Beloved ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse’ Star Lynne Marie Stewart Dies at 78

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As a movie enthusiast, I’m saddened to share that Lynne Marie Stewart, who graced our screens with memorable roles in shows like “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” has left us at the age of 78. This heartbreaking news was confirmed by her friend Cassandra Peterson on Instagram yesterday.

As a born-and-bred Angeleno, I embarked on my comedic journey with the LA-based troupe “The Groundlings”. It was there that I crossed paths with Peterson and my future partner in crime, Paul Reubens, from “Pee-wee” fame.

Her initial television journey involved playing multiple nurse characters on “M*A*S*H”, making a guest appearance on “Night Court” and recurring roles on “Laverne & Shirley”. In 1973, she had a short-lived role as a driver in “American Graffiti”, and in 1987, she featured in the action-packed movie “The Running Man” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

During her early TV stints, she portrayed various nurses on “M*A*S*H”, made a guest appearance on “Night Court” and was a recurring character on “Laverne & Shirley”. In 1973, she played a brief driver role in “American Graffiti”, and in 1987, she appeared in the Arnold Schwarzenegger action-packed film titled “The Running Man”.

Stewart became particularly famous for portraying Miss Yvonne, “the Most Gorgeous Woman of Puppetland,” which debuted on the 1981 Broadway adaptation of “The Pee-wee Herman Show.” Over the years, she continued to embody this character in various films and television shows. From 1986 to 1990, she played Miss Yvonne in five seasons of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” as well as in the movies “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” and “Big Top Pee-wee.

Beyond her recurring character as Bonnie, Charlie Kelly’s mother in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Stewart has had a long career in comedy. This encompassed collaborations with Tracey Ullman on HBO and Showtime sketch comedy specials, a six-episode arc on “Comedy Bang! Bang!”, and numerous voice acting roles across various projects.

Peterson posted on Instagram about the sad news of Lynne Stewart’s passing, one of the kindest, sweetest, and funniest people he had ever known. Known as Miss Yvonne from ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse,’ she will forever be remembered as ‘the most beautiful woman in Puppetland.’ My heart is heavy with grief,” reads his post.

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Today, I lost a cherished friend. The world has also lost an exceptional spirit,” expressed Jonathan Stark in a Facebook post, speaking about Lynne Marie Stewart. “Lynne Marie Stewart is no more; she was fondly known as Miss Yvonne, ‘The Most Beautiful Woman in Puppetland.’ It’s hard for me to accept this reality, as I thought her kindness and radiance would endure forever. I am utterly devastated.

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2025-02-22 22:46