She was a trail-blazing veteran of the stage and screen who originated the role of the surgically enhanced Valerie Clark in the Broadway smash-hit A Chorus Line.

Daytime Emmy Nominee Pamela Blair has died at her home in Phoenix, Arizona following a lengthy illness at the age of 73.

Blair had already performed on Broadway in Promises, Promises, Wild and Wonderful, Sugar and Seesaw when she was cast as “Curly’s Wife” in an Of Mice and Men revival starring James Earl Jones.

Michael Bennett who had choreographed Promises, Promises then invited Blair to participate in the creation of A Chorus Line.

The official Twitter account of the late Chorus Line composer Marvin Hamlisch tweeted that Blair “was a part of the musical from the very first workshop,”.

On TV, Pamela Blair appeared on shows such as Ryan’s Hope, Another World, and, in a guest role that earned her a 1987 Daytime Emmy nomination, All My Children.