Brian’s Song Star Judy Pace Dies

Judy Pace, known best for her roles in 1970s Blaxploitation films, has died at the age of 83. Her other groundbreaking works included the telefilm Brian’s Song and the TV series Peyton Place. Many paid tribute to the iconic star on social media platforms.

Judy Pace’s daughters confirm mother’s passing at age 83

Judy Pace, the iconic star of film and television, especially blaxploitation films of the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 83 (via Deadline). She reportedly died in her sleep while visiting her family in Marina del Rey on March 11, 2026. Her daughters, Shawn and Julia Pace Mitchell, revealed this.

Pace was born on June 15, 1942, in Los Angeles. She trained as a model and became Ebony Fashion Fair’s youngest in 1961. She went on to make her film debut in 1963, just two years after this.

Her first on-screen appearance came with William Castle’s 13 Frightened Girls. It also made her the first black woman to be contracted to Columbia Studios. Over the decade, she made multiple television appearances, including in I Spy, Batman, Bewitched, Days of Our Lives, The Flying Nun, The Mod Squad, Tarzan, and Peyton Place.

She also played Pat Walters on The Young Lawyers from 1969 to 1971, for which she won an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress.

In the 1970s, her career took a dramatic turn as she appeared in several Blaxploitation films. These included Cotton Comes to Harlem and Slams. These films also became her most renowned works.

Apart from her acting career, Pace was heavily involved in philanthropy and founded the Kwanza Foundation in 1971. This supported young Black women working in film and provided scholarships to minority students pursuing careers in the arts.

Pace is survived by her two daughters, Shawn Pace Mitchell and Julia Pace Mitchell, among other family members and close friends.

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