Carlin Glynn, a Tony Award-winning actress and singer known for her role as Brenda Baker within the 1984 hit “Sixteen Candles” and the Broadway smash “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” died July 13, she was 83.
Glynn died of complications from dementia and cancer, in keeping with Deadline.
Her daughter, director and actress Mary Stuart Masterson, confirmed the news on Instagram.
“She was essentially the most graceful clumsy person you’d ever meet,” Masterson wrote in a heartfelt post. “Strong, smart, silly, intuitive, kind, generous, passionate and a deep listener.”
The post continued, “She was dedicated to my father and to the big circle of scholars and collaborators who were considered her chosen family.”
The Post reached out to Masterson’s representatives for comment.
Masterson included a carousel of photos of her mom within the post, the last one in all her wearing a crown and embracing her son, Peter Masterson Jr.
“The last photo is from her eightieth party, before the worst of dementia and cancer took their toll,” her daughter wrote. “She never lost her sense of joy or wonder.”
Glynn was born Feb. 19, 1940, in Cleveland and raised in Houston where she attended the Mirabeau B. Lamar High School, per her bio on IMDb.
After highschool, she moved to Recent York to review on the Actors Studio, in keeping with Deadline, after which moved back to Houston, where she met her husband, actor and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” playwright Peter Masterson.
They married in 1960 and moved back to Recent York City.
She made her acting debut as Mae Barber within the 1975 film “Three Days of the Condor,” opposite Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway.
But on the large screen, Glynn was best remembered for the movie “Sixteen Candles,” wherein she played the mother of oft-ignored teen Samantha Baker, portrayed by Molly Ringwald.
In 1978, her husband debuted the Broadway hit “Best Little Whorehouse,” which he co-wrote with creator Larry King in collaboration with legendary songwriter Carol Hall. The show was based on a 1974 article written by King in regards to the real brothel in La Grange, Texas.
Glynn played the character Miss Mona Stangley, who was the madam within the show’s setting of Gilbert, Texas.
Originally, though, Glynn recalled that she was only an element of the show to “help out” at first, fearing her connection as Masterson’s wife could raise eyebrows.
“I initially worked on the play only to assist out,” Glynn said in a July 1978 interview with the Recent York Times. “Peter was hesitant to force his wife on his collaborators. Finally, all 4 of the organizations who desired to take the show to Broadway wanted me to remain within the part. So then I finished worrying about nepotism.”
The show was nominated for seven Tony Awards in 1979.
Glynn ended up winning for Best Actress in a Musical, while her co-star, Henderson Forsythe, also nabbed the Best Actor in a Musical honor.
In 1982, when the show was reprised on Broadway, she revived her role as Stangley.
On television, she appeared as Meg Tresch within the 1991 TV series “Mr. President” and Jessie Mae within the 1985 movie “The Trip to Bountiful,” amongst other roles.
Glynn was also a lifelong member of the Actors Studio.
She was predeceased by Masterson, who died Sept. 18, 2018, in Kinderhook, Recent York, after a fall at his home.
She is survived by her children, Alexandra Masterson, Mary Stuart Masterson and Peter Masterson Jr.
