Jan Maxwell, one of the great Broadway stars, has died at age 61 from cancer according to reports. Twitter is starting to fill with tributes. Maxwell was last seen on Broadway in 2012 in “Follies.” I fell in love with her in when she was in the great Cy Coleman musical “City of Angels” in the early 90s.
She was nominated for the Tony Award FIVE times. In the last few years she’d also had back to back successes in “The Royal Family” and “Lend Me a Tenor.” She was nominated for Best Actress in a Play AND in a Musical for those two shows in 2010. Elegant, glamorous, Maxwell was an effortless success in both musicals and plays.
In 2006, she left the off Broadway production of “Entertaining Mr. Sloane” when she couldn’t take Alec Baldwin’s behavior. Maxwell said Baldwin “created an unhealthy and oppressive situation [that made her fear for her] physical safety, mental health and artistic integrity.” Baldwin denied the behavior and asked her to return. She declined.
This is really terrible. I was counting on Jan Maxwell to take us into the next 20 years of Broadway. She was just great. Condolences to her family and friends and many, many fans.
