Sondra Lee, Broadway star of 'Hello, Dolly!' and 'Peter Pan,' dies at 97

Anna Kaufman, USA TODAYThu, February 26, 2026 at 2:08 PM UTC

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Sondra Lee attends the 63rd Annual Obie Awards at Terminal 5 on May 21, 2018, in New York City.

Actress Sondra Lee, known for her performances in film and on Broadway, has died. She was 97.

Lee died Monday of natural causes at her New York City apartment, Deadline and The Guardian report. Rev. Joshua Ellis, a former Broadway press agent who is now an interspiritual minister, confirmed the news to the outlets.

A representative for Lee was not immediately available for comment.

Lee originated the role of Tiger Lily in the Broadway production of "Peter Pan," later portraying the Native American princess in a 1955 television play. Her casting, as a white woman portraying an Indigenous person, and the existence of the role itself, later drew scrutiny.

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An icon of the stage, Lee also originated the role of Minnie Fay in 1964's "Hello, Dolly!"

Lee's acting heyday spanned just over a decade, as she appeared in several Broadway productions and made-for-television adaptations. After several years on stage, she opted to share her talents through teaching, taking a role at New York University's famed Stella Adler Conservatory for the performing arts.

A who's who of A-listers studied under her tutelage, making her mark on modern acting perhaps much bigger than meets the eye. He actor clients included Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Marlon Brando, Dustin Hoffman, Natalia Makarova, John Malkovich, Amy Adams, Matt Dillon, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, Van Halen and John Lloyd Young, Deadline reports.

Lee authored a memoir in 2009, "I've Slept With Everybody," and wed fellow actor Sidney Armus in 1953. The pair were married until his death in 2002.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sondra Lee dead: Broadway 'Peter Pan,' 'Hello Dolly' star dies at 97

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