Lynne Marie Stewart, ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ star, dies aged 78
Lynne Marie Stewart, the actor who featured in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, has died age 78, as confirmed by one of her fellow actors on social media.
Announcing her passing on social media, actor Cassandra Peterson described her as one of the “kindest, sweetest, funniest women who ever lived” while praising her role in Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.
“My heart is breaking upon hearing the news of my dear friend,” she wrote. “One of the kindest, sweetest, funniest women who ever lived. The iconic Miss Yvonne of Pee-wee’s Playhouse: She’ll always be “the most beautiful woman in Puppetland”.
Stewart first played the role on stage in 1981 before reprising it for the television show on CBS. She also played Miss Yvonne for the stage revival in 2010 and show on Broadway.
She first met Pee-Wee Herman’s Paul Reubens in the 1970s as a member of The Groundlings, appearing in the show before featuring in several films and television shows, including The Running Man, Night Stand with Dick Dietrick, and Son of the Beach.
Stewart also starred in the acclaimed comedy It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia alongside Charlie Day, Danny DeVito, and Kaitlin Olson. She played a recurring role as the mother of Charlie Kelly, earning fans based on her effortless comedic delivery and charm.
Her passing has sparked an outpour of tributes from the film and television industries, including from Saturday Night Live star Laraine Newman, who affectionately recalled a line her sister said: “If you don’t love Lynne, you’re just wrong”.
Drew Powell, who also featured in the 2011 Pee-Wee revival, described her as “the kindest most affirming most supportive person” who was “always beaming with positivity and love”.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is one of the longest-running sitcoms of all time, beginning in 2005 and immediately captivating a local fanbase. From the moment the cast was selected, the team knew it would be a hit, according to DeVito, who was sold on the concept the moment he was contacted.
“[John Landgraf] sent me the eight episodes, and Rhea [Pearlman] and I and the kids watched the show,” DeVito recalled on The Always Sunny Podcast. “I loved it,” he continued, saying it was “fucking outrageous” in a way that immediately incited excitement.
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