The Broadway world is buzzing with a heart-stirring revelation about the late Linda Lavin, the Tony Award-winning actress who passed away on December 29, 2024, at 87 from lung cancer complications. In a gesture that has theater fans talking, Lavin bequeathed her 1987 Tony Award for Broadway Bound to Death Becomes Her book writer Marco Pennette, as revealed in a recent Broadway.com feature. With Pennette’s musical earning 10 Tony nominations for the 2025 awards, this poignant gift has sparked curiosity about whether Lavin’s legacy could propel Death Becomes Her to a Tony sweep. Nuzpost dives into Lavin’s iconic career, the emotional weight of her gift, and its impact on Broadway’s biggest night.
A Tony Gift That Steals the Spotlight
Marco Pennette, a first-time Tony nominee for adapting the 1992 cult classic Death Becomes Her into a Broadway hit, shared a moving story about his friendship with Lavin, forged during their work on the 1998 sitcom Conrad Bloom. Lavin’s bold arrival in “skin-tight leopard pants and a fedora” left an indelible mark, inspiring Pennette to rethink her character. After her passing, Lavin’s husband, Steve Bakunas, delivered her 1987 Tony Award for Broadway Bound and an autographed Hirschfeld artwork to Pennette, saying, “She wanted you to have this.” The items now form a “little shrine” in Pennette’s home, a testament to Lavin’s generosity.
Pennette, now a frontrunner for a Tony for Death Becomes Her, told Broadway.com, “It took eight years and 70 rewrites to make this show a hit.” The musical, starring Jennifer Simard and Megan Hilty as the feuding divas immortalized by Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, has clinched 10 nominations, including Best Musical and Best Actress for both leads. Lavin’s gift has added an emotional layer to the awards race, with fans wondering if her spirit could inspire a sweep on Tony night.
Lavin’s Unforgettable Broadway Legacy
Born October 15, 1937, in Portland, Maine, Linda Lavin was a theater and television titan whose career spanned over six decades. She skyrocketed to fame as Alice Hyatt in Alice (1976–1985), winning two Golden Globes, but her stage work defined her legend. Her Tony-winning role as Kate Jerome in Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound at the Broadhurst Theatre, which ran for 756 performances, blended humor and heartache with unmatched finesse. Lavin earned five more Tony nominations for The Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1970), The Diary of Anne Frank (1997), The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife (2000), Collected Stories (2010), and The Lyons (2012), per Playbill.
Lavin’s versatility shone in roles from comedic to dramatic, with her final stage appearance in You Will Get Sick (2022) with Roundabout Theatre Company marking 60 years in New York theater. Her TV credits, including B Positive—where she reunited with Pennette—and Madam Secretary, cemented her as a performer who could command any stage or screen, as The New York Times noted in its tribute.
Broadway Mourns a Star
Lavin’s passing sent shockwaves through the theater community, with the Broadhurst Theatre dimming its lights on March 4, 2025, alongside tributes for Maggie Smith and Gavin Creel, per Broadway.com. Steve Bakunas, her husband since 2005, called her a “magnificent Tony Award-winner” who “dazzled us all,” according to the Daily Mail. Lavin’s final days were spent filming Mid-Century Modern with Nathan Lane, missing the chance to see Death Becomes Her but attending its opening night party, radiating her signature charisma.
Pennette’s story has amplified excitement for the 2025 Tony Awards, set for June 8 at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Cynthia Erivo. Death Becomes Her has won critical acclaim for its campy humor and stellar performances, making it a strong contender. The emotional weight of Lavin’s Tony gift has fans speculating whether it could be a lucky charm for Pennette and the production.
A Legacy That Lights Up Broadway
Lavin’s decision to gift her Tony to Pennette reflects her lifelong passion for nurturing talent. Her roles, often tackling themes of family and identity, helped shape modern American theater, as The New York Times observed. Her collaboration with Pennette on B Positive, inspired by his kidney transplant, deepened their bond, making the Tony gift a profound symbol of trust. As Death Becomes Her vies for Tony glory, Lavin’s influence looms large, connecting her storied past to Broadway’s vibrant future.
The theater world continues to celebrate Lavin’s legacy, with her Tony now inspiring Pennette’s journey. As the 2025 Tony Awards draw near, all eyes are on whether Death Becomes Her will honor Lavin with a historic sweep.
Nuzpost will keep you updated on the 2025 Tony Awards and Linda Lavin’s enduring Broadway legacy.