Elizabeth Hoffman, famous for her role as Beatrice Reed Ventnor, the mother of the daughters in the NBC drama 'Sisters,' has died at the age of 97. She passed away on August 21 due to natural causes at her home in Malibu, as confirmed by her son, Chris.
Hoffman's notable roles included portraying Eleanor Roosevelt in the miniseries 'The Winds of War' (1983) and 'War and Remembrance' (1988-89). She also played Meryl Streep's mother in 'The River Wild' (1994) and an elderly character named Ruth in 'Dante's Peak' (1997).
In 'Sisters,' Hoffman's character, Bea, kickstarts the story as her four daughters reunite to care for her after she turns to alcohol to cope with her husband's passing and sells the family home. She appeared in 87 out of the show's 128 episodes during its six-season run from 1991 to 1996.
Born on February 8, 1926, in Corvallis, Oregon, Hoffman began her acting career in theater before making her on screen debut in 1980 with a role on 'Little House on the Prairie.' She also appeared in 'Matlock' and 'Stargate SG-1' in the late 1980s and 1990s.
Hoffman's film credits include 'Fear No Evil' (1981), 'Nuts' (1987), and 'Born on the Fourth of July' (1989). She also made appearances on various television shows such as 'The Greatest American Hero,' 'The A-Team,' 'Hunter,' 'L.A. Law,' 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' and 'Thirtysomething.'
Her theatrical work featured performances in Tennessee Williams plays and the role of a woman who takes in a young Jewish girl in Diane Samuels' 'Kindertransport.'
She is survived by her sons Chris and Paul, as well as her grandchildren Erica, Alison, Lauren, and Lily.
What was the cause of Elizabeth Hoffman's death?
Elizabeth Hoffman passed away at the age of 97