Linda Lavin, who had a successful stage career before moving to television, starred in the popular sitcom, Alice (1976-1985), one of the first television shows centered on a working class woman. On the series, which was based on the 1975 film, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Lavin portrayed Alice Hyatt, a widow who worked as a waitress to support herself and her son while she dreamed of becoming a country singer.

As sometimes happens to actors who portray popular television characters, Lavin became a symbol. For Lavin it was to working-class women, and she used her celebrity to work with agencies focusing on improving conditions and benefits for working women. In 1977, she received the Grass Roots Award from the National Commission on Working Women for her realistic depiction of a blue-collar working woman.

Further Reading:

Jauna, John. The Critics Choice: The Best of TV Sitcoms. New York, Harmony Books, 1988.

O'Donnell, Monica M., editor. Contemporary Theatre, Film & Television. New York, Gale Research, 1986.