Who was Lynne Marie Stewart? Miss Yvonne of 'Pee-Wee's Playhouse' dies at 78

Lynne Marie Stewart, who played the popular children's character Miss Yvonne on Pee-Wee's Playhouse, passed away at the age of 78.

Known for portraying bubbly characters and having a joyful personality, the actress passed away this past Friday (February 21, 2025) from a tumor growth found near her liver and gallbladder. It was an unexpected loss for her loved ones and her fans.

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Who was Lynne Marie Stewart?

Lynne Marie Stewart discovered her love for acting at Beverly Hills High School and later majored in the arts and theatre at L.A. City College. She honed her comedic skills by being part of a comedic troupe called Groundlings in the 70s, where she met Paul Reubens, the actor behind Pee Wee Herman.

According to her IMBD, her first role was in Drive, He Said in 1971, which was a directorial debut for Jack Nicholson. But it wasn't until her role as Miss Yvonne in Pee-wee Playhouse that she gained fame. Since then, she has been a regular in the Pee-Wee franchise.

Besides her devotion to the Pee-Wee series, the actress was part of quite a lot of prominent projects and had made an irreplaceable place for herself in the industry. She was also known for her roles in Tunnel Vision (1976), The Last Married Couple in America (1980), Pandemonium (1982), Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), Bridesmaids (2011), and so on, her latest being her recurring appearances on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, along with Charlie Day and Danny DeVito.

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Lynne Marie Stewart's Death

According to a representative of Stewart, Bette Smith, Stewart had been struggling with exhaustion before her diagnosis.

"This was totally unexpected, and she passed a month or so after her diagnosis," Smith said.

She also stated," Lynne was the most wonderful actress. She was a genius with her craft. The work was most important to her. She never cared about the money or fame. She was the kindest, most honorable person to know."

Her friends and co-stars honored her and her beautiful legacy on social media as well. Cassandra Peterson, who played Elvira in the film Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, posted on social media, announcing Lynne's passing, writing:

"My heart is breaking upon hearing the news of my dear friend Lynne Stewart’s passing. One of the kindest, sweetest, funniest women who ever lived. The iconic Miss Yvonne of Pee-wee’s Playhouse: She’ll always be 'the most beautiful woman in Puppetland.' 💔"

While Maya Rudolph, who shared the screen with the posthumous actress in the film Bridesmaids as her daughter, also shared a story of an autographed image of Lynne.

Her colorful personality and the wondrous characters she has played throughout her career will keep on bringing people joy, and her memory will continue to live on forever.