Marla Adams, Beloved Star of ‘The Young and the Restless’, Passes Away at 85

Marla Adams, acclaimed for her portrayal of Dina Abbott Mergeron in The Young and the Restless, has passed away at the age of 85.

Adams, who died on Thursday, April 25, in Los Angeles, left an indelible mark on the soap opera, according to Josh Griffith, the executive producer and head writer for The Young and the Restless.

“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,” Griffith said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

Before gracing the screens of The Young and the Restless in 1982 as the matriarch of the Abbott family, Adams embarked on a journey through pageantry, achieving titles such as Miss Ocean City and Miss Cape May.

Born on Aug. 28, 1938, in Ocean City, New Jersey, Adams also appeared in various television and film productions, including The Golden Girls, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Days of Our Lives.

Her work in The Young and the Restless garnered critical acclaim, earning her a Daytime Emmy Award in 2021, following previous nominations in 2018.

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