Carlin Elizabeth Glynn (February 19, 1940 – July 13, 2023) was an American singer and actress. Most notable for her work as a theater performer, she is best known for her Tony Award-winning performance, as Mona Stangley, in the original 1978 production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She is also known for her roles in John Hughes' Sixteen Candles (1984) and Peter Masterson's The Trip to Bountiful (1985), which is based on the play of the same name, by Horton Foote. Glynn was the mother of actress Mary Stuart Masterson.
Carlin Glynn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Carlin Elizabeth Glynn February 19, 1940 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | July 13, 2023 (aged 83) New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Newcomb College |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1975–2006 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, including Mary Stuart Masterson |
Early life
Glynn was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She attended Mirabeau B. Lamar High School in Houston, Texas.[1][2]
Career
A life member of The Actors Studio,[3] Glynn made her belated but Tony-winning Broadway debut - as 1979's Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - portraying "Mona Stangley" in the original production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,[1] a musical comedy adapted by Glynn's husband and fellow Studio member, Peter Masterson, from a non-fiction article published in Playboy, in collaboration with the article's author, Larry L. King, and songwriter Carol Hall, and developed at length in workshop performances at the Studio.[4] Glynn's award-winning performance would be reprised in the 1982 revival.[5]
Glynn's first movie appearance was as Mae Barber in Three Days of the Condor (1975). She is also known for her role as mother to Molly Ringwald's character in Sixteen Candles (1984), and as daughter-in-law to Geraldine Page's character in The Trip to Bountiful (1985), directed by her husband.
Other film credits include roles in Resurrection (1980), Continental Divide (1981), The Escape Artist (1982), Gardens of Stone (1987; in which her husband and daughter also had roles), Blood Red (1989), Night Game (1989), Convicts (1991), Judy Berlin (1999) and Whiskey School (2005).
Death
Carlin Glynn Masterson died at her home in upstate New York on July 13, 2023, aged 83. She had lung cancer and dementia.[6][7][8]
Mary Stuart Masterson announced her mother's death on Instagram:[9]
On Thursday, July 13th, my mother, Carlin Glynn Masterson, passed away. I was with her. I will always be grateful for those last moments, no matter how hard.
Death is like birth in the oddest way. From my first breath to her last. This thread is as fragile as it is strong.
She was the most graceful clumsy person you would ever meet. Strong, smart, silly, intuitive, kind, generous, passionate and a deep listener. She was devoted to my father and to the enormous circle of students and collaborators who were considered her chosen family.
The stanza is from Seamus Heaney's poem, Clearances.
The last photo is from her 80th birthday party, before the worst of dementia and cancer took their toll. She never lost her sense of joy or wonder. The silly guy pictured with her is my dear brother @seppisigh
Rest in peace, mommy.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Three Days of the Condor | Mae Barber | |
| 1980 | Resurrection | Suzy Kroll | |
| 1981 | Continental Divide | Sylvia McDermott | |
| 1982 | The Escape Artist | Treasurer's Secretary | |
| 1984 | Sixteen Candles | Brenda Baker | |
| 1985 | The Trip to Bountiful | Jessie Mae | |
| 1987 | Gardens of Stone | Mrs. Feld | |
| 1989 | Coyote Mountain | Mother | Short |
| 1989 | Blood Red | Miss Jeffreys | |
| 1989 | Night Game | Alma | |
| 1991 | Convicts | Asa | |
| 1994 | Blessing | Arlene | |
| 1996 | Red Sky at Night | — | Consulting editor |
| 1999 | Judy Berlin | Maddie | |
| 2002 | West of Here | Sally Blackwell | Also co-producer |
| 2003 | Lost Junction | Waitress | |
| 2005 | Whiskey School | Pamela Evans |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Johnny Garage | Harriet | TV movie |
| 1987 | Mr. President | Meg Tresch | Season 1 (main role, 10 episodes) |
| 1991 | A Woman Named Jackie | Lady Bird Johnson | Miniseries (2 episodes) |
| 1992 | Day-O | Margaret DeGeorgio | TV movie |
| 1996 | Strange Luck | Marilyn Harper | Season 1 (guest role, 1 episode) |
| 2005 | The Exonerated | Judge | TV movie |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Ella Quinn | Season 5 (guest role, 1 episode) |
References
External links
- Peter Masterson and Carlin Glynn Papers at the Harry Ransom Center
- Carlin Glynn at the Internet Broadway Database
- Carlin Glynn at IMDb
- Carlin Glynn discography at Discogs
