‘EIGHT is Enough” star Lani O’Grady, who struggled throughout her life to break free from a long-time dependence on tranquilizers, has died.

She was 46. The body of the honey-blonde actress, who played eldest daughter Mary on the popular ABC series, was found by a neighbor at her home in Valencia, Calif., on Tuesday.

There was no evidence yesterday that drugs played a part in O’Grady’s death. Authorities said there was no evidence of foul play and they believe she died of natural causes, Los Angeles’ KABC-TV reported yesterday.

A cause of death was undetermined, pending an autopsy.

It was during her career as a teen-aged actress that O’Grady says she began to rely on Valium to ease her sense of panic on the set.