Linda Lavin
Biography
Linda Lavin is an American actress and singer. Born on October 15, 1937, in Portland, Maine, USA, she began acting as a child. Lavin joined the Compass Players in the late 1950s and started appearing on Broadway in the 1960s. She received her first Tony Award nomination for "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" in 1970. Lavin moved to Hollywood in 1973 and began working on television, making recurring appearances on the sitcom "Barney Miller." She is known for playing the title character in a hit comedy that ran from 1976 to an unspecified year. Lavin has a total of 83 known credits in acting.
Career overview
Linda Lavin is an American actress and singer. She began her acting career as a child and later joined the Compass Players in the late 1950s. Lavin's early stage performances included appearances on Broadway, where she earned notice in the 1966 production of "It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman." She received her first Tony Award nomination for her role in "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" in 1970.
Lavin transitioned to television in 1973, making recurring appearances on the sitcom "Barney Miller." Her breakthrough role came when she landed the title character in the hit comedy "Alice," which ran from 1976. The show was a significant part of her career, although the exact duration of her involvement is not specified.
Throughout her career, Lavin accumulated a total of 83 acting credits. Her work spans multiple genres and mediums, with a focus on stage and television performances.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Linda Lavin.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
91 titles- Mid-Century Modern (2025) as Sybil Schneiderman
- One Big Happy Family (2025) as Lenore
- Elsbeth (2024) as Gloria
- No Good Deed (2024) as Phyllis Adelman
- 100 Years of Warner Bros. (2023) as Self
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2022) as Barb (voice)
- Being the Ricardos (2021) as Older Madelyn Pugh
- Naked Singularity (2021) as Judge Cymbeline
- Call Me Back: The Uncommon Wisdom of Yvette Slosch (2021) as Yvette Slosch
- B Positive (2020) as Norma
- Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019) as Flora
- Girls Weekend (2019) as Marie
- On Broadway (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Betty White: First Lady of Television (2018) as Self
- Room 104 (2017) as Enid
- Brockmire (2017) as Lorraine
- How to Be a Latin Lover (2017) as Millicent
- 9JKL (2017) as Judy
- Manhattan Night (2016) as Norma
- Bakery in Brooklyn (2016) as Isabelle
- The Intern (2015) as Patty
- A Short History of Decay (2014) as Sandy Fisher
- Mom (2013) as Phyllis
- Sean Saves the World (2013) as Lorna
- Wanderlust (2012) as Shari
- Bob's Burgers (2011) as Gertie (voice)
- Bob's Burgers (2011) as Helen (voice)
- The Back-Up Plan (2010) as Nana
- The Good Wife (2009) as F. Joy Grubick
- At Home in Utopia (2008) as Self - Narrator
- The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays (2006) as Marjorie (segment "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife")
- Criminal Minds (2005) as Connie LaMontagne
- Bones (2005) as Judge Michael
- The Lady in Question Is Charles Busch (2005) as The Allergist's Wife (archive footage)
- The O.C. (2003) as Sophie Cohen
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) as Ursula Sussman
- The Sopranos (1999) as Dr. Wendi Kobler
- Hollywood Squares (1998) as Self - Panelist
- Conrad Bloom (1998) as Florie Bloom
- Best Friends for Life (1998) as Sarah "Coop" Cooper
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- The Ring (1996) as Ruth Liebman
- Stolen Memories: Secrets from the Rose Garden (1996) as Earline
- For the Future: The Irvine Fertility Scandal (1996) as Marilyn Killane
- A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story (1995) as Virginia Funicello
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Amanda Randolph
- Whitewash (1994) as Ms. Steunberg (voice)
- Intimate Portrait (1993) as Self
- Room for Two (1992) as Edie Kurland
- The Sunset Gang (1991) as Herself - Host
- Night of 100 Stars III (1990) as Self
- See You in the Morning (1989) as Sidney
- I Want to Go Home (1989) as Lena Apthrop
- A Place to Call Home (1987) as Liz Gavin
- A Place to Call Home (1987) Executive Producer
- Lena: My 100 Children (1987) as Lena Kuchler-Silberman
- Maricela (1986) as Mrs. Gannett
- Night of 100 Stars II (1985) as Self
- The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) as Kermit's Doctor
- Reading Rainbow (1983) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Another Woman's Child (1983) as Terry DeBray
- Another Woman's Child (1983) Co-Producer
- American Playhouse (1982) as Self – Host
- Night of 100 Stars (1982) as Self
- Lily for President? (1982) as Alice Hyatt
- A Matter of Life and Death (1981) as Nurse Joy Ufema
- The $5.20 an Hour Dream (1980) as Ellen Lissick
- Linda in Wonderland (1980) as Herself/Alice Hyatt/Sam Butler
- Kaz (1978) as Helen 'Frenchy' Russo
- Like Mom, Like Me (1978) as Althea Gruen
- Alice (1976) as Alice Hyatt
- Alice (1976) Director
- Family (1976) as Annie Laurie Marshall
- The Muppet Show (1976) as Self - Special Guest Star
- Barney Miller (1975) as Det. Janice Wentworth
- Rhoda (1974) as Linda Monroe
- Harry O (1974) as Alice
- The Morning After (1974) as Toni
- Great Performances (1971) as Self
- The Great American Dream Machine (1971) as Herself
- Damn Yankees (1967) as Gloria Thorpe
- CBS Playhouse (1966) as Carol Brandt
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Host
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Guest
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Performer / Winner
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee / Performer
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Winner
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Linda Lavin best known for?
Linda Lavin is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Mid-Century Modern (2025), Elsbeth (2024), 100 Years of Warner Bros. (2023), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2022).
When and where was Linda Lavin born?
Linda Lavin was born on October 15, 1937 in Portland, Maine, USA. They passed away on December 29, 2024.
How many credits does Linda Lavin have?
Linda Lavin has accumulated over 91 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2025.
What is Linda Lavin's background in cinema and television?
Linda Lavin is an American actress and singer. Born on October 15, 1937, in Portland, Maine, USA, she began acting as a child. Lavin joined the Compass Players in the late 1950s and started appearing on Broadway in the 1960s. She received her first Tony Award nomination for "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" in 1970. Lavin m...