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Elaine Stritch Dead: Broadway Legend Turned 'Thirty Rock' Favourite Dies Aged 87

Broadway Legend Elaine Stritch Dies At 87
Caroline Frost

Broadway has said farewell to one of its most enduring legends with the death at 87 of Elaine Stritch.

The star of stage and screen who was performing with only a chair, a microphone and a white shirt and pair of fishnet tights died at her home in Michigan today, it has been confirmed.

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Elaine Stritch was performing well into her eighties, after a career lasting more than six decades

One of her last appearances was in an intimate documentary about her life and long career - 'Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me', in which she detailed her past loves, including an unrequited passion for gay actor Rock Hudson - as she put it once, "that was barking up the wrong tree."

With more than 60 films to her name, she became a famous face in the UK with her role in 'Two's Company', alongside Donald Sinden.

She found a whole new fanbase in recent years as the dominating mother of Alec Baldwin's character Jack Donaghy in '30 Rock'. Her role of Colleen brought her an Emmy Award, with four other nominations. Alec Baldwin paid tribute to his co-star today on Twitter...

But, as she told her audience in her award-winning one-woman show, the theatre was her real home. During her long career, she made her Broadway debut in 1948, and never really left, performing for all the greats, from Stephen Sondheim from Noel Coward.

She was a famous, long-term resident of New York's Carlyle Hotel, but moved back to her native Michigan last year.

Elaine Stritch
(01 of26)
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FILE - This Sept. 11, 2012 file photo shows actress Elaine Stritch poses for a photograph during the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto. Stritch discusses her experience being documented for "Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me," a film at the Tribeca Film Festival. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn, file) (credit:AP)
Tribeca Talks After the Movie: "Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me" - 2013 Tribeca Film Festival(02 of26)
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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 22: Actress Elaine Stritch speaks onstage at the Tribeca Talks After the Movie: 'Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me' during the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival on April 22, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival) (credit:Getty Images)
Tribeca Talks After the Movie: "Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me" - 2013 Tribeca Film Festival(03 of26)
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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 22: Director Chiemi Karasawa (L) and actress Elaine Stritch speak onstage at the Tribeca Talks After the Movie: 'Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me' during the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival on April 22, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival) (credit:Getty Images)
"Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me" World Premiere -2013 Tribeca Film Festival(04 of26)
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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 19: Elaine Stritch attends the 'Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me' world premiere during the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival on April 19, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival) (credit:Getty Images)
(05 of26)
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This film image released by the Tribeca film Festival shows Elaine Stritch in a scene from "Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me," a film that will be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival running April 17 through April 28, 2013 in New York. (AP Photo/Tribeca Film Festival) (credit:AP)
(06 of26)
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This April 2, 2013 image released by the O+M Company shows Elaine Stritch performing her final engagement at the Cafe Carlyle in New York with Rob Bowman at the piano. Stritch kicked off a final series of concerts to bid farewell to New York on Tuesday, refusing to be maudlin and instead weaving her typical brand of sass and feistiness. Stritch plans to retire to Birmingham, Mich. a suburb of Detroit, after seven decades in New York City. She ends her five-show farewell on Saturday. (AP Photo/The O+M Company, Walter McBride) (credit:AP)
Theatreworks USA 50th Anniversary Celebration(07 of26)
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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: Actress Elaine Stritch attends the Theatreworks USA 50th Anniversary Celebration at the NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts on February 12, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
"High" Broadway Opening Night - Arrivals & Curtain Call(08 of26)
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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 19: Actress Elaine Stritch attends the Broadway opening night of 'High' at the Booth Theatre on April 19, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tony Award-winning actress Elaine Stritc(09 of26)
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Tony Award-winning actress Elaine Stritch sings during a White House Music Series event saluting Broadway theater and music performances hosted by US President Barack Obama in the East Room of the White House in Washington on July 19, 2010. The event, 'A Broadway Celebration: In Performance at the White House' features selections from American musicals with artists such as Nathan Lane, Idina Menzel, Brian d'Arcy James, Marvin Hamlisch and other Broadway stars. AFP PHOTO/Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tennessee Williams On Screen And Stage(10 of26)
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NEW YORK - DECEMBER 09: Actress Elaine Stritch speaks at the Tennessee Williams on Screen and Stage panel discussion at The Times Center on December 9, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
2009 Princess Grace Awards Gala - Inside(11 of26)
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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 21: Elaine Stritch speaks at the 2009 Princess Grace Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on October 21, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Peyton/Getty Images for The Princess Grace Foundation) (credit:Getty Images)
2009 Stella By Starlight Gala(12 of26)
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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: Actress Elaine Stritch attends the 2009 Stella by Starlight Gala at a Private Residence on October 19, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
2009 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards - Arrivals(13 of26)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Actress Elaine Stritch attends the 2009 Primetime Arts Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on September 12, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Hope Trumps Fear Storytelling At Barneys New York(14 of26)
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NEW YORK - MARCH 12: Actress Elaine Stritch attends the Hope Trumps Fear storytelling at Barneys New York on March 12, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Hope Trumps Fear Storytelling At Barneys New York(15 of26)
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NEW YORK - MARCH 12: Actress Elaine Stritch attends the Hope Trumps Fear storytelling at Barneys New York on March 12, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
81st Annual Academy Awards - Official New York Oscar Night Party(16 of26)
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NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 22: Elaine Stritch attends the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' Official New York Oscar Night Party at The Carlyle on February 22, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
81st Annual Academy Awards - Eight-Foot Oscar Statues Delivered(17 of26)
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NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 18: Elaine Stritch helps the delivery of eight-foot tall Oscar statues for the 81st Annual Academy Awards New York viewing party at The Carlyle on February 18, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' Official Oscar Celebration(18 of26)
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NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 24: Actress Elaine Stritch attends the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences official Oscar Celebration at the Carlyle Hotel on February 24, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
5th Annual Primetime Emmy Nominees' BAFTA Tea Party(19 of26)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Actress Elaine Stritch arrives at the 5th Annual Primetime Emmy Nominees' BAFTA Tea Party at Wattles Mansion on September 15, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
2007 Creative Arts Emmy Awards - Press Room(20 of26)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Actress Elaine Stritch receives an award for 'Outstanding Guest Actress' at the 2007 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on September 8, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Warner Independent Pictures Premieres Infamous - Arrivals(21 of26)
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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: Actress Elaine Stritch attends the premiere of 'Infamous' at DGA Theater October 9, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The Heart Truth - Red Dress Fall 2006 - Runway(22 of26)
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NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 03: Elaine Strich walks the runway at The Heart Truth - Red Dress Fall 2006 fashion show at the 'Tent' during Olympus Fashion Week at Bryant Park in New York City. (Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Prince Of Wales & Duchess Of Cornwall US Visit - Day 1(23 of26)
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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 01: Actress Elaine Stritch arrives at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) reception on the first day of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and husband Prince Charles, Prince of Wales's 8-day visit to the US, on November 1, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The 2005 Tony Awards Party & "The Julie Harris Award"(24 of26)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 5: Actress Elaine Stritch attends The 2005 Tony Awards Party & 'The Julie Harris Award', which honored Stockard Channing, at the Skirball Center on June 5, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Line Cinema's Premiere of "Monster In Law" - Arrivals(25 of26)
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WESTWOOD, CA - APRIL 29: Actress Elaine Stritch arrives at New Line Cinema's Premiere of 'Monster In Law' at the Mann National Theatre on April 29, 2005 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Los Angeles Premiere Screening of HBO's "Elaine Stritch at Liberty" - Arrivals(26 of26)
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MAY 11: Actress Elaine Stritch attends the Los Angeles Prremiere Screening of HBO's documentary film 'Elaine Stritch at Liberty' at the Academy of Arts and Sciences on May 11, 2004 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

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