Mira Furlan, star of ‘Babylon 5’, ‘Lost,’ dies from West Nile virus at 65

Actress Mira Furlan, who played Delenn in the cult sci-fi TV show “Babylon 5,” has died at age 65.

“It is with great sadness that I confirm the passing of Mira Furlan,” her family said in a statement sent to the BBC, adding that the actress died Wednesday due to complications of the West Nile virus.

After five seasons on “Babylon 5,” Furlan played a scientist Danielle Rousseau on the ABC drama “Lost” from 2004 until 2010.

“She was a woman full of kindness, strength and compassion,” her family said, adding that she died “peacefully at her home in Los Angeles, surrounded by her family.”

Mira Furlan in 'Lost'. (Mario Perez/)

“We will all continue to celebrate her life and legacy, and know she’ll always be here with us,” the statement continued.

“Babylon 5” creator J. Michael Straczynski posted a long tribute to Furlan on Twitter, writing that it was “a night of great sadness, for our friend and comrade had gone down the road where we cannot reach her.”

“But as with all things, we will catch up with her in time, and I believe she will have many stories to tell us, and many new roles to share with the universe,” he added.

Straczynski said that the actress’ “Babylon 5” family knew “for some time now that Mira’s health was failing,” but “we kept hoping that she would improve.”

“Mira was a good and kind woman, a stunningly talented performer, and a friend to everyone in the cast and crew of “Babylon 5,” and we are all devastated by the news,” he wrote.

“The cast members with whom she was especially close since the show’s end will need room to process this moment, so please be gentle if they are unresponsive for a time. We have been down this road too often, and it only gets harder.”

A touching message, attributed to Furlan was posted on her ’official Twitter account.

“I look at the stars. It’s a clear night and the Milky Way seems so near. That’s where I’ll be going soon. ‘We’re all star stuff,’ I suddenly remember Delenn’s line from Joe’s script,” she wrote.

“Not a bad prospect. I am not afraid,” she added.

Born in the former Yugoslavia in 1955, Furlan emigrated to the U.S. with her husband, director Goran Gajić, in 1991, “due to the intolerable political circumstances in her homeland,” according to her IMDb page.

Throughout her prolific film and television career, she won four acting awards, including one for best actress in a leading role at the Balkan New Film Festival for her role in “The Abandoned,” a 2010 Bosnian drama directed by Adis Bakrač.

Furlan is survived by Gajić and their son, Marko Lav Gajić.