Linda Lavin, best known for her iconic role as Alice Hyatt in the hit CBS sitcom Alice, died Sunday at the age of 87 due to complications from lung cancer. A pioneer in both theater and television, Lavin had a career that spanned decades, leaving a lasting impact on audiences and women’s rights advocates.
Her career in the performing arts was marked by both breadth and depth, beginning with a life-changing break in 1962 when Broadway director Hal Prince cast her in a speaking role, plucking her out of the chorus. Lavin’s collaboration with renowned playwright Neil Simon led to her first Tony nomination in 1970 for playing the glamorous Elaine in Last of the Red Hot Lovers. In 1987, she won her first Tony Award for her performance as Kate in Broadway Bound, a role that became a career milestone.
Born on October 15, 1937, in Portland, Maine, Lavin was the daughter of Lucille, a coloratura soprano and radio personality, and David, a furniture business owner. Her early interest in acting led her to the College of William & Mary, where she earned a degree in theater arts in 1959. Shortly after graduation, she moved to New York and began her career in theater, appearing in an off-Broadway revival of George and Ira Gershwin’s Oh, Kay!.
Lavin’s big break came when she was cast by Hal Prince in the troubled musical A Family Affair. Recalling the moment in a 2018 interview, she said, “Hal Prince walked in … and pointed at me and said, ‘You’re great, I’ll see you later.’” The next day, Prince was introduced as the show’s new director, and Lavin was given three speaking roles — an opportunity that significantly propelled her career.
Her career on television included recurring appearances on the TV series Barney Miller, where she played Detective Janice Wentworth, before she became a household name as Alice Hyatt. In 1976, Lavin was cast as the lead in Alice, a sitcom based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, originally written by Robert Getchell and directed by Martin Scorsese. Lavin’s portrayal of Alice Hyatt, a recently widowed mother working at Mel’s Diner, resonated with audiences.
Her role in Alice aligned with the women’s movement of the time. In a 2012 interview, Lavin said, “I knew it would be pertinent for me to learn about single mothers and working women.” She connected with women’s rights activists, including Gloria Steinem, who introduced her to influential authors and columnists focused on working women’s issues. “Alice represented 80 percent of all working women in this country who were still struggling at 69 cents on the dollar for the same quality of work done by men,” Lavin reflected. This experience fueled her commitment to advocating for women’s rights.
Lavin’s advocacy extended beyond the screen. She marched for the Equal Rights Amendment and joined the National Commission on Working Women, often delivering speeches in her Alice waitress uniform to amplify her message. In a 1992 interview with Charlie Rose, Lavin shared that she received thousands of letters from women thanking her for representing their struggles. One letter read: “Thank you for showing me ‘me.’ Thank you for being real. Thank you for giving me hope. Thank you for showing me that if Alice can do it, I can do it.”
Her work on Alice earned numerous accolades, including an Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe Awards. The series was a ratings success, consistently ranking in the top 10 during its fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons.
After nearly 13 years away from Broadway, Lavin returned in 1987, starring in Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound. Critics praised her performance as Kate, an abandoned wife and mother who balanced humor and compassion in the role. Frank Rich of The New York Times wrote, “Kate is a remarkable achievement, a Jewish mother who redefines the genre while getting the requisite laughs as she worries about her children’s health or an uninhibited pot roast.” Lavin expressed gratitude for the role during her Tony acceptance speech, thanking Neil Simon for writing a character that allowed her to “connect with all the women I come from, all the women inside of me.”
Lavin left an indelible legacy in theater, television, and advocacy. She will be remembered not only for her artistic achievements but also for her commitment to representing and empowering women.
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