https://deadline.com/2024/12/linda-lavin-dead-alice-no-good-deed-tony-winner-1236243483/

By Nellie Andreeva

Co-Editor-in-Chief, TV

December 29, 2024 8:20pm

Linda Lavin, the beloved veteran stage and TV actress known for her Emmy-nominated role in the 1976 sitcom Alice and for her Tony-winning performance in the 1986 play Broadway Bound, died today, Dec. 29. She was 87.

The news comes as a shock as Lavin has been working as recently as this month, promoting her new Netflix series No Good Deed and filming the upcoming Hulu comedy series Mid-Century Modern, in which she is one of the leads. She died unexpectedly due to complications from recently discovered lung cancer, her PR representative told Deadline.

A former child stage actor, Lavin started her Broadway career in the 1960s, appearing in the musical It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman and the play Last of the Red Hot Lovers, which earned her the first of six Tony Award nominations in 1970.

For the next five decades, Lavin juggled theater and Hollywood careers. Following a memorable recurring role on the ABC sitcom Barney Miller from 1975-1976, she landed the the title role of a roadside diner waitress and widowed young mother in the 1976 comedy series Alice, based on the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, which ran on CBS for nine seasons and 202 episodes.

Lavin has worked steadily in television since. Loved by series creators and producers, she found a new gear over the past decade with a slew of major roles, including series regular turns on comedy series Sean Saves the World on NBC as well as 9JKL and B Positive on CBS. This year alone, she guest starred on CBS’ Elsbeth, recurred on Netflix’s No Good Deed, which is currently streaming on Netflix, and was a series regular on the upcoming Hulu comedy series Mid-Century Modern, taping her most recent episode just a couple of weeks ago.

Mid-Century Modern, in which Lavin starred alongside Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer and Nathan Lee Graham, had filmed seven episodes of its 10-episode order before the holiday break. Production on the multi-camera comedy, created/executive produced by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan and directed/executive produced by James Murrows, was scheduled to resume in mid-January. It is unclear how the show will proceed without one of its stars.

“Working with Linda was one of the highlights of our careers,” Mutchnick, Kohan and Burrows said. “She was a magnificent actress, singer, musician, and a heat seeking missile with a joke. But more significantly, she was a beautiful soul. Deep, joyful, generous and loving. She made our days better. The entire staff and crew will miss her beyond measure. We are better for having known her.”

Hulu and 20th Television, the studio behind Mid-Century Modern, issued a joint statement.

“Our deepest and heartfelt condolences go to Linda Lavin’s family and loved ones,” the companies said. “She was a legend in our industry, bringing her tremendous talent to audiences for over seven decades. She will be forever missed by her Mid-Century Modern family, as we mourn this incredible loss together.”

In her final public appearance, Lavin walked the red carpet for the premiere of No Good Deed on Dec. 4.

“Alice was one of the many sitcoms that made me fall in love with television; I was eight years old and watched every episode,” said Aaron Kaplan, executive producer of 9JKL as well as Santa Clarita Diet, on which Lavin recurred. “executive producer Aaron Kaplan. “Over three decades later, I had the great privilege to work with Linda on JKL and she was the just the most amazing partner — funny and talented and kind and generous. Linda Lavin was — and will always be — Hollywood royalty.”

On Broadway, Lavin followed her 1970 Tony nomination with a win for Broadway Bound in 1987. He most recent Tony nomination was in 2012 for The Lyons.

Lavin’s film credits include Damn Yankees!, which marked her feature debut, The Ring, The Intern, and Being the Ricardos.

She is survived by her husband of 19 years — and love of her life — Steve Bakunas.

Very sad. RIP
I think the entire original cast of Alice is gone except for Polly

Alice was such a good show, I hated how the early death of Vic and the tensions on the set prevented a reunion.

Very sad. RIP
I think the entire original cast of Alice is gone except for Polly

Alice was such a good show, I hated how the early death of Vic and the tensions on the set prevented a reunion.

Polly the only left? Jolene and Vera gone? I just woke up to this news damm

Celia Weston who played Jolene is alive. So is Diane Ladd who played Belle. Doubt any of them will have anything nice to say about Ms Lavin.

So very sad to hear of Linda's passing... she was a talented actress and singer... :(

Polly the only left? Jolene and Vera gone? I just woke up to this news damm
I clarified "Original cast" in my remark because I knew Jolee was alive but could not think of the actresses name
Vera died about 2 years ago

Celia Weston (Jolene, around 96 episodes) and Diane Ladd (Belle, around 23 episodes) are still with us.

As far as I know the rest of the cast, including Philip McKeon are no longer wit us.

RIP, Linda.

Very sad. RIP
I think the entire original cast of Alice is gone except for Polly

Alice was such a good show, I hated how the early death of Vic and the tensions on the set prevented a reunion.

Help me out… I know nothing of behind-the-scenes drama… what were the issues?

Help me out… I know nothing of behind-the-scenes drama… what were the issues?
The show Alice was offered directly to Linda from her Broadway performances. CBS wanted a sitcom based on the movie Alice Does Not Live Here Anymore and they wanted someone that could sing because Alice was a singer. Linda did not even have to audition for the part. The show was based around her. But the Flo character became the most famous with her catchphrase "kiss my grits." It is rumored that Linda was jealous of Polly and wanted her off the show. CBS offered Polly her own show in 1980 and got her off the show. The spin off failed. They hired the actress that played Alice in the movie Alice Does Not Live Here Anymore but she only lasted one season because supposedly she did not get along with Linda either.

I can't avoid being upset and angry about Linda Lavin passing away just now, not because she was a series regular on a new show for Hulu, but because Ms. Lavin was outlived by Polly Holliday.

Not to have any ill will against castmembers of one of CBS's best sitcoms, but that should have been Polly Holliday passing away yesterday instead. I mean, she's the one that had been retired since 2010 and was said to be in poor health on this thread (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=478250#google_vignette) I read last Saturday evening.

Disappointment.:crying:

The show Alice was offered directly to Linda from her Broadway performances. CBS wanted a sitcom based on the movie Alice Does Not Live Here Anymore and they wanted someone that could sing because Alice was a singer. Linda did not even have to audition for the part. The show was based around her. But the Flo character became the most famous with her catchphrase "kiss my grits." It is rumored that Linda was jealous of Polly and wanted her off the show. CBS offered Polly her own show in 1980 and got her off the show. The spin off failed. They hired the actress that played Alice in the movie Alice Does Not Live Here Anymore but she only lasted one season because supposedly she did not get along with Linda either.

It was a false rumor

I can't avoid being upset and angry about Linda Lavin passing away just now, not because she was a series regular on a new show for Hulu, but because Ms. Lavin was outlived by Polly Holliday.

Not to have any ill will against castmembers of one of CBS's best sitcoms, but that should have been Polly Holliday passing away yesterday instead. I mean, she's the one that had been retired since 2010 and was said to be in poor health on this thread (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=478250#google_vignette) I read last Saturday evening.

Disappointment.:crying:

What a crazy statement.

I clarified "Original cast" in my remark because I knew Jolee was alive but could not think of the actresses name
Vera died about 2 years ago

Jolene and Vera were fictional characters. Beth Howland, who played Vera, did die.

The show Alice was offered directly to Linda from her Broadway performances. CBS wanted a sitcom based on the movie Alice Does Not Live Here Anymore and they wanted someone that could sing because Alice was a singer. Linda did not even have to audition for the part. The show was based around her. But the Flo character became the most famous with her catchphrase "kiss my grits." It is rumored that Linda was jealous of Polly and wanted her off the show. CBS offered Polly her own show in 1980 and got her off the show. The spin off failed. They hired the actress that played Alice in the movie Alice Does Not Live Here Anymore but she only lasted one season because supposedly she did not get along with Linda either.

Well, you have one fact here incorrect.

In the film, Ellen Burstyn played Alice. She did not appear on the TV show.

Diane Ladd played Flo in the film, and she came on the series as Isabelle “Belle” DuPree.

RIP, Linda. This was a surprise. in that it was not known that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Do we know if she was ever a smoker?

It was a false rumor
Lets not get into that debate. I was a kid and remember it was in the papers in the 1970s. They are very professional about it and dont back stab after leaving. There is a reason why there never was a reunion of any sorts. Also just because people say they got along did not mean they did. Linda was the star of the show and she took no prisoners making sure of it.

Rip Linda. Thanks for the memories. Alice was one of the best shows of the 70s.

she got a lot of work.

One of her last roles was as one of the old ladies in the nursing home on "B+Positive," along with Bernie Kopell. And he's still alive.


Is anyone else familiar with the 1982 movie based on Polly Holiday's infamous catchphrase?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084211/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_2_nm_0_in_0_q_Kiss%2520My%2520Grits

An Alice marathon is on Antenna TV this Saturday 1/4 at 10 am. Runs till 11 pm

RIP, Linda. This was a surprise. in that it was not known that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Do we know if she was ever a smoker?

sure was, came out of nowhere

Here is what has been said over the years, which does have a 'ring of truth to it' (as Judge Judy likes to say) so it is probably closest to the truth:

Linda Lavin was cast as 'Linda Monroe' on the eighth episode of 'Rhoda' in October, 1974 in which she was accidentally invited to Rhoda's bridal shower by Brenda. ('Linda Monroe' was Rhoda's nemesis in high school). Lavin was hysterical and nailed the part as the wealthy Manhattan socialite who catches up with her high school classmates after 15 years. CBS realized the audience loved her. They asked the producers to find a way to write the character back into the show and make her a series semi-regular, but it was rumored back then that Harper didn't want her on the show. Supposedly, she was afraid 'Linda' would upstage 'Rhoda' in every scene. (Lavin once said she looked too similar to Harper and that ended it.) Once the offer fell through, it was said CBS promised Lavin a series of her own within a year or two. (She joined ABC's 'Barney Miller' in the meantime).

Sure enough, "Alice" comes along, and the series is offered to her (a completely different character from 'Linda Monroe' on 'Rhoda'). The show was a hit, and Polly Holliday becomes the breakout star, which infuriates Lavin (some say she had a right to be furious, others say no). When the series started the fourth season, Lavin is said to have wanted Holliday off the show by mid-season, or else Lavin wouldn't return. The producers decide to appease the star (the show was a Top 10 hit, and they couldn't lose its star) and spin Holliday off into her own series, "Flo".

Holliday leaves "Alice" to do the spin-off, but is reportedly not happy that there's no 'safety clause' in her contract which allows her to return to the show if her series failed (Valerie Harper had this when she spun-off to 'Rhoda', and Marla Gibbs had it when she spun-off in 'Checking In', and ended up returning to 'The Jeffersons'). Holliday's series premieres in January, 1980 as a 'mid-season' replacement on Monday nights, and is a hit. But by the second season (September, 1980) the show moves to a new night and time and falls in the ratings. CBS soon cancels it and Holliday is out of a job. At the same time, actress Diane Ladd, who replaced Holliday on the series 'Flo', asks to leave the series at the end of the 1980-81 season. There are reports of tension between Lavin and Ladd, as comparisons are made between the two actresses from critics (who say Ladd is a much better actress than Lavin). Celia Weston is brought in to finish off the last four seasons of the show, as 'Jolene'.

Beth Howland, who played third waitress Vera Gorman, stuck with the show for all nine seasons. Many sources from the show said she got along with everyone, and never took sides when Lavin had problems with Holliday and then Ladd. She kept out of the drama that was going on backstage. Beth Howland died on December 31, 2015 from cancer.

Here is what has been said over the years, which does have a 'ring of truth to it' (as Judge Judy likes to say) so it is probably closest to the truth:

Linda Lavin was cast as 'Linda Monroe' on the eighth episode of 'Rhoda' in October, 1974 in which she was accidentally invited to Rhoda's bridal shower by Brenda. ('Linda Monroe' was Rhoda's nemesis in high school). Lavin was hysterical and nailed the part as the wealthy Manhattan socialite who catches up with her high school classmates after 15 years. CBS realized the audience loved her. They asked the producers to find a way to write the character back into the show and make her a series semi-regular, but it was rumored back then that Harper didn't want her on the show. Supposedly, she was afraid 'Linda' would upstage 'Rhoda' in every scene. (Lavin once said she looked too similar to Harper and that ended it.) Once the offer fell through, it was said CBS promised Lavin a series of her own within a year or two. (She joined ABC's 'Barney Miller' in the meantime).

Sure enough, "Alice" comes along, and the series is offered to her (a completely different character from 'Linda Monroe' on 'Rhoda'). The show was a hit, and Polly Holliday becomes the breakout star, which infuriates Lavin (some say she had a right to be furious, others say no). When the series started the fourth season, Lavin is said to have wanted Holliday off the show by mid-season, or else Lavin wouldn't return. The producers decide to appease the star (the show was a Top 10 hit, and they couldn't lose its star) and spin Holliday off into her own series, "Flo".

Holliday leaves "Alice" to do the spin-off, but is reportedly not happy that there's no 'safety clause' in her contract which allows her to return to the show if her series failed (Valerie Harper had this when she spun-off to 'Rhoda', and Marla Gibbs had it when she spun-off in 'Checking In', and ended up returning to 'The Jeffersons'). Holliday's series premieres in January, 1980 as a 'mid-season' replacement on Monday nights, and is a hit. But by the second season (September, 1980) the show moves to a new night and time and falls in the ratings. CBS soon cancels it and Holliday is out of a job. At the same time, actress Diane Ladd, who replaced Holliday on the series 'Flo', asks to leave the series at the end of the 1980-81 season. There are reports of tension between Lavin and Ladd, as comparisons are made between the two actresses from critics (who say Ladd is a much better actress than Lavin). Celia Weston is brought in to finish off the last four seasons of the show, as 'Jolene'.

Beth Howland, who played third waitress Vera Gorman, stuck with the show for all nine seasons. Many sources from the show said she got along with everyone, and never took sides when Lavin had problems with Holliday and then Ladd. She kept out of the drama that was going on backstage. Beth Howland died on December 31, 2015 from cancer.



stop posting fake **** without a source

RIP, Linda. This was a surprise. in that it was not known that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Do we know if she was ever a smoker?

I too immediately (https://www.facebook.com/DoYouRemember/posts/she-had-so-much-planned/1018757083612008/?locale=es_ES) wondered (https://www.reddit.com/r/GenX/comments/1hpmzru/rip_linda_lavin/) if Linda was a smoker (https://www.instagram.com/janellebowen/p/DEMOtZ-OW9X/). Beth Howland (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/16968978-beth-howland-died-six-months-ago), who played Vera on Alice, also succumbed to lung cancer (https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/beth-howland-vera-from-alice-rip.544717/) and she herself, was purportedly, a heavy smoker (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3706218489440189&id=353867804675291&set=a.354157741312964) since her teens (https://www.facebook.com/WeirdHollywood/posts/a-young-beth-howland-aka-vera-from-the-tv-show-alicemany-people-are-disputing-th/3312632675432011/).

stop posting fake **** without a source
There was so much written about that from the 1970s. I was only 10 when Flo left and it was explained to me how she and Linda did not get along, blah blah blah.
Just because the actors are professional and dont sell or tell their stories to the tabloids does not make the allegations untrue. For example there were tensions on the set of the Golden Girls. None of the actresses went to the media and told everyone how Bea and Betty did not get along. Even if you dont believe it can you even see some logic?
Many actresses would be jealous how Flo was becoming the star of the show. Why in the world would Diane ask out of her contract almost immediately after signing to do the show? Why did Linda or Polly never appear again in any sort of reunion ever again? Why was Polly or Diane even shown or mentioned in the series final when they had all the flashbacks? After Belle left why did they not bring back Flo? Even if you dont believe there is a ton of circumstantial evidence. Believe it or not but there are many actors that don't back stab cast and crew even if they think they were wronged. They simply move on.

Diane Ladd came right out in a interview i think with Bob Costas and said she and Linda Lavin did not get along. she did not hide it at all. its not a rumor. lol

Polly Holliday never said anything to the public or the press about any problems her and Linda had. she took the high road. and none of the cast ever commented on it through the years. but that story has remained for decades.

Diane Ladd came right out in a interview i think with Bob Costas and said she and Linda Lavin did not get along. she did not hide it at all. its not a rumor. lol

Polly Holliday never said anything to the public or the press about any problems her and Linda had. she took the high road. and none of the cast ever commented on it through the years. but that story has remained for decades.
I think Linda viewed Diane as another threat. Diane was a movie star which the sitcom was based. While it was good for CBS it was a blunder to think there would not be another problem.
It was really sad and revealing that the show's final episode had flashbacks of all of them including the customers yet 2 waitresses and regulars on the show were never mentioned as if they did not exist.

I remember a TV Guide article that came out during the first season that briefly talked about Polly and Linda's tensions on the set. One or both actresses told the other to take a nap when tensions arose. In an interview with Diane Ladd when she was considering the Belle role she had heard about tensions on the set, but she claimed that Warner Bros had lied to her that it was not true. When Polly left, she patted Diane on the head and said good luck in a sarcastic fashion. There was tension between the cast and Polly and it carried through with Diane, with Diane also being on one side divided from the other cast members. Diane was paid big money for her role, but she wanted out after one season, as she said life is too short. Diane felt pushed into all of this tension and thought an unhappy actress was not good for the show. Diane went on to say that Linda was very competitive, not always cooperative and perhaps felt threatened from the powers that be. So, we should conclude that yes, the set had its difficulties. As talented as Linda was, I wonder if the show would have been as big of a hit without Polly and her characterization of Flo.

I remember a TV Guide article that came out during the first season that briefly talked about Polly and Linda's tensions on the set. One or both actresses told the other to take a nap. In an interview with Diane Ladd when she was considering the Belle role she had heard about tensions on the set, but she claimed the Warner Bros lied to her that was not true. When Polly left, she patted Diane on the head and said good luck in a sarcastic fashion. There was tension between the cast and Polly and it carried through with Diane, with Diane also being on one side divided from the other cast members. Diane was paid big money for her role, but she wanted out after one season, as she said life is too short. Diane felt pushed into all of this tension and thought an unhappy actress was not good for the show. Diane went on to say that Linda was very competitive, not always cooperative and perhaps felt threatened from the powers that be. So, we should conclude that yes, the set had its difficulties. As talented as Linda was, I wonder if the show would have been as big of a hit without Polly and her characterization of Flo.
What made the show great was the casting. Each was fantastic and took their roles to the moon and no one could have done them better. Linda was the star of the show but the episodes each revolved around each of them. Linda sung the theme song and the show was focused on her raising her son. Polly definitely had the catch phrase when catch phrases made the shows "Dynomite" "Sit on it" "Up your nose with a rubber hose". Kiss my grits was legendary. Instead of celebrating the show's success, jealousy took over which happens on lots of shows.

stop posting fake **** without a source

Sure...let me pull out the 'sources' from nearly fifty years ago. I have them in my file cabinet in the attic, for safekeeping, knowing I would need them someday just to satisfy you.:wave:

I remember a TV Guide article that came out during the first season that briefly talked about Polly and Linda's tensions on the set. One or both actresses told the other to take a nap when tensions arose. In an interview with Diane Ladd when she was considering the Belle role she had heard about tensions on the set, but she claimed that Warner Bros had lied to her that it was not true. When Polly left, she patted Diane on the head and said good luck in a sarcastic fashion. There was tension between the cast and Polly and it carried through with Diane, with Diane also being on one side divided from the other cast members. Diane was paid big money for her role, but she wanted out after one season, as she said life is too short. Diane felt pushed into all of this tension and thought an unhappy actress was not good for the show. Diane went on to say that Linda was very competitive, not always cooperative and perhaps felt threatened from the powers that be. So, we should conclude that yes, the set had its difficulties. As talented as Linda was, I wonder if the show would have been as big of a hit without Polly and her characterization of Flo.
I forgot and did not realize that Diane did not even finish season 5. She only did up to episode 16. In episode 17 its explained she is back in Tennessee and the new waitress was introduced. You know things must have been really bad to not even finish the season.

RIP, Linda. This was a surprise. in that it was not known that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Do we know if she was ever a smoker?

She apparently was (https://web.archive.org/web/20230714212447/http://smokingsides.com/asfs/L/Lavin.html):
Miscellaneous information

smoked during Broadway production of Cakewalk, Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 7, '96


Proof she has smoked (or quit) "in real life"

"I wish I could stop smoking", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 4, '92
"she'd just portrayed another tough-minded writer, Lillian Hellman, in 'Cakewalk' in 1996. Lavin says that although she found it thrilling to play Hellman, 'she just about killed me! She died when she was 87, and she was still smoking in the hospital with the oxygen tank attached to her mouth and nose. I did a great deal of smoking during that play' ... Now, with a few years of distance, Lavin says she's glad the role of Ruth Steiner has come into her life again. And apparently she's also recovered from the smoke-a-thon; her lunch arrives with sides Hellman herself might have requested: vodka, two olives and two cigarettes daintily delivered on a saucer", Los Angeles Times, Jun. 3, '99
netizen, c. '00