American actress who drifted into her field with stage work, low-budget films and TV guest shots as a natural outcome of having acting parents. From age four she had concluded that she would also be an actress. Her career began with traditional roles, type-casting her in “modern woman” shows with a message, often feminine or other vital issues. In the early ’70s she began to guest in a wider range and became a superstar with the popular TV series “Cagney and Lacey”; playing Cagney, one of two female cops.
Daly married Georg Sanford Brown; three daughters born in 1968, 1971 and 1985. He husband directed some of the episodes and played in a few. After C&L concluded in 1988, Daly packed on 40 pounds which did not hamper her talent; she won a Tony for “Gypsy” 1990. Her credits also include an Emmy nomination in 1977 for “Intimate Strangers.”
She divorced Brown after 24 years of marriage on 3 August 1990, citing irreconcilable differences. In the petition, Daly asked to have her name restored to Ellen Tyne Daly and to have Brown pay both child and spousal support in a shared-custody agreement over their daughter, Alexandra Beatris. The couple also had two older daughters: Alisabeth and Kathryne. In 1996 she was pictured socially with Clarence Williams, a black actor formerly on Mod Squad.
Daly gained weight in her 50’s. At the inception of her golden years, she was carrying 170 pounds on a 5′ 9″ frame. It did not deter her from starring in the TV drama, “Judging Amy,” 2000, where she steals the show as a retired jurist.
Link to Wikipedia biography