‘Going out and doing what she loved’

Tributes are pouring in for the late Linda Lavin following her death at the age of 87.

The Alice star died on Sunday, Dec. 29, PEOPLE confirmed, and her rep said she “passed unexpectedly due to complications from recently diagnosed lung cancer.”

Just before her death, Lavin had filmed several episodes of Mid-century modern with Nathan Lane and Matt Bomer, and both actors said they are “devastated” by her loss.

Lane told PEOPLE in a statement, calling her “a brilliant one-of-a-kind actress who could do comedy and drama with equal awareness and who made every day a joy to go to work,” Lane said to PEOPLE: “I feel so very lucky and grateful to finally get to act with her and for her to go out and do what she loved and still be at the top of her game.”

“I called her Mom on camera and off and will cherish the memory of sharing this happy time with such a beautiful and loving soul,” Lane, 68, added.

“I am deeply grateful to have been touched by the brilliance of Linda Lavin,” Bomer, 47, said in a statement to PEOPLE. “She is an icon, a phenomenal artist and a deeply caring person who will remain an inspiration to me and will be greatly missed by all of us. She did incredible work throughout her adult life and touched everyone who was lucky enough to know her. .”

“My heart goes out to her husband Steve and all her loved ones. Thank you, Mrs. Lavin, for showing us all the way to do that,” Bomer concluded.

Several of the minds behind the upcoming Hulu series, including producers Max Mutchnick and David Kohan and director and executive producer James Burrows, released a joint statement following Lavin’s death.

“Working with Linda was one of the highlights of our careers. She was a magnificent actress, singer, musician and a heat-seeking missile with a joke. But more significantly, she was a beautiful soul. Deep, happy, generous and loving,” they shared Rolling Stone. “She made our days better. The entire staff and crew will miss her immensely. We are better for having known her.”

Allison Janney and Sarah Paulson also paid tribute to Lavin, with whom they both worked.

“She was TV royalty, she was kind, generous and I was honored to play with her on (Mother) and also be able to call her a friend,” Janney wrote on Instagram in reference to the CBS sitcom. “Linda Lavin, you will be missed. Sending love to her family and friends. .”

Paulson wrote a lengthy tribute to Lavin as she reflected on the play they did together and a malfunction within the first five minutes of the show that the late actress effortlessly corrected.

“I faced Linda, she was facing the window – as I heard and she saw the window slowly close. With my heart pounding I stared at her… what the f— should we do? She looked at me, cool as could be and said, ‘why don’t you come back and we’ll start this again?'” Paulson recalled.

“She went over to the sill, got the window up and jammed again and I rushed off the stage and we started the play from the beginning. The audience went wild, roaring with laughter and applause. That was the epitome of why she was untouchable as a performer – she knew the audience had seen the window fall, so we couldn’t carry on as if it hadn’t – so we fixed it and started again – and they stayed with us.”

Paulson continued, “She was unable to deny reality, and because of that you knew you were always safe with her, in an audience, on stage with her, sitting across from her at dinner. Safe. I’m not sure I I’ve ever had someone more firmly in my corner reaching out after seeing something I was into and celebrating me like I was her own.

Lavin has also recently starred on Netflix No good deed, and the show’s creator Liz Feldman also paid tribute to her, writing on Instagram: “You were, as always, incredibly gracious, completely funny and pitch perfect. Ready to play and full of life. Your warmth and kindness was second to none. I just loved you. We all did .”

“I’m so glad I saw you a few weeks ago at the premiere and introduced you to my parents. They were happy to meet you. And my dad made it very clear to me that you were his favorite part of No good deed. He wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Thank you for letting me into your amazing lane. And for letting me spin with you for a while. .”

Several of her former co-stars have also reflected on her lasting influence in their lives, including her Space for two cstmate Patricia Heaton, who called Lavin “a true friend and a total force of nature” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“I just heard the news that my dear friend Linda Lavin passed away,” Heaton wrote. “Totally unexpected, even at the age of 87.”

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Joe Mantegna shared a selfie with her on Instagram, writing: “One of the rarest gifts in life is to have a ‘new’ old friend. Linda Lavin was that to me and my family. Rest in peace dear Linda.”

Wendell Pierce also wrote. He shared one photo by Lavin i Elizabeth on X and wrote alongside: “Linda Lavin was a consummate artist and professional. She starred with us this year on (Elizabeth) and gave a wonderful performance as we launched our show. From stage to screen, she was iconic. May angelic flights sing her to rest. TEAR.”