Linda Lavin, Acclaimed Actress, Passes Away at 87

Linda Lavin, a Tony Award-winning and two-time Emmy-nominated actress known for her work in stage, television, and film, died on Sunday in Los Angeles due to complications from lung cancer. She was 87 years old. Lavin gained fame for her iconic role as a waitress and single mother in the beloved CBS sitcom Alice (1976-1985), and she also received a Best Actress Tony Award for her performance in the play Broadway Bound.

Alice, created by Robert Getchell, was inspired by the 1974 film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. In the series, Lavin portrayed a widow who relocates with her young son to start anew, finding employment as a waitress in a roadside diner in Phoenix, Arizona. Her performance earned her two Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy nomination. Following the conclusion of the show, Lavin returned to the stage, winning a Tony Award for her role in Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound.

Early Life and Career

Lavin was born on October 15, 1937, in Portland, Maine, as the second child of a businessman and a former soprano. In the late 1950s, she joined the improv group Compass Players. Her Broadway debut came in the musical A Family Affair, followed by roles in the soap opera The Doctors and a recurring character as a police detective in Barney Miller.

Film and Television Contributions

She made her feature film debut in the 1984 movie The Muppets Take Manhattan, where she played a doctor who humorously interacts with Kermit the Frog. Additionally, she appeared as a guest on The Muppet Show (Episode 406) in 1979.

Voice Work in Animation

In the realm of animation, Lavin lent her voice to Helen Kellerman and Gertie Lombard in Fox TV’s acclaimed series Bob’s Burgers (in the episodes “It Snakes a Village” and “Radio No You Didn’t”). Gertie is the mother of Alice Lombard and grandmother of Lily Lombard, who is Bob Belcher’s mom. Furthermore, she voiced Mother Vulture in Cartoon Network’s Courage the Cowardly Dog in 2002.

Lavin’s extensive career and versatility in various roles highlight the importance of strong character portrayals in the film and television industry, serving as an inspiration for current and future business leaders in entertainment.

Person

Linda Lavin, Robert Getchell, Frank Oz

Company Names

CBS, Fox TV, Cartoon Network

Titles

Alice, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Broadway Bound, A Family Affair, The Doctors, Barney Miller, The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Muppet Show, Bob’s Burgers, Courage the Cowardly Dog

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