Linda Lavin (born October 15, 1937 in Portland, Maine) is an American actress and singer. After acting onstage since childhood, she joined the Compass Players—a precursor to The Second City—in the late 1950s. A few years later she received notice for appearing in the Superman Broadway musical Its A Bird Its A Plane Its Superman.
In 1975 Lavin started appearing on a recurring basis on Barney Miller as Detective Janice Wentworth. While her character was popular enough to potentially be Promoted to Opening Titles, Lavin left for her own show, Alice (1976), loosely based on Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.
Since Alice went off the air in 1985 Lavin has mostly split her time between television and live theatre, including a Tony-winning performance in Broadway Bound.
Lavin has been married three times, to actors Ron Leibman and Kip Niven and currently to Steve Bakunas.
Works with Linda Lavin:
- 1967 Damn Yankees: Gloria Thorpe (Made-for-TV Movie)
- 1974 The Morning After 1974: Toni (TV Movie)
- 1978 Like Mom Like Me: Althea Gruen (TV Movie)
- 1984 The Muppets Take Manhattan: Kermit’s Doctor
- 1989 See You In The Morning: Sidney
- 1989 I Want To Go Home: Lena Apthrop
- 1996 Stolen Memories Secrets From The Rose Garden: Earline
- 2002 Collected Stories: Ruth Steiner
- 2010 The Back Up Plan: Nana
- 2012 Wanderlust: Shari
- 2013 A Short History Of Decay: Sandy Fisher
- 2015 The Intern: Patty
- 2016 Manhattan Night: Norma Segal
- 2016 Bakery In Brooklyn: Isabelle
- 2017 How to Be a Latin Lover: Millicent Dupont
- 2019 Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase: Flora
- 2021 Naked Singularity: Cymbeline
- 2021 Being the Ricardos: Madelyn Pugh
Television
- 1963 The Doctors And The Nurses: Doris Ilon (1 episode)
- 1974 Rhoda: Linda Monroe (1 episode)
- 1975 Harry O: Alice (1 episode)
- 1975-76 Barney Miller: Detective Janice Wentworth (5 episodes)
- 1976 Phyllis: Margaret Gates (1 episode)
- 1976-85 Alice (1976): Alice Hyatt
- 1977 Family: Annie Laurie (1 episode)
- 1979 Kaz: Helen “Frenchy” Russo (1 episode)
- 1992-93 Room For Two: Edie Kurland
- 1998 Conrad Bloom: Florie Bloom
- 1999 Touched by an Angel: Amanda Randolph (1 episode)
- 2002 Courage the Cowardly Dog: Mama Bird/various (13 episodes)
- 2002 The Sopranos: Dr. Wendi Kobler (1 episode)
- 2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Ursula Sussman (1 episode)
- 2004-05 The O.C.: Sophie Cohen (1 episode)
- 2013 Bob's Burgers: Helen (1 episode)
- 2013-14 Sean Saves The World: Lorna Harrison
- 2014-15 The Good Wife: Joy Grubick (3 episodes)
- 2015 Bones: Judge Michael (1 episode)
- 2016 Mom: Phyllis (2 episodes)
- 2017-18 Nine JKL: Judy
- 2018 Madam Secretary: June O’Callaghan (1 episode)
- 2019 Santa Clarita Diet: Jean (4 episodes)
- 2019 Brockmire: Lorraine (1 episode)
- 2020 Room 104: Enid (1 episode)
- 2020-22 B Positive: Norma (recurring)
Stage
- 1962 A Family Affair: Quiet Girl/Wilma/Crying Daughter
- 1966 Its A Bird Its A Plane Its Superman: Sydney
- 1969 Little Murders: Patsy Newquist
- 1971 Last Of The Red Hot Lovers: Elaine Navazio
- 1975 The Comedy of Errors: Courtesan
- 1986-88 Broadway Bound: Kate
- 1989-91 Gypsy: Mama Rose
- 1993-94 The Sisters Rosenzweig: Gorgeous Teitelbaum
- 1997-98 The Diary of Anne Frank: Mrs. Van Daan
- 2000-01 The Tale Of The Allergists Wife: Marjorie
- 2011 Follies: Hattie Walker
- 2011-12 The Lyons: Rita Lyons
