Broadway and television fans are mourning the passing of Elizabeth Franz, the Tony Award–winning actress whose six-decade career left an indelible mark on American theater and television. She died at the age of 84 at her home in Woodbury, Connecticut, following a battle with cancer and complications from treatment, her husband, Christopher Pelham, confirmed.

Often referred to as “America’s Judi Dench,” Franz was celebrated for the strength, grace, and emotional depth she brought to every performance. She began her career Off-Broadway, earning an Obie Award for originating the role of Sister Mary Ignatius in Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You.