Arts & Entertainment
Shelley Morrison, beloved Rosario from ‘Will & Grace,’ passes away at 83
Shelley Morrison, the actress known to millions of “Will & Grace” fans as Karen Walker’s fiesty maid Rosario, has passed away at 83.
Speaking to CNN, publicist Lori DeWaal said that Ms. Morrison died of heart failure on Sunday, at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
Morrison, who was born in the Bronx in 1936, was the daughter of Jewish parents who had immigrated from Spain. Her first language was Spanish, and she frequently played Latina characters throughout her decades-long acting career – like Sister Sixto on “The Flying Nun,” whose difficulties with the English language were a running gag on the show.
It was on “Will & Grace,” however, that Morrison would reach her greatest recognition; the no-nonsense Rosaio Salazar was originally written as a one-episode walk-on, but her appearance proved so popular that she was quickly upgraded to recurring status, becoming a fan favorite for the rest of the groundbreaking series’ original run.
According to a statement from her husband, Walter Dominguez, it was also the role that gave her the most satisfaction.
“Shelley’s greatest pride as an actress was in playing the indomitable Rosario in a comedy series that furthered the cause of social equity and fairness for L.G.B.T.Q. people,” Dominguez said. “She also took pride in portraying a strong, loving yet feisty Latina character.”
He also commented, “She believed that the best way to change hearts and minds was through comedy.”
In a bio released by her publicist, Morrison said of the character, “She reminds me a lot of my own mother, who loved animals and children, but she would not suffer fools.”
Upon hearing of the actress’ death, her former castmates took to social media to pay tribute.
Megan Mullally tweeted a photo of Morrison, with the caption:
“just got a bulletin on my phone that shelley morrison has passed. my heart is heavy. putting shelley, her beloved husband walter & their children in the light. thank you for your friendship & partnership, shell. you accomplished wonderful things in this world. you will be missed.”
A Tweet from Eric McCormick read:
“Shelley was a beautiful soul & a wonderful actor. Her work as Rosario, season after season, was as nuanced and real as it was hysterical. She will be missed by everyone at #WillandGrace, she’s a huge part of it. Sending so much love to Walter and Shelley’s whole family. #Rosario”
On Instagram,
Debra Messing posted a photo of Morrison as Rosario, with the caption:
“Oh, Shelley… what a loss. Our dear Rosario has passed on. Shelley had a career
that spanned decades, but she will always be our dear Rosie. She was a kind
soul with a huge heart and always had a smile on her face. All my love to Walter
and the entire family. #shelleymorrison”
Sean Hayes, in
his post of the same photo on Instagram, said:
“Such sad news. Our beloved Shelley Morrison passed away
today. She was absolutely hilarious and had the biggest heart. She was a part
of our Will and Grace family and will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to
her entire family.”
Ms. Morrison is survived by her husband and the six children they adopted together through a traditional Native American ceremony.
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In some fowl fiction foreshadowing, a gay-owned chicken joint has come home to roost on U Street, taking a page from the chicken window subplot on the HBO show “Looking.”
Last Friday, Lucky Pollo – much more than just a takeout window – stretched its wings atop the busy nightlife corner of 14th and U Streets NW.
Behind the poultry production place is Zach Renovátes, a D.C.-based nightlife operator and managing partner of LGBTQ venues Bunker and District Eagle, as well as the LGBTQ event production company KINETIC Presents.
Renovátes opened Bunker in February 2023 and District Eagle in January of this year. Lucky Pollo is the third in his growing gay empire, though this time there are noshes.
“Lucky Pollo was meant to be fun and a little provocative,” Renovátes said.
Based around its Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken, Lucky Pollo is a quick-service restaurant boasting a small menu of poultry and sides. Renovátes says that the dishes are deeply rooted in Peruvian culinary tradition, “a playful experience alongside seriously good food.”
Lucky Pollo’s signature chicken is steeped in a dozen-plus-spice marinade for 24 hours. The meat is then slow-roasted, rotisserie-style, over oak-wood charcoal. Chicken options include quarter, half, and whole.
Helming the kitchen at Lucky Pollo is Chef Luis Herrera, who brings Peruvian recipes passed down through three generations, including his grandmother Laura’s original creations.
Beyond the full bird, the menu features Peruvian-inspired sides like yuca fries (“I personally love these,” says Renovátes) and fried plantains, as well as comfort classics such as mac and cheese and mashed potatoes, and bowls, wraps, and salads. Herrera oversees development of the multiple sauces (including staff favorite, the “secret green sauce”), crafted in-house using traditional Peruvian ingredients.
Lucky Pollo, in its streetside perch, is an independent concept from District Eagle, open to the public and staying open late (3 a.m. on weekends) to serve both nightlife guests and the wider U Street crowd hungry for late-night bites. However, just beyond the kitchen, tucked in the back lies a vintage 1950s candy machine—labeled “Out of Order,” which serves as the door leading to subterranean District Eagle.
Renovátes notes that when District Eagle is open, security staff will maintain a strict two-line policy, ensuring that those seeking meat to eat will not get entwined with those looking to gain access to District Eagle.
Lucky Pollo unites the need for sustenance with the idea of a bit of fortune, given its motto, “Get Lucky” and the whimsical brand mascot: a leather-booted chicken perched on a horseshoe. Renovátes and his District Eagle business partner had always been interested in opening a restaurant, and the Lucky Pollo space was indeed lucky: It already came with a functional kitchen. Plus, he says, the nearby fast-casual places around 14th and U streets “don’t offer a lot of quality options,” so opening the chicken spot “was a no-brainer.”
The space, designed by NYC creative Jasin Cadic, blends theatrical street-art-style vibes with Keith Haring-inspired wall prints, neon signs, and ceiling-hung chicken figurines —”some edgy, some sweet,” says Renovátes —creating an immersive, playful atmosphere. Lucky Pollo and District Eagle maintain separate amenities for their respective customers.
Lucky Pollo opened last week with a competition to devour a whole rotisserie chicken in the fastest time, with the winner earning $1,000 and a framed spot on the restaurant’s “Wall of Fame.” The opening also featured other games and prizes, and a full crowd spilling out the door.
“We want it to be a great place to eat, but also serve as a playful front for something completely unexpected.” Renovátes says.
On weekends especially, he jokes, the motto will be, ‘Come for the chicken, stay for the cock.’”
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