Lynne Marie Stewart

Lynne Marie Stewart (December 14, 1946 – February 21, 2025) was an American actress. She was widely known for her performance as Miss Yvonne, "the Most Beautiful Woman in Puppet Land," originating the role in the 1981 stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show. She continued to play Miss Yvonne on the CBS television show Pee-wee's Playhouse, the 2010 Los Angeles stage revival, and the Broadway production which opened in November 2010 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. Stewart was also known for her recurring role on the FX/FXX television series, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Charlie Kelly's mother, Bonnie. Stewart majored in theater arts at Los Angeles City College, where she met her best friend, Cindy Williams.

Stewart played several different nurses on the television series M*A*S*H. She had a small part in the 1973 film American Graffiti as Bobbie, who drove the car of girls who pick up Curt (Richard Dreyfuss) in one scene. She played a variety of characters on Laverne & Shirley. She worked with Tracey Ullman in specials for HBO and Showtime, including Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales and Tracey Ullman's State of the Union. Stewart appeared in the Alice episode titled "Single Belles". She played a nun in a season six episode of The Golden Girls.

She was part of the cast of Pee-wee's Playhouse as Miss Yvonne "the Most Beautiful Woman in Puppet Land". Her character was especially flirty and known for providing steamy adult-like humor to the children's show. Miss Yvonne's character was a woman obsessed with beauty and cosmetics, who often flirts with Pee-wee and many of the other male characters on the show. Miss Yvonne is given the title "the most beautiful woman in Puppetland" by the puppet characters (especially Mr. Window who would usually introduce her). She wears a large brown bouffant-style wig that she doesn't like getting wet, gaudy dresses, and heels. She originated the role in the 1981 stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show, continuing it on the CBS television show Pee-wee's Playhouse, the 2010 Los Angeles stage revival, and the Broadway production which opened in November 2010 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.

Stewart was featured in Pee-wee's Big Adventure and Big Top Pee-wee. She appeared in films and TV series including The Running Man, Night Stand with Dick Dietrick, and Son of the Beach. She appeared in the 2011 film Bridesmaids.

She appeared in Raising Hope, Marvin Marvin, and Comedy Bang! Bang!. She guest-starred on Disney TV shows, including Austin & Ally and Good Luck Charlie in 2011. Also in 2011, at the Surflight Theatre, in New Jersey, she appeared in an all-female version of The Odd Couple, starring Cindy Williams and Jo Anne Worley.

Beginning in 2005 and until 2025, Stewart had a guest role as Charlie's mom, Bonnie Kelly, on the long-running, critically acclaimed series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, appearing in a total of 19 episodes. The season finale of Season 17, in which Stewart made her final appearance as Bonnie, aired posthumously and was dedicated to her.

Personal life Stewart never married or had any children. She and Paul Reubens were active participants with the Make-a-Wish Foundation and often appeared in character as Miss Yvonne and Pee-wee to bring happiness to terminally ill children. She and Reubens remained "the closest of friends" until Reubens' death in 2023, with Stewart attending to Reubens shortly before he died.

Death Stewart died in Los Angeles on February 21, 2025, at the age of 78 from cancer, which was found near her liver and gallbladder.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1971 Drive, He Said Cheerleader 1973 American Graffiti Bobbie Your Three Minutes Are Up Ibis Lady 1975 I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?Unknown 1976 Tunnel Vision Marie 1977 I Never Promised You a Rose Garden The Sisters Cracking Up Kiamoka Wang 1978 Loose Shoes Budget Attendant 1980 The Last Married Couple in America Receptionist 1982 Pandemonium Stewardess Young Doctors in Love Nurse Thatcher 1984 Weekend Pass Sookie Lane 1985 Pee-wee's Big Adventure Mother Superior 1986 Children of a Lesser God Announcer Jumpin' Jack Flash Karen 1987 Summer School Student The Running Man Edith Wiggins 1988 Moving Mrs. Seeger Big Top Pee-wee Zelda the Bearded Lady Elvira: Mistress of the Dark Bartender Rain Man Voice 1989 Driving Miss Daisy Additional voice The 'Burbs Voice-over actor 1990 Payback Dispatcher 1992 Double Trouble Policewoman 1994 Clear and Present Danger Greer's Secretary The Crazysitter The Vagrant Twin Sitters Homeless Woman Independence Day Woman Without a Child Short film 1996 Dunston Checks In Cucumber Woman 1999 Valerie Flake Aunt Gloria Silicon Towers Landlady Guinevere Nurse 2002 Enough Waitress 2003 Beethoven's 5thRose CarterDirect-to-video 2004 Meet the Fockers ADR voice 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover Roberta 2006 Barnyard Additional characters (voice) 2007 Judy Toll: The Funniest Woman You've Never Heard Of Herself Documentary 2011 Bridesmaids Lillian's Mom 2013 Sparks Sparks Grandmother We've Got Balls Grandma Jean 2014 Bingo Night Ethel Short film 2016 Other People Livia Hickey Shirley Pee-wee's Big Holiday Jimmy Izzie's Way Home Clara (voice) Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders Aunt Harriet (voice) 2017 Woman Child Marcy Winecott Short film Batman vs. Two-Face Aunt Harriet (voice) Direct-to-video 2026 The Dink Judy Final film role; Posthumous release

Television