Noted actress Lynne Marie Stewart, who endeared herself to viewers as Miss Yvonne on “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” and as Charlie Kelly’s mother on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” passed away on February 21, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. She was 78 years old.
The actress’s representative, Bette Smith, confirmed that Stewart’s death came about two months after the detection of a tumor. “She had just finished filming the movie ‘The Dink’ and ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’,” Smith reported in a statement. “That was mid-Dec. She was exhausted, so she went to the doc, and to everyone’s shock, she had a tumor between the liver and gallbladder. She went very quickly.”
The unexpected diagnosis came shortly after Stewart finished her final projects. The director of her last film delivered a cut for Stewart and her family to view the day before her passing.
“That was so kind, and it was nice for everyone to see her last work,” Smith added. “Lynne was such a talent. All she cared about was the art, not pay or fame. She was the kindest and most honorable person I have ever known.”
Actress Cassandra “Elvira” Peterson first shared the news of Stewart’s passing on social media, offering a heartwarming tribute to her late friend. Peterson praised Stewart as one of the kindest and funniest individuals she had ever known, lovingly referring to her as the iconic Miss Yvonne from “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.” She stated that Stewart will always be remembered as “the most beautiful woman in Puppetland.”
Stewart, born in Los Angeles, California, in 1946, started her acting career in the early 1970s. Her first screen appearance was in the 1971 film “Drive, He Said.” Over six decades, she accumulated nearly 150 credits in film, television, and voice acting.
In the 1970s, Stewart joined the influential Los Angeles-based improv comedy troupe The Groundlings. Here, she met Paul Reubens, the creator of the Pee-wee Herman character. This partnership eventually led to her iconic role.
Stewart first portrayed Miss Yvonne in the 1981 stage production of “The Pee-wee Herman Show.” She then brought the character to the small screen in “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” which aired on CBS from 1986 to 1990.
Stewart’s involvement with the Pee-wee universe extended to related productions, including “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” (1985) and “Big Top Pee-wee” (1988). She was the only person, apart from Reubens, to appear in all three Pee-wee Herman movies and the TV series.
Stewart’s extensive filmography includes roles in George Lucas’s “American Graffiti” (1973) and appearances in “M*A*S*H” (1975-1977), “Laverne & Shirley” (1977-1983), and “Arrested Development” (2004).
In more recent times, Stewart became known to a new generation of viewers as Bonnie Kelly, mother of Charlie Day’s character, in the FX/FXX comedy series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” She appeared in 18 episodes of the series between 2005 and 2023.
Tributes flowed in from former colleagues and co-stars following the news of her passing. Mary Elizabeth Ellis, a fellow “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” cast member, expressed her sentiments on social media: “This woman. So lovely, so funny… I can’t believe I got to know and work with her after falling for her as a child watching Peewee.”
Stewart’s passing comes less than a year after the death of her longtime friend and colleague Reubens, who succumbed to cancer in July 2023. The two maintained a close friendship throughout their careers.
Besides her acting career, Stewart was known for her charitable endeavors. She and Reubens were active with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, often appearing as Miss Yvonne and Pee-wee to bring joy to terminally ill children.
Stewart never married or had children, according to reports. She is survived by her sister, Gayle.
