Broadway and Hollywood legend Elaine Stritch dead at 89

Broadway and Hollywood legend Elaine Stritch dead at 89

Acting legend Elaine Stritch dies of natural causes, leaving behind Broadway and Hollywood legacy.

Five-time Tony award nominee and three-time Emmy winner Elaine Stritch died at the age of 89 on Thursday, ending a stage, film and television career which spanned seven decades. While she is best-known to this generation for playing Alec Baldwin’s mother on 30 Rock, Stritch will forever be remembered in the Broadway community for her portrayal of Joanne in Steven Sondheim’s 1970 musical Company and for immortalizing the song “The Ladies Who Lunch.”

According to her spokesman, Stritch died at home in Birmingham, Michigan, from natural causes. The legendary actress had suffered from diabetes for several years and her health had been in decline.

During the early years of her career, Stritch became as well-known for her romantic connections as she was for her acting. She famously enjoyed flirtations with Ben Gazzara, Marlon Brando, and Frank Sinatra, and rumors have stated that she once came close to having a one-night stand with John F. Kennedy. Noel Coward’s 1961 musical Sail Away was even written for her.

“Elaine was a magnificent woman in every sense of the word,” said Liza Minnelli. “A true trail blazer. Her talent and spunk will be greatly missed by so many of us.”

Renowned for her willingness to be loud, blunt, and profane, Stritch knew exactly what fans expected of her and she did all she could to deliver.

“I want to be talked about,” she told the Hollywood Reporter in 2013. “I want to be written about. I want everything about me! And I don’t make any bones about that. I like it being all about me.”

While she started taking on primarily film and television projects in her later years, Stritch was always willing to return to the stage to remind the world of her talent. Her performance of “I’m Still Here” earned her a standing ovation at Sondheim’s 80th birthday celebration, and her 2002 solo memoir Elaine Stritch at Liberty, which recapped her entire life through stories and songs, was a success both on Broadway and in England. Stritch’s final Broadway performance was in 2010’s “A Little Night Music.”

All of the theaters on Broadway will have their marquees dimmed Friday night at 7:45 p.m. for one minute in her honor.

Be social, please share!

Facebooktwittergoogle_plusredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *