Dallas star Pat Colbert dies aged 77: Fans pay tribute to 'graceful and elegant' star as she passes away after suffering three strokes in ten years

Former Dallas star Pat Colbert has died aged 77, sources confirmed on Wednesday.

The actress, best known for her role as Dora Mae in the iconic American drama, had previously suffered three strokes over a ten-year period before her death.

She passed away at home in Compton, Los Angeles , on June 23, with her death confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by her sister, Tami Colbert.

Colbert also starred alongside Lee Majors in '80s action series The Fall Guy and American soap opera Capitol , in which she played Cora Mullens.

In 1987 she appeared in spy comedy Leonard Part 6 alongside Bill Cosby . Further TV work would include roles in popular shows Sisters, True Colors, Flamingo Road, Benson and Knotts Landing.

Colbert's later work included the low budget films Thom & Dusty Go to Mexico: The Lost Treasure and If Not for His Grace, released in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Her role in Dallas spanned 67 episodes between 1983 and 1991, with Colbert famously playing Dora Mae, the host and manager of the Oil Baron’s Club.

The character, who featured on an occasional basis, was never given a prominent storyline but remained popular among Dallas fans for her grace, elegance and sense of style.

Notably, Colbert was the only Afro-American actress to feature on the show during its 13-year history.

Reflecting on her role, Shaun Chang of movie and TV blog Hill Place told the Hollywood Reporter: 'As the only recurring African-American character on the series, Dora Mae never had a storyline, because Dallas never tried to pretend to be anything more than the saga of the Ewing family, but she played the role with elegance and intelligence.

'The leading characters, and the show itself, treated her with respect and without any sense of condescension.

'Dallas had many recurring supporting characters who helped create a sense of community for a show set in a major city, and Dora Mae was part of the fabric of the series.'

A Los Angeles native, she was born Sandra Patricia Colbert in the southern California city on January 16, 1947 and raised in a property built by her own father, LeRoy. Her mother, Eula, worked in foster care.

She later attended Centennial High School in Compton, southern Los Angeles county, before enrolling at junior college and subsequently launching a career in acting and modelling.

A funeral for Colbert is expected to take place in Los Angeles on July 20.

She is survived by her brother Aaron, sisters Johnetta and Tami, and her son, Michael.