Markie Post was one of my earliest television crushes — the perfect blend of elegance, kindness, and charm.
Heartbreakingly, Markie passed away in 2021 at age 70.
In the final years of her life, the beloved actress fought a difficult and courageous battle to stay alive.
Night Court was the kind of show that kept people laughing nonstop, and one of its brightest stars in the ’80s was the radiant Markie Post.
Portraying Public Defender Christine Sullivan on the hit NBC sitcom, Markie reached new career heights. She appeared in 159 episodes before leaving the series in 1992.
To me, Markie was the full package — smart, funny, beautiful, talented, and full of spark. Anyone who grew up in the late ’70s or ’80s knows exactly what I mean. There was always a special light in her eyes, and that’s where her true magic lived.
I also adored her performance in Chicago P.D., where she played Barbara “Bunny” Fletcher from 2014 to 2017. Even in a recurring role, she stood out as a class act.
Born in 1950, Markie enjoyed a comfortable childhood in Walnut Creek, California. Her father was a nuclear physicist and her mother a poet. She was originally named Marjorie Post, but began using “Markie” as a child because her siblings struggled to pronounce her full name.
In high school, she was a cheerleader. She later attempted to study physics in college, following the academic influence of her upbringing, but she admitted that she struggled with the subject.
Her early work in the entertainment world happened behind the scenes. Before acting, she worked as a staffer and researcher on game shows like Split Second and Double Dare.
She eventually began making guest appearances on shows such as Cheers and Hart to Hart, and by 1977 she had shifted into acting full-time. Her first major breakthrough came when she starred as Terri Michaels in The Fall Guy from 1982 to 1986.
Although The Fall Guy launched her career, Markie quickly grew restless with the role and looked for more challenging opportunities.
Everything changed in 1985 when she officially joined Night Court after a successful guest appearance the year before. Her performance as Christine Sullivan was outstanding and helped propel her into widespread fame.
Her hard work paid off — she reportedly earned around $400,000 a year for her role.
Despite her rising fame, Markie stayed humble. She never saw herself as glamorous, once saying: “I see prettier girls than me in the grocery store every day.”
But her charm, beauty, and warmth on screen made her unforgettable. She often said her emotional side came from her mother, while her logic and discipline were inherited from her father.
Over her three-decade career, Markie appeared in numerous shows and films. A younger generation likely remembers her best as Mary’s mother in the 1998 classic There’s Something About Mary.
Beyond her career, Markie enjoyed a long and happy marriage. She met her husband, writer and producer Michael A. Ross, in the early ’80s at an acting class. They married soon after and built their life in Toluca Lake near Bob Hope’s home.
Together, they raised two daughters, Kate and Daisy. The couple supported each other both personally and professionally, creating a strong partnership that lasted nearly four decades.
In 2011, when asked about the secret to their long marriage, Markie said that they were committed to staying together no matter what — even through the difficult, boring, or frustrating moments.
Markie and Michael were married for 39 years before tragedy struck.
Markie passed away on August 7, 2021, only a few months shy of her 71st birthday.
She had spent four years battling cancer, though she tried to keep her life as normal as possible despite undergoing chemotherapy. Her exact diagnosis was never shared publicly.
Even during treatment, she continued working. She appeared in several TV projects, including a recurring role on ABC’s The Kids Are Alright.
Her family later shared that her greatest joys came not from fame, but from the kindness she showed in everyday life — baking cakes for friends, sewing curtains, and teaching her children compassion and love.
Markie referred to her cancer treatments as her “side job” and stayed strong and resilient until the very end.
Many actors and friends paid tribute to her after her death. One of the most emotional messages came from Melissa Joan Hart, who acted alongside her in Holiday in Handcuffs, expressing deep heartbreak and gratitude for their friendship.
Markie always came across as warm, confident, and genuine — on screen and off. Her passing is a heartbreaking loss, and she will be dearly missed.