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

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

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.

[Mr. Television]

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

[Chocolate Moose]

she got a lot of work.

[D-Dey]

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...20My%2520Grits

[stevea]

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

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by 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?

sure was, came out of nowhere

[OOliver]

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.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by OOliver

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

[TMC]

Originally Posted by 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?

I too immediately wondered if Linda was a smoker. Beth Howland, who played Vera on Alice, also succumbed to lung cancer and she herself, was purportedly, a heavy smoker since her teens.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

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.

[DEH55]

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.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by DEH55

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.

[rcbrad]

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.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by rcbrad

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.

[OOliver]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

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.