Beth Howland, best known for playing waitress Vera on CBS’s Alice, died of lung cancer in Santa Monica on December 31, 2015, at age 74. Her husband, actor Charles Kimbrough, told the Associated Press about her death in May 2016. He said she had wanted no announcement or memorial service.
What happened to Beth Howland?
Howland was born in Boston on May 28, 1941, and died in Santa Monica, California, on December 31, 2015. Kimbrough told the Associated Press that lung cancer was the cause of death; the Washington Post also attributed that information to him. The death was reported publicly several months later.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Alice: The Complete First Season | $25.10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Alice: The Complete Second Season | $25.03 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Alice: The Complete Third Season | $26.42 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Alice: The Complete Fourth Season | $27.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Alice: The Complete Series Seasons 1-9 DVD Set | $299.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Kimbrough said Howland had chosen to keep her death private and did not want a funeral or memorial service. Asked about the absence of services, he told the AP: “That was her choice.”
Why was Beth Howland known as the ‘Alice’ star?
Howland played Vera, the good-natured, often naive waitress, on the CBS sitcom Alice. The Television Academy identifies Vera as her best-known role. The series ran from 1976 to 1985, with Linda Lavin as Alice, a waitress working at a Phoenix diner. It was based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
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#1 Best Overall
- Factory sealed DVD
Howland received four Golden Globe nominations for her performance on the show. Her television work also included appearances on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Rookies, Love, American Style, Eight Is Enough, Little House on the Prairie, and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, among other credits.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What else did Beth Howland do in her career?
Broadway and musical theater
Before and alongside her television career, Howland worked in theater. She played Amy in the original Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company, including the song “Getting Married Today.” The Television Academy also lists her theater credits in Once Upon a Mattress, Bye Bye Birdie, and Li’l Abner.
Documentary production
Howland co-founded Tiger Rose Productions with actress Jennifer Warren. The company produced You Don’t Have to Die, a 1988 HBO documentary about a boy with cancer. The film won the Academy Award for best short-subject documentary.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Alice Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Rank #4
- Factory sealed DVD
Rank #3
- Factory sealed DVD
Sources
- Television Academy biography and career overview
- Associated Press report carried by CBS News
- Washington Post obituary
- Internet Broadway Database entry
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