Broadway has lost one of its brightest stars.
Elizabeth Franz — the Tony Award–winning actress cherished by theatergoers and familiar to millions of TV viewers as Mia on Gilmore Girls — has passed away at 84.
Cancer Battle
Elizabeth’s husband, Christopher Pelham, confirmed to The New York Times that she died at home in Woodbury, Connecticut, after battling cancer and experiencing severe complications from treatment. Her passing has left the theater community, television fans, and former co-stars mourning the loss of a truly remarkable talent.
An Unforgettable Performer
Elizabeth Franz was more than a performer; she was a powerhouse.
Colleagues often called her “America’s Judi Dench,” a tribute to her skill and presence on stage.
The New York theater scene first took notice of Franz in the Off-Broadway production of Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You, where she played a sharp-tongued Catholic nun with unshakable convictions.
She originated the role herself, earning an Obie Award in the process — and even winning over several real-life nuns who initially came to protest the show but stayed to chat with her.
“We ran for two years off-Broadway, but made so little money — it was $42 a week, I remember. I was going to have to leave it, because I needed money to live. Then a soap opera came through, so I was able to work all day on that and carry on with the play in the evening,” Franz once recalled.
Her portrayal of Linda Loman in the 1999 Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman, opposite Brian Dennehy, won her the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. Critics praised the emotional depth of her performance, calling it one of the most moving interpretations of the character. Even Arthur Miller applauded her work, saying she “discovered… the powerful protectiveness [in Linda] which comes out as fury,” something he felt had been “washed out” in previous performances. She later reprised the role for Showtime’s 2000 adaptation, earning an Emmy nomination.
A Six-Decade Career Across Stage, Film, and TV
On Broadway, she starred in classics including:
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Morning’s at Seven
The Cherry Orchard
The Miracle Worker
Uncle Vanya
On film, she appeared in:
Jacknife (with Robert De Niro)
Sabrina (with Harrison Ford)
Christmas with the Kranks (with Jamie Lee Curtis)
And on television, she was remembered for:
Gilmore Girls (as Mia)
Grey’s Anatomy
Law & Order / SVU
Homeland
Judging Amy
Cold Case
Even in small roles, she brought warmth, wisdom, and quiet emotional power.
A Childhood Marked by Hardship
Born in Akron, Ohio, in 1941, Franz grew up in a working-class family. Her father worked in a tire factory, while her mother struggled with mental illness. Franz recalled that her mother would disappear for months at a time.
Her father, loyal to his employer for decades, was devastated after losing his job following 36 years of service. The loss shattered him. One day, after an emotional episode in the garden, he suffered a stroke and never fully recovered.
Franz’s challenging upbringing made her realize that acting could be a refuge — a space to express emotions she had to bottle up as a child. She discovered her passion early and later graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
Personal Life
She was married twice — first to actor Edward Binns, who passed away in 1990, and later to Christopher Pelham, who remained by her side until her death. She is survived by Pelham and her brother, Joe.
Whether on Broadway or as the nurturing Mia on Gilmore Girls, Elizabeth Franz brought honesty and humanity to every role she played. Her legacy lives on through her unforgettable performances, the characters she embodied, and the stories she helped tell.
Rest in peace to a true legend of stage and screen.