Yesterday was a double whammy for those of us who were adults in the 1970s. Two American institutions have left the planet. Although they circled in different spheres, somehow they have been ever present in my life for fifty years.
Jimmy Carter was the first president I ever voted for in the Bicentennial year of 1976. His legacy is well-known, so no need to go into it here. Suffice to say I always admired the heck out of him and his wife.
Linda Lavin became popular in a show called Alice based on a movie called Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, one of the first movies that saw women as whole human beings. I remember seeing it at the theater and it was different than anything else I’d ever seen. She had a never-ending career, even as she aged. It says a lot about her as an actor and a person.
When I heard Jimmy had died, well, no surprise. He was 100-years-old and had been in hospice care for over two years.
When I heard Linda died, I wasn’t surprised because I knew she had to be up there in years. (She was 87.)
But my first thought was that I won’t get to see her in season 2 of the Netflix show No Good Deed. The show itself is a mini-masterpiece, and Linda had a small part as a nosy neighbor. Even though the part isn’t regular, she gave the character strong presence and purpose when she did show up. She held the secrets of the neighborhood. The fact that I thought of this immediately gives testament to two things: the utter brilliance of the show, and the fact that Linda Lavin was the perfect choice to play Phyllis Adelman.
RIP to two American legends. We are grateful for your contributions to our lives.
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