Actress Mary Ellen Trainor best known for playing Kathleen Turner's sister in 1984's Romancing The Stone dies at the age of 62

Actress Mary Ellen Trainor has died at the age of 62 in Montecito, California.

The blonde star appeared in over 30 films including all four Lethal Weapon movies, Die Hard, Romancing The Stone and Goonies.

The San Francisco native was also married for 20 years to Oscar-winner Robert Zemeckis, who is known for blockbusters such as Back To The Future and Forrest Gump. The two often worked together.

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Sad goodbye: Actress Mary Ellen Trainor died on May 20 at the age of 62 in Montecito, California, according to The Hollywood Reporter; here she is pictured in 1996

Sad goodbye: Actress Mary Ellen Trainor died on May 20 at the age of 62 in Montecito, California, according to The Hollywood Reporter; here she is pictured in 1996

Siblings on screen: Her first acting role came with 1984's Romancing The Stone where she played Kathleen Turner's sister who was kidnapped in Colombia

Siblings on screen: Her first acting role came with 1984's Romancing The Stone where she played Kathleen Turner's sister who was kidnapped in Colombia

Trainor died on May 20 at her home near Santa Barbara. Her longtime friend Kathleen Kennedy, who works at LucasFilm (and is a producer on the new Star Wars film The Force Awakens), confirmed the news with The Hollywood Reporter.

Mary Ellen's first acting role came with 1984's Romancing The Stone where she played Kathleen Turner's sister who was kidnapped in Colombia. It was star Michael Douglas who talked her into taking the part.

The star then went on to appear in the mega hit The Goonies in 1985.

Family person: She was married for 20 years to Oscar-winner Robert Zemeckis, who is known for blockbusters such as Back To The Future and Forrest Gump; here they are seen with son Alexander Zemeckis in 1997 in Hollywood

Family person: She was married for 20 years to Oscar-winner Robert Zemeckis, who is known for blockbusters such as Back To The Future and Forrest Gump; here they are seen with son Alexander Zemeckis in 1997 in Hollywood

In 1987 she starred with Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon as a psychologist. She would go on to make three sequels.

Mary Ellen had a small role as Gail Wallens in 1988's Die Hard then worked with Bill Murray in 1988's Scrooged.

Roles in 1989's Back To The Future Part II and Grand Canyon followed.

The San Diego State alum had a small role in her husband's film Forrest Gump on 1994 but was not credited.

A constant: In 1987 she starred with Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon as a psychologist. She would go on to make three sequels. Here she is pictured in 1997

A constant: In 1987 she starred with Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon as a psychologist. She would go on to make three sequels. Here she is pictured in 1997

Another big hit for the star: In 1988 she worked with Bill Murray on the Christmas tale Scrooged

Another big hit for the star: In 1988 she worked with Bill Murray on the Christmas tale Scrooged

The actress also juggled TV roles in everything from 2002 episodes of Roswell with Katherine Heigl to a small part in the TV movie McBride: Requiem in 2008. 

Asked in 2013 about Goonies, she said she remember 'the shenanigans of the kids' the most.

Those 'kids' were played by Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Jeff Cohen, Josh Brolin and Jonathan Ke Quan.

'They all fell in love with each other. And Dick Donner encouraged that,' she said.

She was known as 'Mare' to those close to her. Survivors include her son Alex and his girlfriend Kat, her mother Jane and siblings Ned, Jack, Barbara and Carolyn.

A memorial service will take place at 11 am on June 19 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Montecito.

Mama: With her young co-stars in the 1985 hit The Goonies; in 2013 she talked about the 'shenanigans' of the cast members

Mama: With her young co-stars in the 1985 hit The Goonies; in 2013 she talked about the 'shenanigans' of the cast members


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