Lynn Cartwright Obituary

Lynn Cartwright, a veteran actress who portrayed the older Geena Davis character in " A League of Their Own, " has died. She was 76.

Ms. Cartwright died Jan. 2 in her Los Angeles home of dementia-related illnesses after a hip fracture, her daughter Tara Gordon said. Her health had begun to decline in December after the death of her husband of 50 years, screenwriter and Western star Leo Gordon.

The tall, auburn-haired beauty from Oklahoma appeared in popular 1950s television shows such as " Highway Patrol, " " Man Called X " and " Bat Masterson, " as well as the 1958 Zsa Zsa Gabor cult film " Queen of Outer Space. "

She also appeared in several other films and in local stage productions including " Four Women " and " Final Touches. "

Ms. Cartwright worked for 15 years with the Group Repertory Theater in Los Angeles.

" She was very bright on the stage, " said the theater ' s artistic director, Lonny Chapman. " She illuminated. "

Her biggest break in films didn ' t come until she was 65, when director Penny Marshall selected her for the 1992 movie " A League of Their Own. " The film followed the story of two sisters involved in the nation ' s first female professional baseball league. Ms. Cartwright played the older version of one of the sisters, Dottie Hinson.

Her daughter said the role was her mother ' s favorite.

Ms. Cartwright also is survived by a sister, Wilburt Locke, of Oklahoma City.