Angela McEwan, ‘Nebraska’ star, dies at 81

Angela McEwan, an actress who started her career in her 70s and had a scene-stealing performance in Alexander Payne’s Nebraska, has died. She was 81.

McEwan died on Sunday from complications of lung cancer, her publicist confirmed to Entertainment Weekly.

“My mom had an amazing capacity to see good in everyone,” her son, Carlos McEwan, told The Los Angeles Times. “She believed that everyone tries to do their best within their abilities, so there is no reason to be negative.”

McEwan was born in 1934 in Santa Monica and always hoped to become an actress. However, after marrying her husband, she became a Spanish interpreter for criminal court for 30 years. When her husband died, she finally returned to acting and made her debut in 2003.

McEwan went on to have roles in shorts and TV shows, including Parks and Recreation and New Girl. In 2013, Payne cast her as Peg Nagy, a small, but unforgettable role in Nebraska.

In the black and white film, David (Will Forte) meets Peg, the town newspaper editor, who recalls her life with his father, Woody (Bruce Dern). She talks about losing Woody to David’s mother, Kate (June Squibb). The beautiful scene is one of the best from the film.

McEwan, who was recently in HBO’s Getting On, is survived by her two sons and three grandchildren. She also published poetry in literary magazines.

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