Linda Lavin Dies at 87 After Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Linda Lavin died of cardiopulmonary arrest with lung cancer as the underlying cause, as revealed in her death certificate.
The 87-year-old actress had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer before her passing on December 29.
A representative stated that she died due to complications related to the disease.
In the weeks leading up to her death, Lavin remained active, making an appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of the Netflix series "No Good Deed," in which she had a role.
Before her death, Lavin underwent a bronchoscopy, a procedure that allows doctors to examine the airways in the lungs.
Her first major breakthrough came when she was cast in the Broadway musical "It's a Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman" after moving to New York post-college.
In 1969, she received her first Tony nomination for her performance in "Last of the Red Hot Lovers."
Lavin moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s and was involved in television series such as "Rhoda" and "Barney Miller."
In 1976, she was cast as Alice Hyatt in "Alice," a show based on Ellen Burstyn's Oscar-winning film "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," which focused on a widowed single mother.
The series aired until 1985.
After "Alice," Lavin returned to Broadway, featuring in productions like "Gypsy" and more recently, "Our Mother's Brief Affair."
She continued her Hollywood career with roles in "Courage the Cowardly Dog," "The O.C.," "Santa Clarita Diet," "Mom," and "The Good Wife," along with films like "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules" and "The Back-up Plan."
In her final year, she appeared in an episode of the police procedural "Elsbeth" and the movie "One Big Happy Family."
