“Steel Magnolias” Actress Carol Sutton Dies From COVID-19

Stan Shaw / Twitter

For the past two months, actress Carol Sutton was hospitalized in the Touro Infirmary in New Orleans. On Friday (Dec. 11), the mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, released a statement announcing her passing.

“Carol Sutton was practically the Queen of New Orleans theater, having graced the stages across the city for decades,” Cantrell wrote. “The world may recognize her from her performances in movies and on TV — whether it’s ‘Treme’ or ‘Claws,’ or ‘Runaway Jury’ or ‘Queen Sugar’ — but we will always remember her commanding stage presence, her richly portrayed characters and the warm heart she shared with her fellow cast and crew in productions such as ‘4000 Miles’ and ‘A Raisin in the Sun.’ May she rest in God’s perfect peace.”

Sutton passed away Thursday night (Dec. 10) following complications from COVID-19 at the age of 76.

While she was known in her later years for her work in Monster’s Ball, Ray, The Help, and Poms, fans of Steel Magnolias will remember her as Nurse Pam, one of Shelby’s nurses when she is in the hospital.

More recently, she appeared in one episode of the show Queen Sugar. The series creator Ava DuVernay took to Twitter and said, “It was our honor to welcome this veteran actress of stage and screen to our show as Aunt Martha in Episode 409, ‘Stare at the Same Fires.’ May she rise and rest in peace and power.”

Many more people tweeted their reactions to the actress’ passing, including actor Stan Shaw, who played her son in the 2019 movie Greyson Family Christmas.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. Watch her appear in the trailer for Poms below.

Want to save this article?

Get this sent to your inbox, plus, get new articles & videos from us every week!

Sponsors / Partners


Interested in becoming a partner?

Contact us for more info

Unapologetically Country

Receive daily updates with the best country music videos, news, and more!