Elizabeth Franz, the Tony Award-winning actress best known for playing inn owner Mia in *Gilmore Girls*, has passed away at the age of 84.
Franz died on November 4 at her home in Woodbury, Connecticut, her husband, Christopher Pelham, confirmed to *The New York Times* over the weekend. According to Pelham, her cause of death was cancer combined with a severe reaction to her treatment medication. The Post has reached out to Franz’s representative for further comment.
Franz enjoyed a prolific career on stage, appearing in numerous on- and off-Broadway productions such as *Buried Child*, *Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You*, *Lost in Yonkers*, and *A View from the Bridge*. One of her most celebrated roles was Linda Loman, the wife of Brian Dennehy’s Willy Loman, in the 50th anniversary Broadway production of Arthur Miller’s *Death of a Salesman*.
Her portrayal of Linda earned her the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play in 1999. Reflecting on the role, Franz once said, “You can say anything because you know in the end you’re going be in that bed, curled up and having the most wonderful conversations. When she’s curled up in his arms and she’s singing to him, you can’t tell me that isn’t a very sexual moment.”
Arthur Miller himself praised Franz’s performance, stating she “has discovered in the role the basic underlying powerful protectiveness, which comes out as fury, and that in the past, in every performance I know of, was simply washed out.”
Franz later starred in Showtime’s 2000 TV movie adaptation of *Death of a Salesman*, a role that earned her an Emmy nomination.
In addition to her 1999 Tony win, Franz received Tony nominations in 1983 for *Brighton Beach Memoirs*, where she played Matthew Broderick’s onstage mother, and again in 2002 for *Morning’s at Seven*, portraying the youngest of four Midwest sisters.
On television, Franz is remembered for her role as Mia Bass, the owner of the Independence Inn in Stars Hollow, in a Season 2 episode of *Gilmore Girls*. The role was later recast, with Kathy Baker taking over for an episode in Season 7.
Her other notable TV credits include appearances on *Grey’s Anatomy*, *Judging Amy*, *Cold Case*, *Law & Order*, *Law & Order: SVU*, and *Homeland*.
Franz also acted in several films, including *School Ties*, *Sabrina*, *Twisted*, *A Fish in the Bathtub*, and *Christmas with the Kranks*.
Before marrying Christopher Pelham, Franz was married to fellow actor Edward Binns until his death in 1990.
Elizabeth Franz is survived by her husband Christopher Pelham and her brother Joe.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/16/entertainment/elizabeth-franz-gilmore-girls-star-tony-award-winner-dies-at-84/
