Alberta Watson of '24,' 'Nikita,' has died

(Photo: Isabella Vosmikova/ FOX)

Canadian actress Alberta Watson, memorable in TV thriller series Nikita and 24, has died, her talent agency announced Monday. She was 60.

"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of the luminous Alberta Watson," the statement from the Gary Goddard Agency read.

"Alberta died in the arms of her beloved (husband) Ken on Saturday March 21, at Kensington Hospice (in Toronto) after a long and incredibly courageous battle with cancer."

The agency said a memorial service is being planned, with details to come, and that it was accepting messages of condolences to her family to pass along.

The Toronto-born Watson, who started her career in her teens with a local theater group, is best known for her roles on CW's Nikita (and the earlier version, La Femme Nikita) as Senator Madeline Pierce.

On 24, she was CTU head Erin Driscoll, who once had to fire Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) for his past heroin addiction.