Ohara Reiko was a Japanese actress. She was born in Tokyo in 1946 to a family that sold Japanese confectionery in the Hongo area. Upon graduating from high school, she made her debut as an actress. She appeared in what came to be called “trendy” dramas, including “Rikon Tomodachi” with actor Masakazu Tamura and “Kurenaizoku no Hanran.” She was voted “The most adored actress” 14 times.

She married twice, both times ending in divorce. Her first husband was actor Tsunehiko Watase whom she co-starred with; their marriage lasted five years. Two years later, in 1980, she married singer Shinichi Mori. She divorced four years later. In summer of 1975 she was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome. She underwent surgery for breast cancer at the age of 46, and suffered from depression when her doctor, who had given her much emotional support, died.

On August 6, 2009 the actress was found dead in the bedroom of her home in Setagaya. Her life story was adapted into the TV Tokyo program 'Actress Reiko: Like a Flame' (女優麗子～炎のように, Joyu Reiko: Hono no yo ni).

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