Lynne Marie Stewart, best known for playing Miss Yvonne onPee-wee’s Playhouseand her recurring role onIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, has passed away at the age of 78. The news of her death was shared by long-term friend, Cassandra Peterson – better known as her horror hostess creation Elvira – via social media. The actress, who worked with Stewart on several Elvira projects, shared:
“My heart is breaking upon hearing the news of my dear friend Lynne Stewart’s passing. One of the kindest, sweetest, funniest women who ever lived. The iconic Miss Yvonne ofPee-wee’s Playhouse: She’ll always be “the most beautiful woman in Puppetland”.
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Born and raised in California, Stewart began her career on the stage, and wanting to expand her comedy range, she worked with several improvisational groups in Los Angeles, including most prominently, The Groundlings. Through these groups, she found her way into television and landed her big break in the 1980s as part of the Pee-wee Herman universe, working with the late Paul Reubens. As Miss Yvonne, Stewart became a flamboyant and theatrical addition to Saturday mornings. Stewart’s comedic timing fit perfectly with the joyful tone of the show, but she also played a big part in supporting and expanding the show’s broader themes of acceptance.
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Stewart had a long career, mostly working in television, although she did make appearances in bothPee-wee’s Big AdventureandBig Top Pee-wee, theArnold Schwarzenegger-led Stephen King movie,The Running Man, and the 2011 movieBridesmaids. Her TV roles inNight Court,Laverne & Shirley, The Golden Girls, andTracey Ullman’s State of the Union, she would become known to many as Charlie’s mother, Bonnie Kelly, inIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Appearing in multiple episodes, she lent her gentle comedic touch, which became a welcome contrast to some of the more caustic characters in the series.
News of Stewart’s saw many fans paying tribute on social media, from those who only knew her through her later roles to those still sad atthe loss of Pee-wee Herman star Reubensless than two years ago. While Stewart may not have been a huge megastar in Hollywood, her contribution to the world of television impacted the lives of many over the years, and that is all that really matters in the end.
Charlie, who plays Bonnie’s son inIt’s Always Sunny, shared a heartfelt tribute to “mom” in his own Instagram post, saying,“RIP TV mom. Thanks for 20 years of laughs. You deserve a standing ovation. The brilliant and talented Lynne Marie Stewart. Rest in peace. Thank you for all the years of laughter.”
On X/Twitter, users shared their feelings of sadness at hearing the news, such as@sunnyreynoldss, who said,“Bonnie Kelly was always my favorite secondary character. Every scene she was in would never fail to crack me up. There’s so many scenes to pick from but this is one of my favorites. Thank you for the laughs, Lynne Marie Stewart”Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this time.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
