Peg Phillips

As fiesty in real life as she was on screen, Phillips often penned her own dialogue, such as in one episode in which her character was criticized for smoking: "I've been smoking since I was 13 years old, and during the Eisenhower administration I peaked at three packs a day. I'm not about to stop now." She also bucked convention at the Emmys when she arrived as a best supporting actress nominee in 1993 in blue jeans, a red and white checked blouse, blue suspenders and brown sandals. After "Northern Exposure" folded in 1995, Phillips continued to appear frequently on network television in guest spots on such series as "Touched by an Angel," "ER," "Suddenly Susan" and "Boston Common." In 1997 she made her first appearence as Mrs. Hinkle on the WB's family-friendly series "Seventh Heaven" and would reprise the role again on several subsequent episodes. At age 81 the actress was struck by a car and suffered a broken hip and wrist, but bounced back admirably. An unrepentant smoker, Phillips died in 2002 of lung disease at age 84.