefactors.

Mary Beth Hurt is survived by her husband Paul Schrader and her children, Molly Schrader and Sam Hurt.