Linda Lavin.Photo:Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Linda Lavin at the “No Good Deed” Los Angeles Premiere at Tudum Theater on December 4, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Linda Lavin’s cause of death has been determined.

Per theCleveland Clinc, cardiopulmonary arrest stops blood from pumping into the heart, which keeps oxygen from being delivered to vital organs. This typically causes people to collapse and become unresponsive.

Linda Lavin.Aurora Rose/Patrick McMullan/Getty

Linda Lavin attends The Blue Card Annual Benefit Dinner 2016 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on November 21, 2016 in New York City.

Aurora Rose/Patrick McMullan/Getty

Just a few days before her death, Lavin also underwent a bronchoscopy on Dec. 26, 2024. A bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure where a physician will examine a patient’s airways to treat or diagnose a lung condition, per theCleveland Clinic.

On Sunday, Dec. 29, PEOPLE confirmed Lavin’s death with her representative saying in a statement that she “passed unexpectedly due to complications from recently discovered lung cancer.”

Linda Lavin and her husband Steve Bakunas.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Linda Lavin and Steve Bakunas attend the Premiere of Netflix’s “No Good Deed” at TUDUM Theater on December 04, 2024 in Hollywood, California.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Three weeks before her death, Lavin opened up to PEOPLE about her “flowing” career and whether or not she was pursing more work in Hollywood during the premiere of Netflix’sNo Good Deed.

“That’s pretty much where the career is flowing right now,” said the television star, who played the neighbor character Phyllis inNo Good Deed. “And I did a play a couple of years ago in New York, almost two years ago, so that recently, off-Broadway, and it was a limited run, which I enjoy.”

TheTony Awardwinner added, “It doesn’t matter about the medium for me. If it had been a play, I would’ve said yes, but I still would’ve liked a limited run.”

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She also shared how she found inspiration from her roles in her everyday life and revealed how she liked to “expose myself through the character” as an actress.

“I have a wonderful life, a wonderful husband [Bakunas] who’s standing over there and I have a very rich and full life and I’m happy to show up. I’m thrilled to show up at this time in my life. I’m really grateful,” she added.

source: people.com