Carlin Glynn – Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Sixteen Candles star – passes away at 83 from dementia and cancer confirms daughter Mary Stuart Masterson
The acting world is in mourning on Thursday after the death of actress Carlin Glynn at the age of 83.
Her daughter – actress Mary Stuart Masterson – confirmed the news in an Instagram post, revealing that she was suffering from both dementia and cancer at the time of her July 13 death.
“On Thursday, July 13, my mother, Carlin Glynn Masterson, passed away. I was with her. I’ll always be grateful for those last moments, no matter how hard,’ Mary began.
“Death is like birth in the strangest way. From my first breath to her last. This thread is as fragile as it is strong,’ she began.
“She was the most graceful, awkward person you would ever meet. Strong, smart, foolish, intuitive, kind, generous, passionate and a deep listener. She was devoted to my father and to the vast circle of students and staff who were considered her chosen family,” Mary continued.
Passing on: The acting world is in mourning on Thursday with the death of actress Carlin Glynn at the age of 83
Carlin: Her daughter – actress Mary Stuart Masterson – confirmed the news in an Instagram post, revealing she was suffering from both dementia and cancer at the time of her July 13 death
She shared a flashback to her mother, along with a stanza from Seamus Heaney’s poem, Clearances, and a more recent photo, which she described.
“The last photo is from her 80th birthday party, before the worst forms of dementia and cancer took their toll,” she said.
She never lost her sense of joy or wonder. The silly man in the picture with her is my dear brother. Rest in peace, Mama,’ she concluded.
Carlin Glynn was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but grew up in Houston, Texas before moving to New York City to pursue her acting dreams.
She studied at The Actors Studio under legendary teachers Stella Adler and Wynn Handman, though she eventually moved back to Houston where she met her future husband, playwright Peter Masterson.
After they got married, they moved back to New York for Masterson to pursue his career, though Glynn left the company to raise their three children, Mary Stuart Masterson, Alexandra Masterson, and Peter Masterson, Jr.
After coming across a Playboy article, Masterson began writing what would become the smash hit Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with the article’s writer, Carol Hall.
He eventually persuaded his wife Carlin to retire and made her Broadway debut at age 39 as Chicken Ranch madame Mona Stanglely.
Throwback: A throwback snap of Carlin Glynn shared by her daughter Mary Stuart Masterson
Poem: She also shared a stanza from Seamus Heaney’s poem, Clearances
Family: After they got married, they moved back to New York for Masterson to pursue his career, though Glynn (far left) left the company to raise their three children, Mary Stuart Masterson (center left), Alexandra Masterson, and Peter Masterson, Jr. (middle right)
Tony winner: The performance earned Glynn a Tony Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical and relaunched her acting career
Sixteen: She played Brenda Baker, the mother of Molly Ringwald, in the 1984 classic Sixteen Candles, The Trip to Bountiful (directed by Peter Masterson) and Night Game
The performance earned Glynn a Tony Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical and relaunched her acting career.
She played Brenda Baker, Molly Ringwald’s mother, in the 1984 classic Sixteen Candles, The Trip to Bountiful (directed by Peter Masterson), and Night Game.
Her last appearance was in a 2006 episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 60 years Peter Masterson, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 84.