Beloved ‘Gilmore Girls’ Actress And Tony Winner Passes Away At 84

Veteran stage and screen actress Elizabeth Franz has died at the age of 84. Her husband, screenwriter Christopher Pelham, confirmed that Franz passed away at her home in Woodbury, Connecticut, on November 4, 2025. Her death was attributed to cancer and a severe reaction to treatment.

A career of remarkable range

Franz’s career spanned decades, with notable achievements in theatre, film, and television:

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Her most acclaimed role came in the 1999 Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman, in which she portrayed Linda Loman. For that performance she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
Playwright Arthur Miller praised her interpretation, noting she “discovered… the basic underlying powerful protectiveness, which comes out as fury…”
Franz also garnered Tony nominations for her work in Brighton Beach Memoirs (1983) and Morning’s at Seven (2002).
On television, Franz appeared in numerous series. Among them: a guest role on Gilmore Girls—in which she played Mia Bass, proprietor of the Independence Inn in Stars Hollow.
Her film credits include appearances in titles such as Sabrina, Christmas with the Kranks and School Ties.

Early life and personal background

Born Elizabeth Jean Frankovitch on June 18, 1941 (some sources give July 18, 1941) in Akron, Ohio, Franz was raised in a working-class family. Her father worked in a tire factory and her mother struggled with mental illness. Franz later said that her early life inspired her emotional depth as an actor.

She was married to actor Edward Binns from 1983 until his death in 1990. At the time of her death she was married to Christopher Pelham. She is also survived by a brother, Joe.

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Legacy and impact

Franz’s work stood out for bringing new nuance to established characters—her Linda Loman was widely regarded as a revelation in its depth and force. Her guest turn on Gilmore Girls, though brief, helped frame a beloved show’s setting by grounding it in a real-world theatrical actress with gravitas.

Her death marks a loss to both the theatre world and television audiences who appreciated character actors that enriched every scene she appeared in.

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A moment to remember

For fans of theatre and loyal viewers of television, Franz’s career offers a reminder that major awards and supporting roles alike can carry profound emotional weight. Her ability to evoke protectiveness and raw emotion in the role of Linda, and then transition gracefully to episodic television, demonstrates an admirable versatility.

As the curtain falls on her life, one can reflect on the many performances—across stage, screen and television—where Franz quietly shaped the space she inhabited with integrity and intensity.

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