Judy Pace, 'Brian's Song' Actress and Blaxploitation Star, Dies at 83

The groundbreaking actress and model passed away peacefully while visiting family.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 4:49pm

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Judy Pace, a pioneering actress known for her roles in Blaxploitation films of the 1970s and her portrayal of Gale Sayers' wife in the TV movie "Brian's Song", has died at the age of 83. Pace's daughters announced that she passed away peacefully in her sleep while visiting family in Marina Del Rey, California.

Why it matters

Judy Pace was a trailblazer for Black actresses in Hollywood, becoming the first Black woman contracted at Columbia Studios in the 1960s. Her roles in Blaxploitation films of the 1970s helped redefine representation on screen during that era. Her performance in "Brian's Song" was also groundbreaking, as she portrayed the wife of a prominent Black NFL player at a time when interracial relationships were still taboo on television.

The details

Born in Los Angeles in 1942, Pace began her career as a model, becoming the youngest Ebony Fashion Fair model in 1961. She made her acting debut in the 1963 film "13 Frightened Girls" and went on to appear in numerous TV shows throughout the 1960s, including "I Spy", "Batman", and "Peyton Place". In the 1970s, Pace starred in several Blaxploitation films such as "Cotton Comes to Harlem" and "The Slams". She also portrayed the wife of football legend Gale Sayers in the acclaimed TV movie "Brian's Song" in 1971. Pace was also a philanthropist, co-founding the Kwanza Foundation in 1971 to support Black women in film and provide scholarships to minority students.

  • Judy Pace was born on June 15, 1942 in Los Angeles.
  • She made her acting debut in the 1963 film "13 Frightened Girls".
  • Pace starred in several Blaxploitation films in the 1970s.
  • She portrayed Gale Sayers' wife in the 1971 TV movie "Brian's Song".
  • Pace passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 15, 2026 while visiting family in Marina Del Rey, California.

The players

Judy Pace

A pioneering actress and model known for her roles in Blaxploitation films of the 1970s and her portrayal of Gale Sayers' wife in the TV movie "Brian's Song". She was the first Black woman contracted at Columbia Studios.

Shawn Pace Mitchell

Judy Pace's daughter, an attorney.

Julia Pace Mitchell

Judy Pace's daughter, an actress.

Gale Sayers

A legendary NFL football player whose life story was the basis for the TV movie "Brian's Song", in which Judy Pace portrayed his wife.

Nichelle Nichols

Judy Pace's co-founder of the Kwanza Foundation, which supported Black women in film and provided scholarships to minority students.

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What they’re saying

“Judy Pace died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday while visiting family in Marina Del Rey.”

— Shawn and Julia Pace Mitchell, Judy Pace's daughters

The takeaway

Judy Pace's passing marks the end of an era for pioneering Black actresses in Hollywood. Her roles in Blaxploitation films and her portrayal of Gale Sayers' wife in "Brian's Song" helped redefine representation on screen during a time of limited opportunities for Black performers. Pace's legacy as a philanthropist and advocate for diversity in the arts will continue to inspire future generations.