Linda Lavin Dies: ‘Alice’ Star & Tony-Winning Broadway Actor Was 87

[TMC]

https://deadline.com/2024/12/linda-l...er-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.

[BestTVever]

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.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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

[bellbm]

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.

[80sTrivia]

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

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

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

[stevea]

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.

[jayman75]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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?

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by jayman75

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.

[James28]

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 I read last Saturday evening.

Disappointment.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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

[Schmo]

Originally Posted by James28

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 I read last Saturday evening.

Disappointment.

What a crazy statement.

[Schmo]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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.

[jayman75]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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.

[JR1]

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?