Linda Lavin, Broadway Actress and Star of TV Sitcom ‘Alice,’ Dies at 87
Washington: Television actress Linda Lavin, best known for her role in the sitcom ‘Alice’ and her Tony-winning performance in ‘Broadway Bound’, has died. She was 87. Lavin died due to lung cancer, her publicist confirmed to Deadline.
In fact, Lavin’s journey in showbiz began as a child stage artist. After this, she made her Broadway debut in the 1960s. She won hearts with her roles in the musical ‘It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman’ and the play ‘Last of the Red Hot Lovers’ and earned her first Tony nomination in 1970.
linda lavin became famous with CBS’s ‘Alice’
On television, Lavin became a household name as the lead character in CBS’s ‘Alice’ (1976-1985), a sitcom that ran for nine seasons and 202 episodes.
Her role as the widowed diner waitress was loved by audiences and earned her multiple Emmy nominations. Lavin remained a constant presence on TV and appeared in hit shows like ‘Barney Miller,’ ‘Sean Saves the World,’ and ‘B Positive.’
This year alone, Lavin showcased her versatility by guest starring on CBS’s ‘Elsbeth,’ reoccurring on Netflix’s ‘No Good Deed,’ and playing the lead role in Hulu’s upcoming comedy ‘Mid-Century Modern.’ According to Deadline, just weeks before her passing, Lavin attended the premiere of ‘No Good Deed’ on December 4. She was also actively filming episodes of ‘Mid-Century Modern,’ which stars Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham. The production had completed seven of the show’s 10 episodes before the holiday break.
“Alice was one of the many sitcoms that made me fall in love with television,” shared 9JKL producer Aaron Kaplan, who worked with Lavin, “She was a wonderful partner – funny, talented, kind and generous. Linda Lavin was and always will be Hollywood royalty,” according to Deadline.
Lavin career
Lavin’s career spanned to films, including roles in ‘Damn Yankees!’, ‘The Ring’, ‘The Intern’ and ‘Being the Ricardos’. Her contributions to theater and television established her as one of the industry’s most respected talents. Lavin is survived by her husband, Steve Bakunas.