Stage actress Marian Seldes, known for her role of Julia in play 'A Delicate Balance', has died following a prolonged illness. She was 86.
One of Broadway's favourites, Seldes died at her home yesterday, her brother Timothy Seldes announced, reported Variety.
The actress, who made her Broadway theatre debut in 1948 in a production of 'Medea', won her first Tony award in 1967 for play 'A Delicate Balance'.
She also earned a spot in Guinness Book of World Records for a four-year run in play 'Deathtrap', appearing in every one of the 1,809 performances.
Seldes was a member of the drama faculty of The Juilliard School from 1967 to 1991. Her students included now Hollywood stars like Viola Davis, Kevin Spacey, Kevin Kline, Christopher Reeve, and Robin Williams.
Following her work with playwright Edward Albee on 'A Delicate Balance', she became on of the writer's go-to actresses, working with him on 'The Play About the Baby', 'Tiny Alice', 'Counting the Ways' and 'Three Tall Women'.
Seldes, who recently received Tony's lifetime achievement award, most recently appeared on Broadway in Terrence McNally's 2007 play 'Deuce'.
Her film work included 'Truman' and 'Home Alone 3', and she also appeared on TV series such as 'Murphy Brown' and 'Sex and the City'.
Following a first marriage to Julian Claman, which ended in divorce, Seldes married writer-director Garson Kanin in 1990; he died in 1999.
No funeral or memorial service will be held for Seldes, according to her wishes.
