Early morning blaze kills woman inside her home

LOS ANGELES (AP) Actress Teresa Graves, who appeared regularly on ``Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' and starred in the television series ``Get Christie Love,'' died early Thursday after a fire raced through her Hyde Park home, authorities said.

Graves, 54, was found unconscious in a rear bedroom by firefighters, said police Sgt. Henry Miller. She was taken to an area hospital where she died.

The blaze began shortly before 12:30 a.m. at Graves' 1,600-square-foot home, city fire spokesman Brian Humphrey said. When firefighters arrived they found the rear part of the home engulfed in flames.

The blaze appeared to have started in a 200-square-foot enclosed patio that was added on to the original home, Humphrey said. Smoke alarms inside the home were functional, fire officials said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Graves started her career as a singer with the Doodletown Pipers. She later turned to acting, appearing on ``Laugh-In'' in 1969 and 1970.

She also played supporting roles in several films during the 1970s, including ``Black Eye,'' ``That Man Bolt'' and ``Vampira.''

She landed a leading spot in the TV series ``Get Christie Love,'' which ran from September 1974 to July 1975. She left acting in the mid-1970s in favor of religion, according to Sandra Brennan of All Movie Guide.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)