Acclaimed Performer Elizabeth Franz Loses Battle with Cancer

Renowned actress Elizabeth Franz has sadly passed away at the age of 84. Her husband, screenwriter Christopher Pelham, confirmed that she died on November 4, 2025, following a battle with cancer.

Elizabeth Franz first graced the stage in 1967 and went on to have a distinguished acting career. She was honored with a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her work. Before her acting career took off, she worked as a secretary until she had saved enough money to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Franz is fondly remembered for her role as Mia Bass, the proprietor of the Independence Inn, in the beloved TV series Gilmore Girls. She served as a maternal figure and mentor to the show's protagonist, Lorelai, when she fled to Stars Hollow. Additionally, Franz starred in numerous stage productions, including Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors.

In 1999, Franz portrayed the iconic role of Linda Loman in the 50th anniversary production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, a performance that earned her critical acclaim and an Emmy nomination. Miller himself praised her portrayal, stating that she had accomplished what many other actresses had not.

Beyond her stage and television work, Franz also appeared in the film Christmas with the Kranks and had roles in the soap operas Another World and As the World Turns. Her passing has been met with an outpouring of tributes from admirers, who remember her as a talented and beloved performer.