Fans are in mourning this week after Morgana King, best known for playing the wife of Marlon Brando in The Godfather, passed away following a battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She was 87 years-old.

While she was best known for her appearances in the classic 1972 film, King was also a jazz singer who spent 50 years performing in a variety of nightclub acts. She also recorded over 20 albums, with her biggest hit coming with single “A Taste of Honey” in 1964.

Though she was arguably more successful in acting, King always said that she continued to mainly pursue music because it was her real passion.

“I am a rebel. I am not a commercial artist,” King said in 1988. “If I don’t believe in something, I won’t do it. I don’t believe in superstardom, publicity stunts and plugging record…The only thing I believe in is music. I won’t forfeit anything for that.”

Many of the greatest singers of the twentieth century greatly admired King, including Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Dinah Washington, Eileen Farrell and even Billie Holiday. King once performed Holiday’s “Body and Soul” in the legendary dressing room, and Holiday immediately became a fan.

“You better all take care of this baby, ’cause that’s my child,” Holiday said of King.

King’s only daughter died in 2008, and she is survived by a grandson.

During a 1981 interview, King summed up her approach to both music, and life in general.

“I am my own captain and this is my ship,” she said. “I don’t want anybody messing with my steering wheel or my navigation.”

Rest in peace, Morgana King!