'Days of Our Lives' Star Peggy McCay Dies at 90

The actress played Caroline Brady on the soap opera

Photo: Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Days of Our Lives star Peggy McCay, who played Caroline Brady on the long-running NBC soap opera, has died at the age of 90.

She appeared in hundreds of episodes of Days of Our Lives from 1983 to 2017, according to IMDb. The actress, who performed in dozens of television shows starting in 1949, played roles on Perry Mason, The Young Marrieds, Gunsmoke, Gibbsville, Lou Grant and other programs.

An NBC spokesperson told PEOPLE, “Our deepest sympathy to the friends and family of Peggy McCay, our dear Caroline Brady for more than three decades.” TVLine broke the news.

In a statement provided to PEOPLE, executive producer Ken Corday said, “This past Sunday we lost our dear Peggy McCay, known to her fans as Days of our Lives matriarch Caroline Brady. A strong woman and actor, Peggy fought tirelessly for the members of her community, and her spirit lives on in those causes. On a personal level, Peggy was like a grandmother to my children and a beloved member of our family. Her wonderful spirit will be deeply missed by all of us at Days of our Lives and her fans.”

For her work on Days of Our Lives, she was nominated for outstanding supporting actress or supporting lead actress in a drama series at the Daytime Emmy Awards five times, according to IMDb.

Allen Berezovsky/WireImage

In 1991, she took home a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for playing Irene Hayes on The Trials of Rosie O’Neill, according to the Television Academy. She was nominated for two other Primetime Emmys in 1986 and 1993.

McCay also nabbed an Obie, an award for off-Broadway shows, for performing in Uncle Vanya in the 1950s, The Wrap reported.

RELATED VIDEO: Charlotte Rae, Mrs. Garrett on Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes, Dies at 92 After Cancer Battle

Several Days of Our Lives colleagues wrote tributes to McCay on social media. Stephen Nichols wrote on Instagram, “Well Peggy, this is unexpected. The last time I saw you, you talked about how eager you were to get back to work. You said it with such conviction and longing. Don’t worry, you gave the world plenty. Gave your audiences inspired performances and your fellow actors your strength and inspiration and absolute love of the work.”

Getty

He concluded, “I will miss you sweet, Peggy. I am so grateful for the time I had with you . Sending love to your loved ones. Rest In Peace.”

The Days of Our Lives cast has lost two other venerated actors recently: In September, Frank Parker died due to complications of Parkinson’s disease and dementia at age 79, and in May, Joseph Campanella died of natural causes at age 93.