Elizabeth Hoffman was an actress best known for her role as Bea in the 1990s NBC drama “Sisters.”
- Died: August 21, 2023 (Who else died on August 21?)
- Details of death: Died at her home in Malibu, California, of natural causes at the age of 97.
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Elizabeth Hoffman’s legacy
Hoffman played Bea, mother of the show’s titular sisters, for the show’s entire six-season run, appearing in almost every episode. Her character was a recovering alcoholic in mourning for her husband during the show’s early seasons and went on to remarry. “Sisters” was among the last of Hoffman’s TV roles; her onscreen career began with a recurring role as Miss Mason on “Little House on the Prairie.”
Elsewhere on TV, Hoffman played Eleanor Roosevelt on the miniseries “The Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance.” She had recurring roles on “Matlock” as Judge Mary Russell, “Thirtysomething” as Eleanor Krieger, and “Stargate SG-1” as Dr. Catherine Langford. Hoffman also made appearances on such shows as “The Greatest American Hero,” “The A-Team,” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”
Hoffman had small roles in several movies, including “Fear No Evil,” “Nuts,” “The River Wild,” and “Born on the Fourth of July.” In her final film, “Dante’s Peak,” she played Grandma Ruth, who sacrifices herself to get her family to safety during a volcanic eruption.
Hoffman on her favorite role
“Eleanor Roosevelt in ‘Winds of War’ and ‘War and Remembrance.’ That was a distinct pleasure. An honor. I’ve always loved Eleanor Roosevelt. I did a lot of research for the part, and I had a wonderful time playing it.” —from a 2006 interview for Gateworld
Tributes to Elizabeth Hoffman
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
