Linda Lavin, a Tony-winning theater actress and star of the hit sitcom Alice, died at the age of 87. A representative confirmed to the New York Times that the cause of death was complications related to lung cancer. Lavin, who has consistently worked across the film, television, and theater stages since the 1960s, is perhaps best known for her leading role in Alice, which spanned nearly a decade after premiering on CBS in 1976: She portrayed a hardworking and good-humored diner waitress — often the voice of reason around her wackier counterparts — raising her son as a widow in Phoenix. Alice earned Lavin one Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe Awards.
Following the sitcom’s success, Lavin returned to Broadway and earned a Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Play for 1987’s Broadway Bound. She earned five other Tony nominations throughout her career, most recently for 2012’s The Lyons. (We reviewed her final play, 2022’s You Will Get Sick.) Lavin remained a stable presence in television since the turn of the millennium, appearing in comedies such as B Positive, Santa Clarita Diet, and, earlier this year, Elsbeth. She’s survived by her husband of two decades, Steve Bakunas.
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