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Linda Lavin: A celebration!
Linda Lavin on Mid-Century Modern.Disney/Christopher WillardThe fabulous and illustrious Linda Lavin brings to life Sybil Schneiderman, Bunny's mother, on Hulu's new gay sitcom Mid-Century Modern — starring alongside Nathan Lane (Bunny), Matt Bomer (Jerry), and Nathan Lee Graham (Arthur) while delivering another great performance.
Lavin, born on October 15, 1937 in Portland, Maine, went on to win Tony Awards and Golden Globe Awards for her work. The actress was also inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2010. Unfortunately, she passed away at age 87 while still in production for Mid-Century Modern in December 2024.
Hailed as the "spiritual showrunner" of the series by Graham, this feels like the perfect time to celebrate Lavin's talent, tenacity, and long-standing career in Hollywood.
Keep scrolling to learn more about Linda Lavin's most iconic roles in movies, TV shows, and theater — and make sure to watch Mid-Century Modern on Hulu.
'Alice' (1976)
Linda Lavin on Alice.
CBS
Lavin played Alice Hyatt, the titular character of the CBS sitcom Alice, for all nine seasons and 202 episodes of the series. Her performance was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 1979, and also earned her two Golden Globe Awards.
'I Want to Go Home' (1989)
Adolph Green, Linda Lavin, and Gérard Depardieu in I Want to Go Home.
MK2 Diffusion
Lavin starred in the 1989 film I Want to Go Home, which explored cultural differences between the U.S. and France. Lavin's costars included Adolph Green (as Joey Wellman) and Gérard Depardieu (as Christian Gauthier).
'The Back-up Plan' (2010)
Linda Lavin in The Back-up Plan.
CBS Films
2010's The Back-up Plan was a romantic comedy starring Jennifer Lopez as Zoe and Alex O'Loughlin as Stan. Lavin was a standout actress in the film in the role of Zoe's grandmother, "Nana," who gets married in the plot.
'Sean Saves the World' (2013)
Sean Hayes and Linda Lavin on Sean Saves the World.
NBC
NBC's Sean Saves the World was a huge vehicle for Will & Grace alum Sean Hayes. Right next to him was Lavin, who played Lorna Harrison, the titular character's mother.
'A Short History of Decay' (2013)
Benjamin King, Linda Lavin, and Bryan Greenberg in A Short History of Decay.
Big Fan Films
Starring Bryan Greenberg as Nathan and Benjamin King as Jack, A Short History of Decay also featured Lavin in a prominent role as Sandy Fisher.
'The Good Wife' (2014)
Linda Lavin on The Good Wife.
CBS
Though she only appeared in two episodes from season 6, Lavin's performance as Joy Grubick on The Good Wife is fondly remembered by diehard fans of the show.
'How to Be a Latin Lover' (2017)
Rob Lowe and Linda Lavin in How to Be a Latin Lover.
3Pas Studios
2017's How to Be a Latin Lover featured Lavin as a wealthy woman named Millicent Dupont. The character's gigolo, Maximo, was played by the lead actor of the film, Eugenio Derbez.
'No Good Deed' (2024)
Linda Lavin on No Good Deed.
Netflix
Lavin was a recurring star on Netflix's No Good Deed. The actress played Phyllis Adelman in the series — an annoying neighbor who terrorized Lydia Morgan (Lisa Kudrow) and Mikey Morgan (Denis Leary).
