Dale Dickey never shied away from tackling gritty, dark roles that almost always painted damaged characters. The talented actress, who delivered inspired performances in the Broadway production of "The Merchant of Venice" (1989) and in the 2009 stage adaptation of "A Streetcar Named Desire," eventually went on to become one of Hollywood's most coveted character actresses. With her steely gaze, Dickey portrayed mostly tough-as-nails characters in both mainstream and low-budget independent films, as well as on television, taking on roles like a game warden on the hit sci-fi drama series, "The X-Files" (Fox, 1993-2002) and a drug addict on the edgy drama, "Breaking Bad" (AMC, 2008-12). She also displayed her comedic side as a kind prostitute with a genius I.Q. on the hit NBC comedy, "My Name is Earl" (2005-09). But it was her portrayal of a mountain woman capable of inflicting unspeakable harm in the gripping film, "Winter's Bone" (2010), that showcased Dickey's unmatched acting skills and infinite range, cementing her place as one of her generation's most compelling performers.