Actress. She was born Lillie Louise Fontanne to Jules Pierre Antoine Fontanne and Frances Ellen Fontanne. She was once described as "one of the two most gifted comic actors" and the other was her husband Alfred Lunt. While attending a play in her hometown at the age of 10, she decided that she was going to become an actress. At the age of 15, she was studying with Ellen Terry, the great Shakespearean actress and touring with her a year later. By the age of 21, she debuted in London when she appeared in the pantomime, Cinderella. A year later she made her first New York appearance as Harriet Budgeon in Mr. Preedy and the Countess. In 1919, she met Alfred Lunt backstage of the New Amsterdam Theater and they were married in 1922. They would go on to be one of the most brilliant acting teams of the 20th century. They would go on to star together in motion pictures and on the stage. She was a Tony Award winner, an Emmy Award winner, and a nominee for the Academy Award. After appearing in three films and 27 productions together, Lynn and Alfred retired to their 120 acre estate in rural Wisconsin. They were married for 55 years when he died of cancer in 1977. When she died in 1983 at the age of 95 from pneumonia, she was buried next to her equally famous husband.
Actress. She was born Lillie Louise Fontanne to Jules Pierre Antoine Fontanne and Frances Ellen Fontanne. She was once described as "one of the two most gifted comic actors" and the other was her husband Alfred Lunt. While attending a play in her hometown at the age of 10, she decided that she was going to become an actress. At the age of 15, she was studying with Ellen Terry, the great Shakespearean actress and touring with her a year later. By the age of 21, she debuted in London when she appeared in the pantomime, Cinderella. A year later she made her first New York appearance as Harriet Budgeon in Mr. Preedy and the Countess. In 1919, she met Alfred Lunt backstage of the New Amsterdam Theater and they were married in 1922. They would go on to be one of the most brilliant acting teams of the 20th century. They would go on to star together in motion pictures and on the stage. She was a Tony Award winner, an Emmy Award winner, and a nominee for the Academy Award. After appearing in three films and 27 productions together, Lynn and Alfred retired to their 120 acre estate in rural Wisconsin. They were married for 55 years when he died of cancer in 1977. When she died in 1983 at the age of 95 from pneumonia, she was buried next to her equally famous husband.
Bio by: Tom Todd
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