'Sixteen Candles' Actress Carole Cook Dies At 98

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Actress Carole Cook, known for her role in "Sixteen Candles" and relationship to Lucille Ball, died Wednesday at 98 years old.

Cook died at her home in her own bed with her husband, Tom Troupe, and nephew, Mark Cocanougher, Cocanougher said in a Facebook post. Cook died of heart failure in Beverly Hills, according to her husband, Troupe.

"Carole departed in peace and comfort having lived a long and wonderful life doing the work that she loved. She made many friends, and I know they will all miss her spirit, humor, and talent on the stage, and for life in general," Cocanougher said. "And that’s pretty great."

Cook got her start in show business when Ball plucked her from her native Texas to appear in the "Desilu Review" in the late 1950s. As Cook's mentor, Ball frequently cast her in guest roles in her subsequent series "The Lucy Show" and "Here's Lucy." The two remained life-long friends, with Lucy even appearing as Carole's matron-of-honor at her 1964 wedding to Troupe.

On television, Cook worked on a wide variety of shows including "Maude," "Kojak," "Dynasty," "Cagney & Lacey," and most recently guest- starred on "Grey's Anatomy."

She appeared in such feature films as "Grandview, U.S.A.," "American Gigolo," "Summer Lovers" and "Palm Springs Weekend."

Cook had a visit with her stepson Christopher Troupe and his wife, Becky, on Sunday, Cocanougher said.

"Their presence was such a comfort," he said.

Many other stars took to social media to share their love for Cook.

"Carole Cook was grand ol’ broad in the biggest and best sense of the word. Carole had the sharpest of tongues and a twinkle in her eye at all times. A true star and the life of every party," said actor and director Emerson Collins. "She wrung every drop from life and flung it around just to be sure. So much love to Tom."

Gingold Theatrical Group Artistic Director David Staller shared a recent memory of Cook alongside a picture he recently took of her.

"A few days short of 99 but, as she told me when I took this picture, "Don't think you're ever going to be rid of me, kiddo! I'll be watching you so you better behave!" Can't promise that, but I believe the spirit of that rascally smile will stay with us always, dear Carole. Always," Gingold wrote in a Facebook post.

City News Service contributed to this report.