Renowned actress Linda Lavin, who won a Tony award and starred in the popular sitcom “Alice,” died on December 29, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. She was 87 years old. Lavin had a career that spanned from Broadway to television and back to the stage again.
A representative for Lavin confirmed her unexpected death, citing complications from a recent diagnosis of lung cancer. Lavin had been present at the Los Angeles premiere of her Netflix series “No Good Deed” just weeks before her passing. She was co-starring with Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano in the series.
Lavin was born in Portland, Maine in 1937 into a Russian immigrant family active in the local Jewish community. Her mother, a singer, inspired her towards a career in theater. She once told PEOPLE that a childhood photo of her filled with wonder, joy, and hope still represented who she was.
After obtaining a theater degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, Lavin moved to New York City to pursue her career. Her breakthrough came in 1966 with the Broadway production “It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman,” where she performed the musical’s signature number, “You’ve Got Possibilities.”
Lavin’s early television career included roles on shows like “The Nurses,” “Rhoda,” “Harry O,” and “Kaz.” She received her first Tony nomination in 1969 for “Last of the Red Hot Lovers.” In 1973, after moving to Los Angeles with her first husband, actor Ron Leibman, she landed a recurring role on “Barney Miller” and later the titular role in the sitcom “Alice.”
“Alice,” a sitcom based on Ellen Burstyn’s Oscar-winning role in 1974’s “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” ran from 1976 to 1985. Lavin’s portrayal of a single working mother earned her two Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy nomination. She once explained to the media that her aim with the character was to depict women facing loneliness with courage and humor.
Lavin returned to Broadway in the late 1980s, winning a Tony Award for “Broadway Bound” in 1987. She was nominated for four more Tony awards during her career. Her film portfolio includes “Damn Yankees!” (1967), “The Muppets Take Manhattan” (1984), “The Intern” (2015), and “Being the Ricardos” (2021).
At the time of her death, Lavin had finished filming seven episodes of the forthcoming Hulu series “Mid-Century Modern.” The series’ producers described her as a “magnificent actress, singer, musician, and a heat-seeking missile with a joke,” and a “beautiful soul.”
During the “No Good Deed” premiere, Lavin reflected on her career progression and expressed satisfaction with her life, including her blissful marriage and the opportunity to continue working and performing.
Lavin was married three times. Her first marriage was to actor Ron Leibman from 1969 to 1981, followed by a marriage to actor-director Clifford “Kip” Niven from 1982 to 1992. Her third and last marriage in 2005 was to artist and drummer Steve Bakunas. In an interview in 2020, she shared that finding love again was unexpected after she had ruled out the possibility of another relationship or marriage.
