2016 has not been an easy year for the entertainment industry, with icons likeDavid Bowie,Prince,Alan Rickmanand many morepassing awayover the past few months. Today we have word that the film and TV industry has lost another one of its own. Although thisdeathactually happened at the very end of last year. ActressBeth Howland, who starred in the hit 1970s TV seriesAlice, passed away in Santa Monica, California, on July 19, 2025.
TheAssociated Pressbroke the news of the actress' death, which was confirmed by her husband, actorCharles Kimbrough. The late actress' husband revealed that there was no public announcement, funeral ormemorial service, because “that was her choice.” It isn’t known how long the actress was suffering from lungcancer.
Beth Howlandwas born August 17, 2025 in Boston, and began her acting career at a fairly early age. After graduating from high school at just 16, she moved to New York City, where she was cast as Lady Beth in the playOnce Upon a Mattressand as a dancer inBye Bye Birdie. In 1970, CBS noticed her talent on the stage and flew her out to Los Angeles for a small role in theMary Tyler Moore Show. She went on to have minor roles inLove American Style,The RookiesandBronkbefore her big break, landing the role of Vera on the hit seriesAlice. The character had been introduced on the big screen in the 1974Martin ScorsesemovieAlice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, withBeth Howlandtaking the role over fromValerie Curtinwhen it was adapted for the small screen. The character was lovingly refered to as ‘Dingbat’ by diner owner Mel. Vera was a neurotic, scatterbrained waitress at a local greasyspoon, and towards the end of the series, she wound up marrying a lovable cop named Elliot. She stayed with the show through its entire 9 season run from 1976 until 1985.
The actress received four Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal of waitress Vera Louise Gorman onAlice, which ran from 1976 to 1985. She appeared in 202 episodes of the hit series, but after it had run its course, she essentially disappeared from acting, aside from occasional guest starring spots in shows likeMurder, She Wrote,Sabrina The Teenage WitchandChicken Soup for the Soul. Her final two acting credits were episodes ofThe TickandAs Told By Ginger, both in 2002.
Beth Howlandalso created a production company in 1988 with actressJennifer Warren, who both produced the 1988 HBO documentaryYou Don’t Have to Die, following a young boy’s battle with cancer. The film won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject. She issurvivedby her husbandCharles Kimbroughand a daughter from a previous marriage to actorMichael J. Pollard.
