Made off-Broadway debut at LaMama in a revue show combining songs with comedy in which she performed with a trio known as "The Mel-O White Boys"

Joined the cast of regulars of the latenight comedy-variety show, "Saturday Night Live", for one season

Made feature film debut in "Sticky Fingers"

Diagnosed with breast cancer

Last feature films, "Little Man Tate" and "Jumpin' at the Boneyard"

Recreated stage roles from the anthology drama, "The Colored Museum" for a PBS presentation of "Great Performances"

Eventually had one breast removed; later performed solo performance skit, "The Radical Girl's Guide to Radical Mastectomy"

Last performed at New York's Joseph Papp Public Theater in a production of "Marisol" by Jose Rivera in May

Cancer recurred; Vance was forced to cancel a performance engagement at the Public Theater