Carlin Glynn


Carlin Elizabeth Glynn 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 and Peter Masterson's The Trip to Bountiful, which is based on the The [Trip to Bountiful (play)|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 Lamar [High School (Houston)|Mirabeau B. Lamar High School] in Houston, Texas.

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. She is also known for her role as mother to Molly Ringwald's character in Sixteen Candles, and as daughter-in-law to Geraldine Page's character in The Trip to Bountiful, directed by her husband.
Other film credits include roles in Resurrection, Continental Divide, The [Escape Artist (film)|The Escape Artist], Gardens of Stone, Blood Red, Night Game, Convicts, Judy Berlin and Whiskey School.

Death

Carlin Glynn Masterson died at her home in upstate New York on July 13, 2023, aged 83. She had lung cancer and dementia.
Mary Stuart Masterson announced her mother's death on Instagram:

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983Johnny GarageHarrietTV movie
1987Mr. PresidentMeg TreschSeason 1
1991A Woman Named JackieLady Bird JohnsonMiniseries
1992Day-OMargaret DeGeorgioTV movie
1996Strange LuckMarilyn HarperSeason 1
2005The ExoneratedJudgeTV movie
2006Law & Order: Criminal IntentElla QuinnSeason 5