Acclaimed actress Linda Lavin, widely recognized for her role in the CBS series “Alice,” died on December 29 due to cardiopulmonary arrest, with lung cancer identified as the underlying cause. The details of her death were confirmed through her publicly released death certificate. Cardiopulmonary arrest is a medical condition that disrupts the flow of blood to the heart, preventing oxygen from reaching essential organs, often leading to the individual collapsing and becoming unresponsive.
Lavin’s death certificate also revealed that she was cremated on January 4 at her husband, Steve Bakunas’s residence in Los Angeles. The couple had been married for nearly twenty years. In the days leading up to her death, Lavin had undergone a bronchoscopy, a medical procedure that allows doctors to inspect the airways to diagnose or treat lung conditions.
Bill Veloric, Lavin’s longtime representative, confirmed her death, noting that she had “passed unexpectedly due to complications from recently discovered lung cancer.” Lavin’s career in Hollywood and Broadway began to flourish after she landed her first significant role in 1976 as Alice Hyatt in the CBS series “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.” The show’s title was later shortened to “Alice,” and Lavin’s portrayal of a widowed working mother of a 12-year-old resonated with many viewers. The series aired from 1976 to 1985.
Throughout her prolific career, Lavin starred in a variety of television shows and films, including “The Good Wife,” “The Back-up Plan,” “Santa Clarita Diet,” and most recently, “No Good Deed” on Netflix. The Tony Award-winning actress also left a significant mark on Broadway, with performances in productions such as “Broadway Bound” (1987), “It’s a Bird … It’s a Plane … It’s Superman” (1966), “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” (1970), “The Diary of Anne Frank” (1998), “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife” (2001), “Collected Stories” (2010), and “The Lyons” (2012), among others.
Following the announcement of her death, several of her former co-stars paid tribute to her. Among them was “Seinfeld” star Jason Alexander, who played her son in “Broadway Bound.” He lauded Lavin as generous, kind, and funny, and noted that her true range and ability were best displayed on stage. Lavin is survived by her husband, whom she married in 2005. Although she had no biological children, she reportedly remained active in the lives of her stepchildren from her second marriage.