Legendary Actress Elaine Stritch Dies at Age 89

Elaine Stritch-who played Jack Donaghy's mother Colleen on "30 Rock"-died today at age 89.

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Elaine Stritch—whose work in show business stretched across eight decades and touched pretty much every form of entertainment—died this morning at her Michigan home. She was 89 years old.

Known for her raspy voice and acerbic style, Stritch is likely best known to a younger generation as the rude, overbearing mother of Alec Baldwin’s Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock. She was never shy about her fondness for partying (“I drink and I love to drink, and it’s part of my life,” she said in 1968) and was an off-and-on smoker her entire life, yet these vices always added an air of charisma and mystique to her that made her performances that much more enjoyable.

Her 2001 one woman show Elaine Stritch: At Liberty earned her numerous critical accolades and was a huge hit on Broadway, and over the course of her career Stritch earned five Tony Award nominations, won three Emmy awards, and was nominated for one Grammy. She even appeared on The Cosby Show as Rudy Huxtable’s teacher.

Baldwin took to Twitter this afternoon to touchingly pay tribute to his former costar:

I'm sure that even God is a bit nervous right now. I love you, Elaine. http://t.co/P3wQtnqsmV

As did Anna Kendrick:

Elaine Stritch man. Hell of a performer, spirit and woman. This one really hurts. Today's work is for you ma'am. Crazy love.

A giant of stage and screen, Stritch will be missed. RIP.

[via NYT]

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