Key Takeaways:
– Veteran actress Linda Lavin passed away at 87.
– Her 60-year career spanned film, TV, and stage.
– The actress was a recipient of two Golden Globe awards and a Tony.
– Lavin was married to Steve Bakunas at the time of her death.
– She was previously married to actor Kip Niven and Tony-winning actor Ron Leibman.
Late Actress Linda Lavin: A Trip Down the Career Lane
Golden Globe-winning actress Linda Lavin, known predominantly for her lead role in the CBS sitcom, Alice, and her prolific stage and film career, died recently. She was 87.
Besides her influential acting career, Lavin was an active activist who took a prominent role in fighting for the Equal Rights Amendment. She also held a seat on the National Commission on Working Women. Her cherished acting journey which continued for over six decades, was recognized with innumerable accolades including two Golden Globes, a Tony, and an induction to the American Theatre Hall of Fame.
Linda Lavin’s Marriages
At the time of her demise, Lavin was married to Steve Bakunas. However, this was the final stop in her journey through marital relationship after two previous marriages.
Steve Bakunas: The Final Companionship
Linda Lavin’s last marriage was to Steve Bakunas, a musician and artist. With a 20-year age gap, Lavin and Bakunas tied the knot on Valentine’s Day in 2005. The couple first met at a theatre in North Carolina about six years before their marriage. They made their home in Wilmington, where they co-founded a community theatre called the Red Barn Studio, before eventually moving to New York.
In the final lap of her life, she proudly proclaimed the joy of having Bakunas as her life partner. “I have a wonderful life, a wonderful husband. I have a very rich and full life and I’m happy to show up,” Lavin stated in an interview. On her Instagram account, she shared a picture with Bakunas, signifying her immense love for him.
Kip Niven: A Marriage Marked by Strife
Before Bakunas, Lavin was married to actor Kip Niven, who she met on the set of Alice. The marriage, however, was marked by tribulations and disagreements ending in a tumultuous divorce in 1992. Lavin accused Niven of treating her with contempt and making no worthwhile contributions to their marriage or her career. The dust finally settled with Niven settling for $675,000 as alimony, a far cry from the $6 million he had initially sought. Niven passed away in 2019.
First Love: Ron Leibman
Lavin’s first step into matrimony was with Tony-winning actor Ron Leibman in 1969. The marriage lasted 12 years, ending in 1981. However, detailed account about their relationship remains scant. Leibman married Arrested Development star Jessica Walter after his divorce from Lavin.
In conclusion, Linda Lavin led a prolific acting career coupled with fervent activism. Reminiscing about her life unveils intriguing aspects of her personality. She is remembered for her compassion, her talent, and as an activist fighting for the rights of working women. Her personal life, though interspersed with ups and downs, was just as yielding, and heartening in its own ways. At the end of the day, Linda Lavin remains etched as a figure who made remarkable contributions to Hollywood and activism.