Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Star Was 78

Lynne Marie Stewart, star of Pee-wee’s Playhouse and It’s At all times Sunny in Philadelphia, has reportedly died. She was 78.

Stewart’s dying was introduced by a buddy on Instagram on Friday, Feb. 21. 

“My coronary heart is breaking upon listening to the information of my pricey buddy @lynnestewart78 Lynne Stewart’s passing,” actress Cassandra “Elvira” Peterson wrote, alongside a photograph of Stewart embracing her and one other buddy. 

“One of many kindest, sweetest, funniest ladies who ever lived. The long-lasting Miss Yvonne of Pee-wee’s Playhouse. She’ll at all times be ‘essentially the most lovely lady in Puppetland.’ ”

Jonathan Stark, one other buddy of Stewart’s, shared the information on Fb, writing, “I misplaced a buddy at present. And the world misplaced an incredible soul. Lynne Marie Stewart is gone. Miss Yvonne, ‘The Most Stunning Lady in Puppetland.’ It appeared unattainable to me as I felt that her goodness and lightweight would reside ceaselessly. I’m past heartbroken.”

Stewart performed Miss Yvonne, The Most Stunning Lady in Puppetland, on Pee-wee’s Playhouse from 1986 to 1990 alongside star and creator Paul Reubens, who died in July 2023. She appeared in a number of different Pee-wee titles, together with Pee-wee’s Huge Journey (1985) and Huge Prime Pee-wee (1988).

The late actress first met Reubens within the Nineteen Seventies after becoming a member of the sketch comedy troupe the Groundlings, based mostly in Los Angeles, the place she was born and raised, per Additional. 

Stewart made her onscreen debut within the 1971 movie Drive, She Mentioned, in line with IMDB. She appeared in a number of movies and TV reveals in her profession, together with American Graffiti (1973), Laverne & Shirley (1977-1983), M*A*S*H (1975-1977), Life with Louie (1996-1997) and Arrested Improvement (2004). 

Stewart’s more moderen well-recognized position was as Charlie Kenny’s mom Bonnie, in It’s At all times Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-2023). This was additionally her final credited performing look, per IMDB.

Former solid member Mary Elizabeth Ellis wrote in tribute to Stewart on her Instagram Tales, “This lady. So beautiful, so humorous … I can’t imagine I obtained to know and work along with her after falling for her as a toddler watching Peewee. A lot of like to you Lynne Marie 💖.”

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Saturday Evening Reside star Maya Rudolph posted on her Instagram Tales a signed photograph from Stewart in honor of the late actress following the information of her dying.

Actor Drew Powell stated of Stewart on Instagram that she was “the kindest most affirming most supportive particular person I’ve come throughout.”

He added, “At all times in my nook. At all times beaming with positivity and love. What a legacy she leaves. We’ll miss her very a lot.”

PEOPLE has reached out to Stewart’s representatives for remark.