Elizabeth Franz, the Tony Award–winning actress known for her role as Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman and for playing Mia Halloway on Gilmore Girls, has died at 84. She passed away on November 4 at her home in Woodbury, Connecticut, after battling cancer and suffering complications from treatment, her husband Christopher Pelham confirmed.
Franz enjoyed a long career on stage and screen. Her acclaimed 1999 Broadway performance in Death of a Salesman earned her a Tony Award, and she later reprised the role in the TV film adaptation. She also appeared in popular shows such as Roseanne, Law & Order: SVU, and Grey’s Anatomy, along with films including Sabrina (1995) and Christmas With the Kranks.
Born in Akron, Ohio, in 1940, Franz often spoke about her difficult childhood, shaped by her mother’s mental illness. Despite her challenges, she built a respected five-decade career in theater and television.
She is survived by her husband, Christopher Pelham, and her brother, Joe. Her former husband, actor Edward Binns, died in 1990.
