Actress Shelley Morrison, a beautiful survivor

By April MacIntyre Jul 6, 2008, 1:02 GMT

Shelley Morrison - Farm Sanctuary Gala for Farm Animals - Beverly Hills Hotel - Beverly Hills, CA © Chris Hatcher / PR Photos

Actress Shelley Morrison was recently seen in the hit NBC series, "Will and Grace," as Rosario.  She has been working more than fifty years in show business, and has fought cancer back four times in her life.

Some fans may remember her as Sister Sixto on the series "The Flying Nun" and her role alongside Gregory Peck in the western "MacKenna’s Gold."

The challenges she faced just made her more proactive; she has thrown herself into the charity A.N.G.E.L.S Day, which helps senior citizens and their animal companions.  Recently, she led the inspirational "Sea of Pink" survivors' ceremony to kick off the Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure" in Los Angeles.  

Also, Morrison is a "celebrity knitter" along with Elizabeth Taylor and "Will and Grace" co-star Debra Messing; she knits blankets for a sale benefiting the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.  

South Bronx-born, of Sephardic jewish-Spanish ancestry, Morrison loves her work still, and managed to resurrect her acting career post-50; not an easy feat for women in Hollywood.

Morrison is all about family.  As a child she moved with her family to Los Angeles and today she still lives in the apartment building that her father bought six decades ago.  

Morrison wed Walter Dominguez, and the two celebrate their 32nd anniversary this year.

She has survived four cancer surgeries, on both breasts, her lung and ovaries; and still retains her optimism and powers on both in her career and charitable work.

Despite a late-life restart in acting, and her medical setbacks, she has managed to garner Emmy and SAG Awards (for Outstanding Ensemble) and numerous other nominations, including three ALMA Nominations for Best Supporting Actress.

Today Morrison voices Mrs. Portello on Disney Channel's new animated series "Handy Manny," and Lola Fruitola in Threshold Entertainment’s digitally animated film “Food Fight!” which is set for release in November.

She is also co-producing, with husband Walter, a documentary entitled “Weaving the Past” about Dominguez’s grandfather’s participation in the early Mexican Revolution.

“It is about my husband’s Mexican heritage and the importance of honoring ones culture and ancestry,” says Morrison.

The City of Los Angeles has honored Morrison with a commendation for her effort to preserve her neighborhood during the 1992 riots that destroyed a shopping mall just behind her home.