For anyone who grew up watching television in the ’80s, Markie Post was practically family. As the sharp, kind-hearted public defender Christine Sullivan on the beloved NBC sitcom Night Court, she lit up the screen for 159 episodes — and captured the hearts of millions along the way.
But behind that radiant smile and undeniable talent, Post was fighting a battle most fans never knew about. The beloved actress passed away on August 7, 2021, at the age of 70 — just three months shy of her 71st birthday. And in her final years, she faced her greatest challenge with the same grace, grit, and determination she brought to every role.
From Physics Student to TV Icon
Born Marjorie Post in 1950, she grew up in Walnut Creek, California — the daughter of a nuclear physicist and a poet. She studied physics in college (mostly to impress her dad) but admits she “did quite poorly.” Her first foray into show business wasn’t in front of the camera, either. She worked behind the scenes as a researcher and staff member on game shows like Split Second and Double Dare.
“I learned more researching that game show than I did in four years of college,” she once joked.
But her talent couldn’t stay hidden for long. She landed guest spots on Cheers and Hart to Hart, then switched to acting full-time in 1977. Her big break came when she joined The Fall Guy as bail bondswoman Terri Michaels — though even then, she was hungry for more challenging material.
The Role That Changed Everything
In 1985, Post signed the contract that would make her a household name. After a successful guest appearance on Night Court — a show she’d actually auditioned for multiple times — producers convinced her to join the cast as the new female lead in Season 3.
She described her career philosophy with classic self-deprecating humor: “I was sort of a leap in and see what happens kind of person. I used to characterize myself as being like Wile E. Coyote, running out on a cliff and everything’s groovy until you look down and then you fall. So I just was not going to look down and just keep working.”
And work she did. By 1986, she was earning $400,000 a year for her role on the hit sitcom, cementing her status as one of TV’s most beloved stars. For younger audiences, she’s also unforgettable as the mother in the 1998 cult classic There’s Something About Mary and as Barbara “Bunny” Fletcher on Chicago P.D. from 2014 to 2017.
A Love Story for the Ages
Off-screen, Post built something equally remarkable. She met actor Michael A. Ross in an acting class in the early 1980s, and they married shortly after. Together, they raised two daughters, Kate and Daisy, in Toluca Lake — and stayed married for 39 years.
When asked about the secret to their lasting union, Post gave a characteristically honest answer: “We just decided that no matter what, dead or alive, we’re getting to the end of our lives together. You have that as your goal, you know that it’s going to be boring sometimes. You know it’s going to be hard. You can get on each other’s nerves. All that stuff is sort of a given. You can’t be spoiled and think that life is always going to be wonderful all the time, but if it’s wonderful 80 percent of the time, you’re really lucky.”
The Battle She Never Stopped Fighting
In her final years, Post endured a four-year battle with cancer. But she refused to let the disease control her life. She called her chemotherapy treatments her “side job” and continued working on TV projects — including a recurring guest role on ABC’s The Kids Are Alright — right up until the end.
Her family released a statement that captured who she truly was: “But for us, our pride is in who she was in addition to acting; a person who made elaborate cakes for friends, sewed curtains for first apartments and showed us how to be kind, loving and forgiving in an often harsh world.”
Melissa Joan Hart, who worked with Post on Holiday in Handcuffs, wrote a heartbreaking tribute: “I’m heartbroken to lose an angel here on earth! My dear friend and TV mother is finally at rest after a long hard battle with cancer. I can’t describe what she meant to me, the friendship we had and the kindness she demonstrated for me… Love you so much Markie! You will be forever missed!”
A Legacy of Light
Markie Post never wanted to be seen as a victim. She faced her illness with the same humor, strength, and unwavering spirit that made her a star. She didn’t let cancer define her — she defined herself, right up until her last breath.
She once said she combined her mother’s passionate, emotional side with her father’s logic and precision. That perfect balance made her one of the most beloved actresses of her generation — and one of the strongest women Hollywood has ever seen.
Rest in peace, Markie. You fought bravely. You lived fully. And you will never be forgotten.
