Elizabeth Franz

Elizabeth Franz, Tony-winning actress celebrated for her powerful performances both on stage and screen, died November 4, 2025, at her home in Woodbury, Connecticut. She was 84. Her husband, screenwriter Christopher Pelham, confirmed the cause was cancer and a severe reaction to treatment.

Born Elizabeth Jean Frankovitch in Akron, Ohio, on June 18, 1941, Franz started her career in regional theatre before relocating to New York and making her Broadway debut in the 1967 production of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead." Over a five-decade career, she earned acclaim for her emotional intensity and versatility, earning a Tony Award in 1999 for her portrayal of Linda Loman in the 50th-anniversary revival of "Death of a Salesman" on Broadway.

In addition to her Tony Award, Franz received nominations in 1983 for "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and in 2002 for "Morning's at Seven." She made TV appearances on "Gilmore Girls," "Law & Order: SVU," "Grey's Anatomy," "Roseanne," and "Another World," and her movies included "The Secret of My Success," "Sabrina" (1995), and "Christmas with the Kranks."

Franz is survived by her husband, Christopher Pelham, and her brother, Joe. She was previously married to actor Edward Binns until his death in 1990.

Her legacy endures in the strength and subtlety of her performances-whether on the Broadway stage or on television-an actress whose commitment to character and craft earned her both the esteem of her peers and popular affection.

By Legacy News Staff

(Image: Jemal Countess/WireImage)