Carlin Elizabeth Glynn (February 19, 1940 – July 13, 2023) was an American singer and actress. Most notable for her work as a theater performer, she is best known for her Tony Award-winning performance, as Mona Stangley, in the original 1978 production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She is also known for her roles in John Hughes' Sixteen Candles (1984) and Peter Masterson's The Trip to Bountiful (1985), which is based on the play of the same name, by Horton Foote. Glynn was the mother of actress Mary Stuart Masterson.
Early life Glynn was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She attended Mirabeau B. Lamar High School in Houston, Texas.Mesinger, Maxine. "Lamar High marks 50th anniversary." Houston Chronicle. August 7, 1987. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
Career A life member of The Actors Studio, Glynn made her belated but Tony-winning Broadway debut - as 1979's Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - portraying "Mona Stangley" in the original production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, a musical comedy adapted by Glynn's husband and fellow Studio member, Peter Masterson, from a non-fiction article published in Playboy, in collaboration with the article's author, Larry L. King, and songwriter Carol Hall, and developed at length in workshop performances at the Studio. Glynn's award-winning performance would be reprised in the 1982 revival.
Glynn's first movie appearance was as Mae Barber in Three Days of the Condor (1975). She is also known for her role as mother to Molly Ringwald's character in Sixteen Candles (1984), and as daughter-in-law to Geraldine Page's character in The Trip to Bountiful (1985), directed by her husband.
Other film credits include roles in Resurrection (1980), Continental Divide (1981), The Escape Artist (1982), Gardens of Stone (1987; in which her husband and daughter also had roles), Blood Red (1989), Night Game (1989), Convicts (1991), Judy Berlin (1999) and Whiskey School (2005).
Death Carlin Glynn Masterson died at her home in upstate New York on July 13, 2023, aged 83. She had lung cancer and dementia.Obituary, variety.com. Accessed July 20, 2023.Obituary, nypost.com. Accessed July 21, 2023.
Mary Stuart Masterson announced her mother's death on Instagram:Instagram obituary
Filmography +Film Year Title Role Notes 1975 Three Days of the Condor Mae Barber 1980 Resurrection Suzy Kroll 1981 Continental Divide Sylvia McDermott 1982 The Escape Artist Treasurer's Secretary 1984 Sixteen Candles Brenda Baker 1985 The Trip to Bountiful Jessie Mae 1987 Gardens of Stone Mrs. Feld 1989 Coyote Mountain Mother Short 1989 Blood Red Miss Jeffreys 1989 Night Game Alma 1991 Convicts Asa 1994 Blessing Arlene 1996 Red Sky at Night Consulting editor 1999 Judy Berlin Maddie 2002 West of Here Sally Blackwell Also co-producer 2003 Lost Junction Waitress 2005 Whiskey School Pamela Evans
+Television Year Title Role Notes 1983 Johnny Garage Harriet TV movie 1986 One Life to Live Dr. Spender 4 episodes 1987 Mr. President Meg Tresch Season 1 (main role, 10 episodes) 1991 A Woman Named Jackie Lady Bird Johnson Miniseries (2 episodes) 1992 Day-O Margaret DeGeorgio TV movie 1996 Strange Luck Marilyn Harper Season 1 (guest role, 1 episode) 2005 The Exonerated Judge TV movie 2006 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Ella Quinn Season 5 (guest role, 1 episode)
References
External links
Peter Masterson and Carlin Glynn Papers at the Harry Ransom Center