Nancy Frangione, award-winning daytime soap star, has died aged 70 | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

Nancy Frangione, best known for her role as Cecile DePoulignac, has died aged 70.

A cause of death has not been disclosed for the daytime soap star, who appeared in NBC’s Another World as the villainous Cecile, between 1981 and 1984.

She died on August 18 in her hometown of Barnstable, Massachusetts, 71 miles south of Boston.

Her acting career began when she took over the role of Tara Martin in ABC’s All My Children from 1977-79.

For her iconic performance as Cecile, Frangione won the Soap Opera Digest‘s Outstanding Villainess award.

She stepped back as a series regular in 1984, but continued to reprise the role for 10 years from 1986-1996.

In 1985, she filled in for actress Andrea Evans to portray Tina Lord in One Life to Live when the soap opera star was ill.

Frangione also portrayed Fran Fine’s cousin Marsha on CBS’ The Nanny.

Other credits included Highway To Heaven, Matlock and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

Daytime soap fans have been mourning her loss, with many taking to X/Twitter to post tributes.

@dinahleigh wrote: “One of the most famous villainesses in Soap Opera History has passed away.”

@NotJenniferPar1 said: “Cecile was my very favourite love-to-hate character. Rest in Peace.”

@fredarachel1952 posted: “I remember her fondly from Another World Sending condolences to her family and friends RIP.”

@MarkHToo also recognised another soap star’s death, and wrote: “Yesterday’s sad obituaries marked the passing of two lynchpins of my 80s love for soaps.

“David Jacobs gave us Knots Landing, and Nancy Frangione COMMANDED attention in every second that she played Another World’s Cecile. Grateful to have had them both.”