Linda Lavin

She took a turn at both comedic and dramatic acting, as her character abruptly blurted out that she was dying from lung cancer. She is most memorable for her role as Deirdre "Dash" McKinley on the Australian TV show Blue Heelers but has appeared on numerous Australian productions including The Secret Life of Us and the film Fistful of Flies. In 2004, she introduced herself to another generation of television viewers when she guest-starred on The O.C. as the mother of Peter Gallagher's character. Tasma Walton ( born 1974 , Australia ) Australian Actress. Since then, she has worked sporadically on Broadway (she earned two more Tony nominations, in 2000 and 2002) and in dinner theatre. In 1987, she won a Tony Award for her work in Broadway Bound.

From 1976 to 1985, she starred in her own television series, Alice, which earned Lavin two Golden Globe awards and an Emmy nomination. In the 1960s, she made a name for herself on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination in 1969 for Last of the Red Hot Lovers. She was born in Portland, Maine. Linda Lavin (born October 15, 1937) is an American singer and actress of stage and television.