The woman who has provided the abrasive voice of Howard Wolowitz’s mother has passed away. Variety has confirmed that Carol Ann Susi, who played the never-seen Ms. Wolowitz, died Tuesday in Los Angeles after a brief battle with cancer at the age of 62.

Susi began acting in the 1970s and played Kolchak’s secretary in The Night Stalker. She also made appearances on Seinfeld, Murphy Brown, Cheers, Doogie Howser, M.D., Mad About You, Just Shoot Me, and Six Feet Under.

Big Bang Theory’s producers and production company Warner Bros. Television issued a joint statement with CBS that reads:

“The Big Bang Theory family has lost a beloved member today with the passing of Carol Ann Susi, who hilariously and memorably voiced the role of Mrs. Wolowitz. Unseen by viewers, the Mrs. Wolowitz character became a bit of a mystery throughout the show’s eight seasons. What was not a mystery, however, was Carol Ann’s immense talent and comedic timing, which were on display during each unforgettable appearance”