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NEED TO KNOW
Tony-winning actress Elizabeth Franz died on Nov. 4 at age 84
Franz's husband, Christopher Pelham, confirmed her death
Pelham told The New York Times that Franz's cause of death was cancer and complications from medications
Elizabeth Franz, known for her atypical and decorated take on Linda Loman inDeath of a Salesman, has died. She was 84.
TheTony-winning actress, born Elizabeth Jean Frankovitch, died on Nov. 4 at her home in Woodbury, Conn., her husband, screenwriter Christopher Pelham, confirmed toThe New York Timesfor a story published on Nov. 15.
Franz's cause of death was cancer and a severe reaction to drugs being used to treat her,The Timesreported, citing Pelham.
PEOPLE reached out to a representative for Franz for comment on Nov. 15, but did not receive an immediate response.
The Ohio-born actress was perhaps best known for take on Linda, the wife ofBrian Dennehy's Willy Loman, in a 50th anniversary production ofDeath of a Salesman, which earned her a Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play in 1999.
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Franz's spin on theDeath of a Salesmancharacter marked a departure from the character's typically defeated demeanor. She took a more assertive — and more sensual — approach, earning high praise from playwright Arthur Miller.
In a 1999Timesfeature about the 50th anniversary production — which won four Tonys, including Franz's — Miller said that Franz had "discovered in the role the basic underlying powerful protectiveness, which comes out as fury, and that in the past, in every performance I know of, was simply washed out."
On Linda and Willy's "sexual bond," as Franz once described it in an interview, the lateDeath of a Salesmanplaywright toldThe Times: "I always assumed was there, but here it is far more emphasized — correctly."
Elaborating on the bond, which she brought to the forefront with her memorable performance, Franz toldThe Timesit was something she couldn't deny. "You can say anything because you know in the end you're going be in that bed, curled up and having the most wonderful conversations," she said of the characters. "When she's curled up in his arms and she's singing to him — you can't tell me that isn't a very sexual moment."'
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While discussingDeath of a Salesmanfor the 1999Timesfeature, Franz also opened up about her upbringing in Akron, Ohio.
Her father was a tire factory worker and her mother was a waitress who suffered from mental illness. Her behavior frightened Franz during her childhood, she told the outlet. "My grandmother would hide me in her closet," she recalled at the time. " 'I remember holding onto my father and saying, 'She'll come back.' "
Alongside Dennehy, Franz later reprised the role of Linda in a TV adaptation ofDeath of a Salesmanin 2000. She earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for the reprisal.
Franz previously received a Tony nomination at the 1983 show for her performance asMatthew Broderick's onstage mother inBrighton Beach Memoirs. She later earned another nod at the 2002 ceremony forMorning's at Seven.
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Franz appeared in other Broadway productions throughout her career, includingThe Cherry Orchard,The Octette Bridge Club,The Cemetery Club,Getting MarriedandUncle Vanya.Her final role on Broadway was Aunt Ev inThe Miracle Worker, which ran from March to April 2010.
She also appeared in films, including the 1995Sabrinaremake andChristmas With the Kranks, and had various TV credits, including a memorable 2004 episode ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitand guest appearances onGilmore Girls,RoseanneandGrey's Anatomy. Her final onscreen role came in 2015 filmTake Me to the River.
In addition to Pelham, Franz is survived by her brother, Joe. She was previously married to famed character actor Edward Binns prior to his death in 1990.
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