During the show's run, her grandmother died. Carrie Hamilton (December 5, 1963 - January 20, 2002), who died at the age of 38 from pneumonia as a complication of lung and brain cancer. When Burnett awoke on the working day of her 56th birthday in 1989, she learned via the morning news that Ball experienced died. In addition to damages, Burnett and her organization demanded that Fox clear away all references to her, the topic and the character.