R.I.P. Lynne Marie Stewart

Thanks Eve Golden, Daughter of Three Gods (Hermes, Aphrodite, and Thanatos) for relating the sad news of the passing Lynne Marie Stewart (1946-2025), best known as Miss Yvonne (The Most Beautiful Woman in Puppetland) from Pee-wee’s Playhouse, and a recurring role as Charlie’s mother on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Like Kristen Stewart, she was an L.A. baby. I don’t know if they’re related, or, for that matter, if I am. Oh! And she’s not to be confused with the other Lynne Stewart, the lawyer who helped all those terrorists. This Lynne Stewart came up through The Groundlings, where she first met and worked with Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman. Stewart was a particular friend of Cindy Williams, and worked in numerous projects with her, including the film American Graffiti, the sitcom Laverne and Shirley, and an all-female stage production of The Odd Couple. Stewart also PLAYED Williams by supplying the voice of Shirley in the animated Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour. Other voice-over gigs included Life with Louie,The Tick, and various Batman shows.

While Miss Yvonne may have been her most recognized character, from where I sit, Stewart’s most signficant credit was as a regular cast member on Joan Rivers‘ short-lived sit-com Husbands, Wives, and Lovers (1977-78). If it had lasted more than a season, it’s certainly what we would know her for. TV shows she guested on included M*A*S*H, America 2-Night, Comedy Bang! Bang! and dozens of others. With fellow Groundling Timothy Stack she also recurred on Son of the Beach and appeared in 30 episodes of the talk show parody series Night Stand with Dick Dietrick. Her movies included Tunnel Vision (1976), Pandemonium (1982), Young Doctors in Love (1982), Jumpin’ Jack Flash (1986), The Running Man (1986), Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), Clear and Present Danger (1994), and Bridesmaids (2011), among others.

If there’s a Camp Heaven, and you know there is, Lynne Stewart is with Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman right now.

For more on the history of show business,consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous. And stay tuned for my upcomingElectric Vaudeville: A Century of Radio and TV Variety.