'Alice' Star Linda Lavin Dies at 87

Actress Linda Lavin, the star of the 1970's sitcom "Alice," passed away in Los Angeles on Sunday. She was 87.

The Tony Award-winning actress had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and died from complications of the disease unexpectedly.

Linda Lavin was currently playing a recurring character on the Netflix show "No Good Deed" and had walked the red carpet at the Dec. 4 premiere.

According to Deadline, Lavin passed away in Los Angeles on Dec. 29. Lavin had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and reportedly died from complications of the disease unexpectedly.

The Golden Globe Award-winning actress was filming the Hulu series "Mid-Century Modern" with Nathan Lane before she passed away and reportedly only had 3 episodes left to shoot.

Producers Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, along with director and executive producer, James Burrows, released a statement following news of Lavin's untimely passing.

“Working with Linda was one of the highlights of our careers,” read the statement. “She was a magnificent actress, singer, musician, and a heat-seeking missile with a joke. But more significantly, she was a beautiful soul. Deep, joyful, generous and loving. She made our days better. The entire staff and crew will miss her beyond measure. We are better for having known her.”

Lavin attended the premiere of "No Good Deed" on Dec. 4, which was her last public appearance. The Netflix show stars Lisa Kudrow and Ray Ramono, and Lavin played the couple's neighbor, a recurring character in the dark comedy.

Lavin recently shared a still from the Netflix show on Instagram with the caption, "Be sure to check out the new series I’m in, “No Good Deed” streaming now on @Netflix !!"

The show's creator, Liz Feldman, left a heartfelt message on her Instagram account after news of Lavin's death broke.

"Oh sweet, brilliant, talented, beautiful @linda_lavin," she wrote. "Getting to work with you once was an honor and a joy. I loved writing for you on 9JKL all those years ago. I just loved YOU. Being around you. In your magnetic orbit. That we got to collaborate again on No Good Deed was simply a gift."

"You were, as always, incredibly gracious, totally hilarious and pitch perfect. Ready to play and full of life," she added. "Your warmth and kindness was unparalleled. I just loved you. We all did. I’m so glad I got to see you a few weeks ago at the premiere and introduce you to my parents. They were thrilled to meet you. And my father made it very clear to me that you were his favorite part of No Good Deed. He wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Thank you for letting me into your stunning orbit. And for allowing me to spin with you for a while."

Lavin began her acting career as a child on Broadway starring in the 1960's musical "It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman." The accomplished actress won a Tony Award for her performance in the 1986 Neil Simon play, "Broadway Bound."

She also earned Tony nominations for "The Lyons," "The Diary of Anne Frank," "The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife" and "Collected Stories."

Before landing the role of the title character in "Alice," Lavin starred as a recurring character in the ABC sitcom, "Barney Miller."

In 1976, Lavin won the starring role in "Alice," which was based on the 1974 film, "Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore" with Ellen Burstyn. The film and television show was about a single mother working in a diner and raising her son after her husband died.

Lavin was reportedly reluctant to take on the role that won Burstyn an Academy Award, saying, "How can you do something that already’s been done so well?” The actress also told the Los Angeles Times in 2013 that the show's popularity resulted in her speaking at political events.

"I was asked to speak at events,” Lavin said. “I had never been asked to speak in public before. I was a musical comedy actress. I was invited to labor rallies and ERA marches. I got educated. I was invited to join the National Commission on Working Women."

Lavin won two Golden Globe Awards for her performance in "Alice" and was also nominated for an Emmy. "Alice" ran for 9 seasons on CBS.

Lavin passed away with her husband, Steve Bakunas, by her side. According to PEOPLE, Lavin and Bakunas were married for nearly 20 years, having wed in 2005.

Bakunas is an artist and drummer nearly 20 years younger than Lavin, and the actress said the couple's relationship "surprised the hell outta me" back in 2020.

"I didn't think I was very good at relationships," she said. "And I found out that it takes work, and I'm willing to do the work, and so is he. Somebody said to me, 'Wear life like a loose garment, Linda. Lighten up!'"