Helen Siff dead at 88: Veteran actress who starred alongside George Clooney in Hail,

Helen Siff – who starred alongside George Clooney in 2016 Oscar-nominated film Hail, Caesar! – has passed away at 88.

The talented star’s family announced that she had died in Los Angeles on Thursday of complications for a ‘long, painful illness.’

The veteran actress enjoyed a career which spanned five decades with roles throughout film and television. 

They wrote in a statement: ‘Those who worked with Helen knew her not just as a talented performer, but as someone who brought professionalism, dedication and genuine kindness to every set.

 ‘She understood that every role, no matter how large or small, was an opportunity to contribute something meaningful to the story being told,’ her family wrote in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

In addition to her roles on the Clooney-fronted film, she was also known for her work in 1984’s The Karate Kid, 2008’s You Don’t Mess With The Zohan, and 1988’s Earth Girls Are Easy

Helen Siff – known for her work on iconic sitcoms Will & Grace and Modern Family – has passed away at 88 (she is pictured in Hollywood back in October 2010)

Siff is pictured alongside George Clooney as they worked together on 2016 Oscar-nominated film Hail, Caesar! 

Her daughter Victoria Siff Russell took to Facebook to share a sweet tribute to her late mother along with a slideshow of photos celebrating her life.

She captioned the short clip:  ‘I’m heartbroken to share that my mother ( my mommy) Helen Siff has passed away [broken heart emoji]

‘My dynamic, charismatic, one-of-a-kind mom was a stage, television and film actress . She loved her craft deeply , but her greatest role was being a mother and a grandmother.’

Victoria concluded the post with a sweet final message to her beloved mother. 

She wrote: ‘You’ve taken your final bow , mommy . I will love you forever [two red heart emojis]’