Night Court Star Markie Post Passes Away

Markie Post, who became an ’80s icon as a key member of the Night Court cast, has passed away. Deadline reports that Post, who played Christine Sullivan on the sitcom, died on Saturday after a battle with cancer for just under four years. Her manager confirmed her passing to the outlet. She was 70 years old.

Post is best known for her role in Night Court, but her time in show business preceded that show by many years. She started her career behind the scenes, working on the production crew on the ABC 1970s game show Split Second and as an associate producer on CBS’ Double Dare in 1976 and 1977 among others. She stepped in front of the camera on NBC’s Card Sharks and then moved into acting in 1979 with guest roles on shows like CHIPs, Barnaby Jones, The Incredible Hulk, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, and The Greatest American Hero. Her big break came in 1982 when she was cast to play Terri Michaels on The Fall Guy, where she appeared in 64 episodes.

It was Night Court, however, which made her famous. As public defender Christine, she joined the show in 1985 in the show’s third season, replacing Ellen Foley who played public defender Billie Young. Post was the fourth public defender in the cast, with Gail Strickland appearing in the pilot and Paula Kelly playing Liz Williams in season one. Post was a perfect foil for John Larroquette as the sleazy prosecutor Dan Fielding, and proved to be the final public defender as she co-starred in the the show all the way to the end of the series in 1992.

Post would go on from that show to work regularly on TV, with a host of TV movies on her resume and a series regular role in Hearts Afire in the early- to mid-1990s. She had a notable supporting role in the Farrely Brothers’ 1998 blockbuster comedy There’s Something About Mary, but she mostly stayed to TV and appeared in roles on Odd Man Out, Scrubs, and Chicago P.D. among many others. She also voiced the role of June Darby in the 2010s animated series Transformers: Prime.

Post is survived by her husband Michael Ross, as well as two daughters.

On behalf of 411, our condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Mrs. Post. She will most definitely be missed.