Fox News reports that the Tony Award-winning actress Rae Allen passed away at the age of 95.
Allen’s passing was confirmed by her longtime manager Kyle Fritz of Kyle Fritz Management.
Fritz revealed that Allen died on Wednesday morning as the result of natural causes. He said that she passed away in her sleep. She was in Los Angeles at the time.
“I had the pleasure of representing Rae Allen for over 20 years,” Fritz told Fox. “She is one the most gifted actresses I have ever had the honor of working with. I will be forever grateful to have been a part of her incredible journey.”
Remembering Allen
Allen, who was born Rae Julia Theresa Abruzzo, had an acting career that extended back to around 1950. After graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Artis in 1947, she headed directly to Broadway.
It wasn’t long thereafter that Allen won her first Tony award. She won the featured actress award for her role as reporter Gloria Thorpe in the 1955 musical Damn Yankees. Allen went on to play the same role in the film version that was released a few years later.
About a decade later, in 1967, Allen was nominated for yet another Tony Award, this time for her role in Traveler Without Luggage. Allen didn’t win that award, but she did win another Tony for best-featured actress in the early 1970s for her role in Miss Reardon Drinks a Little.
After this, Allen would go on to play roles in a large number of television shows.
Some examples include The Untouchables, The Patty Duke Show, All In the Family, Hill Street Blues, Soap, and Lou Grant. Allen also played roles in NYPD Blue, Grey’s Anatomy, Seinfeld, The Sopranos, and many, many others.
Memorials are expected
Allen is survived by her two nieces, Laura and Betty Cosgrove, her adopted family, and her close friends April Webster and Lisa Anne Gold, Deadline reports.
The outlet also reports that multiple memorial services for Allen are currently being planned. One is expected to take place on the west coast and another on the east coast.
The times have yet to be announced.
