Lynne Marie Stewart, best known for her role as Miss Yvonne on Pee-wee’s Playhouse, has passed away at the age of 78. Her friends and colleagues, including Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) and Saturday Night Live alum Laraine Newman, confirmed the news on social media, remembering her as a kind and talented performer.
Peterson paid tribute to Stewart on Instagram, calling her “one of the kindest, sweetest, funniest women who ever lived.” She added, “The iconic Miss Yvonne of Pee-wee’s Playhouse: She’ll always be ‘the most beautiful woman in Puppetland’”.
Newman echoed similar sentiments, writing, “Lynne Stewart was truly an angel and brilliantly funny and an important part of our Groundlings family.”
Stewart, a Los Angeles native, was a longtime member of the Groundlings, the improv and sketch comedy troupe where she first met Paul Reubens, the creator of Pee-wee Herman. She was part of The Pee-wee Herman Show stage production in 1981, playing Miss Yvonne, a character she later reprised in Pee-wee’s Playhouse, which ran from 1986 to 1990.
She also appeared in several Pee-wee-related films, including Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985), Big Top Pee-wee (1988), and Pee-wee’s Big Holiday (2016). Although she did not portray Miss Yvonne in the films, she took on memorable roles such as Mother Superior and Zelda, a bearded lady, as per Extratv.com.
Following Reubens’ death in 2023 at age 70, fans of Pee-wee’s Playhouse mourned the loss of the duo whose on-screen chemistry had entertained generations of viewers.
Beyond Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Stewart built an impressive career in television and film. She had recurring roles on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Bonnie Kelly, the well-meaning but negligent mother of Charlie Kelly, a role she played from 2005 to 2023.
She also made guest appearances in classic TV series such as M*A*S*H, Laverne & Shirley, Night Court, The Golden Girls, and Raising Hope. Her film credits included American Graffiti (1973), The Running Man (1987), and Bridesmaids (2011), according to NJ.com.
Stewart remained active in the entertainment industry for decades, continuing to appear at fan conventions and reunions while staying connected to her beloved character, Miss Yvonne.
Her passing marks another loss for fans of Pee-wee Herman’s whimsical world, just months after Reubens’ death. As Newman said in her tribute, “The most beautiful girl in Puppetland has left us.”