Linda Lavin Still Had Three More Episodes Of Hulu’s “Mid-Century Modern” Series
Earlier this year, Disney announced that Hulu had greenlit a brand new comedy series called “Mid-Century Modern”, which is being created by“Will & Grace” creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohanwhich.
The show follows three best friends – gay gentlemen of a certain age – who, after an unexpected death, decide to spend their golden years living together in Palm Springs, where the wealthiest one lives with his mother and a naked Gen Z housekeeper.
‘Mid-Century Modern’ stars Nathan Lane as Bunny Schneiderman, Matt Bomer as Jerry Frank, and Linda Lavin as Sybil Schneiderman, Bunny’s mother.
A successful businessman with one foot in retirement, Bunny is forever in search of love, but he first has to be convinced he’s worthy of it. Like her son, Sybil’s strengths are her weaknesses: wise, caring, and iconoclastic – which sometimes means she’s critical, smothering and amoral. Jerry left the Mormon Church and his marriage in his early 20s after his wife informed him and the rest of the congregation that he was a homosexual. Now a latter-day saint in the literal sense of the term, Jerry is pure of heart. He is also hard of body and soft of head.
Unfortunately, this past Sunday, Linda Lavin, who plays Sybil, passed away at age 87 due to complications of recently discovered lung cancer.
The first seven episodes of this ten episode show have already been filmed and filming on the show had been scheduled to resume in mid-January after the holidays on the final three episodes.
Kohan, Mutchnick and Jimmy Burrows wrote a statement to The Wrap regarding Linda’s passing:
“Working with Linda was one of the highlights of our careers. She was a magnificent actress, singer, musician, and a heat seeking missile with a joke. But more significantly, she was a beautiful soul. Deep, joyful, generous and loving. She made our days better. The entire staff and crew will miss her beyond measure. We are better for having known her.”
A spokesperson for Hulu and 20th Television, who is producing the show, said in a statement:
“Our deepest and heartfelt condolences go to Linda Lavin’s family and loved ones. She was a legend in our industry, bringing her tremendous talent to audiences for over seven decades. She will be forever missed by her ‘Mid-Century Modern’ family, as we mourn this incredible loss together.”
“Mid-Century Modern” is executive produced by Mutchnick, Kohan, Burrows, Lane, Bomer and Ryan Murphy. Mutchnick and Kohan wrote the pilot, and Burrows serves as director.
Roger’s Take: It’s not yet clear how Lavin’s passing might impact the show, but it’s likely they will incorporate the character’s death into the storyline and also cause a delay in filming while the scripts are reworked to deal with the tragic passing.
Roger Palmer
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