Lynne Marie Stewart

Lynne Marie Stewart (December 14, 1946 – February 21, 2025) was an American actress,^[1][2] widely known for her performance as Miss Yvonne,^[3] "the Most Beautiful Woman in Puppet Land." She originated the role in the 1981 stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show, continuing it on the CBS television show Pee-wee's Playhouse, the 2010 Los Angeles stage revival, and the Broadway production which opened in November 2010 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.^[4] Stewart was also known for her recurring role on the FX/FXX television series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Charlie Kelly's mother Bonnie.^[5][4]

Lynne Marie Stewart
Stewart in 2016
Born	(1946-12-14)December 14, 1946 Lynwood, California, U.S.
Died	February 21, 2025(2025-02-21) (aged 78) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1967–2025
Signature

Early life

Stewart was born in Lynwood, California, on December 14, 1946.^[6] Stewart majored in theater arts at Los Angeles City College, where she met her best friend, Cindy Williams.^[7][6]

Career

Stewart was a member of The Groundlings in the 1970s, and met both Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman there.^[8][9]

Stewart played several different nurses on the television series M*A*S*H.^[10] She had a small part in the 1973 film American Graffiti as Bobbie, who drove the car of girls who pick up Curt (Richard Dreyfuss) in one scene.^[11] She played a variety of characters on Laverne & Shirley.^[10] She provided Shirley's voice in the Saturday morning cartoon Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour and Laverne & Shirley in the Army.^[12] She worked with Tracey Ullman in specials for HBO and Showtime, including Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales and Tracey Ullman's State of the Union.^[10][7][13] Stewart appeared on Alice (American TV series) S2.E5 episode titled "Single Belles". She played a nun in a season six episode of The Golden Girls.^[14]

She was part of the cast of Pee-wee's Playhouse as Miss Yvonne "the Most Beautiful Woman in Puppet Land". Her character was especially flirty and known for providing steamy adult-like humor to the children's show.^[15] Miss Yvonne's character was a woman obsessed with beauty and cosmetics, who often flirts with Pee-wee and many of the other male characters on the show. Miss Yvonne is given the title "the most beautiful woman in Puppetland" by the puppet characters (especially Mr. Window who would usually introduce her). She wears a large brown bouffant-style wig that she doesn't like getting wet, gaudy dresses, and heels. She originated the role in the 1981 stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show, continuing it on the CBS television show Pee-wee's Playhouse, the 2010 Los Angeles stage revival, and the Broadway production which opened in November 2010 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.^[4]

Stewart was featured in Pee-wee's Big Adventure and Big Top Pee-wee. She appeared in films including The Running Man, Night Stand with Dick Dietrick, and Son of the Beach.^[10][16][17] She appeared in the 2011 film Bridesmaids

She appeared in Raising Hope, Marvin Marvin, Comedy Bang! Bang!.^[18] She guest-starred on Disney TV shows, including Austin & Ally and Good Luck Charlie in 2011.^[19] Also in 2011, at the Surflight Theatre, in New Jersey, she appeared in an all-female version of The Odd Couple, starring Cindy Williams and Jo Anne Worley.^[20]

Beginning in 2005 and until 2023, Stewart had a guest role as Charlie's mom, Bonnie Kelly, on the long-running, critically acclaimed series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, appearing in a total of 18 episodes.^[4][21]

Personal life and death

Stewart was never married nor had children. She and Reubens were active participants with the Make-a-Wish Foundation and often appeared in character as Miss Yvonne and Pee-wee to bring happiness to terminally ill children. She and Reubens remained "the closest of friends" until Reubens' death in 2023, with Stewart attending to Reubens shortly before he died.^[22]

Stewart died in Los Angeles on February 21, 2025, at the age of 78 from cancer, which was found near her liver and gallbladder.^[23][24][25]