Nancy Dow: Jennifer Aniston's mother dies age 79

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Jennifer Aniston’s mother, the actress Nancy Dow, has died aged 79.

Dow’s “peaceful” death comes after a long illness. She had reportedly suffered a series of strokes since 2011.

A statement from Aniston to People magazine said: “It is with great sadness that my brother John and I announce the passing of our Mother Nancy Dow. She was 79-years-old and died peacefully surrounded by friends and family after enduring a long illness. We ask that our family’s privacy be respected as we grieve our loss.”

Dow was an actress and model and had a successful television career in the 1960s starring in The Beverly Hillbillies and The Wild Wild West.

Aniston and Dow were previously estranged but had reconciled in recent years. Last year, the 47-year-old told the The Hollywood Reporter: "She [Dow] was very critical of me. Because she was a model, she was gorgeous, stunning. I wasn’t. I never was. […] she was also very unforgiving. She would hold grudges that I just found so petty.” The Friends actress said that recently the pair were "all fine".

Dow was married to the Days of Our Lives actor, and Aniston's father, John Aniston from 1965 to 1980. Prior to this she was married to Jack Melick, with whom she had her first child John Melick.