Actress Lynne Marie Stewart suddenly dies at sister's California home

Fans of the hit 1980s show Pee-wee’s Playhouse and the more recent It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia were heartbroken to learn of the passing of a star from both shows.

According to the Daily Caller, iconic and beloved actress Lynne Marie Stewart, who also appeared in American Graffiti, suddenly died at her sister's California home last week. She was 78.

Her talent manager, Bette Smith, confirmed to TMZ that Stewart was told she had a tumor between her liver and her gall bladder in December.

"She was the most talented and funny and most honorable person I have ever known," Smith said of her client.

Lynne Marie Stewart, the member of renowned comedy troupe The Groundlings known for roles as Charlie's Mom on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Pee-Wee's Playhouse's Miss Yvonne, has died aged 78. pic.twitter.com/XxFsBOzYEb

— IGN (@IGN) February 22, 2025

Tributes to the late television and film star poured in across social media, with several major names expressing their condolences while sharing memories of working with Stewart.

Hollywood was stunned to hear of the actress's passing.

"Gonna miss Lynne. Lynne Marie Stewart…So wonderful a spirit to work with on Sunny! All love to her family," actor Danny DeVito wrote on X. They worked together on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

"My heart is breaking upon hearing the news of my dear friend Lynne Stewart’s passing. One of the kindest, sweetest, funniest women who ever lived. The iconic Miss Yvonne of Pee-wee’s Playhouse: She’ll always be ‘the most beautiful woman in Puppetland’. 💔,” Cassandra Peterson wrote on X.

The Daily Caller noted:

The talented actress had just under 150 credits to her name. Her long list of roles includes several installments of the “Pee-wee” series, including “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” and “Big Top Pee-wee.” She appeared in “The Running Man,” made multiple appearances in  “M*A*S*H” and “Laverne & Shirley,” and had guest spots in dozens of other television series.

The outelet added:

She appeared in “Bridesmaids” as Maya Rudolph’s mother, and was an animated voice performer in “The Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour,” “A Pup Named Scooby-Doo” and “Batman: The Animated Series.”

Fans of Stewart also weighed in on her sudden and saddening death.

"I got to meet her and talk to her for a bit at the opening of Pee-Wee's Broadway show in LA in 2009. She was super sweet and kind. Rest In Peace to the most beautiful woman in Puppetland," one X user wrote.

Another X user wrote, "Comedy lost a real one."