Elizabeth’s husband, Christopher Pelham, confirms to The New York Times that his wife passed away at home in Woodbury, Connecticut, after battling cancer and suffering a severe reaction to her treatment.

The news has left the theater community, TV fans, and former co-stars heartbroken over the loss of a true force in American acting.

Unforgettable portrayal
Elizabeth Franz wasn’t just a performer, she was a powerhouse.
Among colleagues, she was sometimes referred to as “America’s Judi Dench” — and that’s no small compliment.

Theatergoers in New York first took notice of Franz in the Off-Broadway production of Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You, where she portrayed a sharp-tongued Catholic nun with fierce convictions.