Portland, Maine, Native Linda Lavin, Deering High School Graduate, Star of ‘Alice’ Dies at 87

Linda Lavin, born in Portland, Maine has passed away at the age of 87 due to lung cancer, according to apnews.com

Before Phoenix, Portland was Alice's Home

If you grew up in the 70's, chances are, you watched Alice on TV.  The show, set in Phoenix, Arizona, ran from 1976 to 1985, according to the IMDB, and Linda was the star.

Linda was born on October 15, 1937 and lived at 96 Clinton Street in Portland, according to portlandmonthly.com.  Her Mother was an opera singer and according to the article, she remembers singing three part harmony with her and her sister Jocelyn.

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Linda's Mother, Lucille, was a local celebrity.  Lucille had a radio show on WCSH.  WCSH is now known as NBC TV affiliate, News Center Maine, but it was a radio station at one point.  WCSH radio is now WZAN radio, according to mab.org. 

Linda Lavin Did Not Get the Part of Alice

During her time here in Maine, Linda didn't always get the lead role.  She was in "Alice in Wonderland" at Waynflete School in Portland, however, she did not get the title role of Alice.  She was the White Rabbit.  Ironic that Linda Lavin, who would go on to become the most famous TV Alice, originally didn't get the part of a character with the same name while in school.

Linda also performed in many plays and graduated from Deering High School.  The article from portlandmonthly.com states that she did come back to the area to visit when the weather was nice.

The TV Show 'Alice' was one of my favorites growing up.  Alice took a chance on herself and ended up loving the family she created.