Linda Lavin, Star of ‘Alice’ and Tony Award-Winning Actress, Dies at 87
Linda Lavin, the beloved Tony Award-winning actress best known for her role as a single mother and waitress in the hit sitcom Alice, passed away on Sunday in Los Angeles at the age of 87. Her representative, Michael Gagliardo, confirmed the cause of death as complications from lung cancer.
From Theater to Television Stardom
While Lavin became a household name through her role in Alice, which aired from 1976 to 1985, she was already a well-established figure on the Broadway stage. Before her television career, Lavin performed in eight Broadway productions, including Neil Simon’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers in 1969.
Alice, based on Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, showcased Lavin as Alice Hyatt, a widowed mother pursuing her musical dreams while working at Mel’s Diner. Her portrayal earned her two Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy nomination.
After Alice ended, Lavin returned to Broadway and won the 1987 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role as Kate Jerome in Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound. The New York Times’ Frank Rich praised her performance as “a remarkable achievement,” highlighting her ability to bring depth and integrity to the role.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Linda Lavin was born on October 15, 1937, in Portland, Maine, to David Joseph Lavin, a businessman, and Lucille (Potter) Lavin, a former operatic soprano. Her grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Russia.
Lavin began performing at a young age and majored in theater at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Before moving to New York, she honed her craft with the Compass Players, a precursor to Second City. Her Broadway debut came in 1962 with the musical A Family Affair, directed by Hal Prince.
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A Versatile Performer
Although Lavin’s television career began in earnest with her recurring role as a police detective on Barney Miller in 1975, Alice cemented her status as a TV icon. Beyond Alice, she appeared in several other TV shows, including Room for Two (1992-93), Sean Saves the World (2013-14), and 9JKL (2017-18).
Lavin also explored film roles, with her debut in The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984). In her later years, she appeared in movies like A Short History of Decay (2014) and Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019).
Her stage career flourished well into her later years, earning her multiple Tony nominations for performances in The Diary of Anne Frank (1998), The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife (2000), and Collected Stories (2010), among others.
Personal Life
Linda Lavin was married three times. Her first marriage to actor Ron Leibman lasted from 1969 to 1981. She later married actor Kip Niven in 1982, but their marriage ended in divorce in 1992. In 2005, she married Steve Bakunas, an actor, artist, and musician. Together, they founded the Red Barn Theater in Wilmington, North Carolina, before returning to New York.
Legacy
Linda Lavin’s career spanned over six decades, during which she brought her unique talent and charm to the stage, screen, and television. Her performances in Alice and Broadway Bound remain iconic, showcasing her ability to move between comedy and drama seamlessly.
She is survived by her husband, Steve Bakunas, and a lasting legacy as one of the most versatile and accomplished performers of her time.
