Tony Award-winning actress and singer Linda Lavin, best known for her role in TV sitcom “Alice,” has died, her representative confirmed. She was 87.
Lavin died Sunday due to complications from recently discovered lung cancer, rep Michael Gagliardo said in a statement Monday to USA TODAY. She is survived by “the love of her life” Steve Bakunas, Gagliardo added.
The award-winning actress starred in the hit sitcom “Alice,” which aired from 1976 to 1985. It follows working mom and aspiring singer Alice Hyatt as she raises her son and works at a diner.
Lavin had been performing since she was 5 years old, according to IMDb. In the early 1960s, she began looking for work in New Jersey and by 1969, after staring in numerous musicals and shows, she was nominated for a Tony.
The actress most recently appeared in three episodes of “No Good Deed,” premiered on Netflix Dec. 12, starring Linda Cardellini, Lisa Kudrow, O-T Fagbenle, Abbi Jacobson and more.
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After the “Alice” finale, Lavin began performing on the stage again. In 1987, she won a Tony award for her role in “Broadway Bound.” In 1998, she was nominated for a Tony once again for her role in “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Another nomination for the prestigious award came in 2000 for her role in “Tales of the Allergist Wife” and once again in 2010 for her performance in the revival of “Collected Stories,” eight years after she appeared in the PBS-TV version of the play.
Lavin is most known for her roles in the following:
- “Alice” – TV show, aired from 1976 to 1985
- “I Want to Go Home” – Movie, premiered in 1989
- “The Back-up Plan” – Movie, premiered in 2010
- “The Good Wife” – TV show, aired from 2014 to 2015
This story has been updated with additional information.
