Actress Linda Lavin, best known for her role in the classic sitcom Alicedied on Sunday at the age of 87.
A spokeswoman for the Golden Globe-winning star confirmed that she died unexpectedly in Los Angeles due to complications from recently diagnosed lung cancer.
Lavin worked on the Hulu comedy Mid century modern at the time of her death.
“Working with Linda has been one of the highlights of our careers,” showrunners David Kohan, Max Mutchnick and Jimmy Burrows said in a statement.
“She was a great actress, singer, musician, and a jealous bullet with a sense of humor. But more importantly, she was a beautiful soul. Deep, joyful, generous and loving. She made our days better. The entire crew and staff will be sorely missed as we knew her .”
Jordan Strauss/Invision for the Producers Guild of America/AP
A native of Maine, Lavin moved to New York after graduating from the College of William & Mary with a degree in theater arts. She then appeared in an off-Broadway revival of George and Ira Gershwin Oh, Kay!.
She earned six Tony nominations during her career, the first of which came for her portrayal of Elaine in the 1970s. Last of the Red Hot Lovers. Lavin won the award in 1987 for her portrayal of Kate Broadway Bound.
Lavin also rose to fame on television, landing a recurring role as Detective Janice Wentworth in the first two ABC series. Barney Miller. She was later cast in management Alice in 1976, making her a household name.
A show based on the 1974 film Alice doesn’t live here anymoresaw Lavin as a financially strapped, widowed mother in Phoenix working at a restaurant. She earned one Emmy nomination and two Golden Globes for her work on the hit show.
Speaking to broadcaster Steve Adubat in 2012, Lavin discussed how the role thrust her into the women’s movement at the time.
“I knew it was good to learn about single mothers and working women,” she said. “So I went to Gloria Steinem, who I had met briefly, and she put me in touch with writers and columnists and news people who wrote about working women.
“I learned that Alice represents the 80 percent of all women who work in this country who are still struggling with the 69 cents on the dollar that men make for the same quality of work. Suddenly I had a rhetoric, I had a commitment.”
Lavigne’s illustrious career has also brought her roles on the big screen in a number of films, including the 1984 films. The Muppets Take Manhattan, I’ll see you in the morning (1989), I want to go home (1989), Wandering (2012) and Intern (2015).
In recent years, she appeared in How to become a Latin lover (2017), Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019) a To be Ricardos (2021) alongside Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem.
On television, Lavin has mostly been seen recently on CBS shows B Positive and Elsbethas well as No good deedthe new Netflix comedy starring Lisa Kudrow. Lavin attended the show’s Hollywood premiere on December 4.
Lavin is survived by her husband, drummer and artist Steve Bakunas, whom she married in 2005.
