Broadway actress Sondra Lee has passed away on Monday, February 23, of natural causes in her New York City apartment, Deadline reports. She was 97 years old.
Her death was announced by her friend and colleague Rev. Joshua Ellis.
Sondra Lee’s Legacy
Lee’s career spanned nine decades, in which she has been recognized for her work as a dancer, actor, teacher, author, stage director, playwright, theatre and film consultant, and painter.
Her Broadway career began in 1947 when she auditioned for the musical ” High Button Shoes. In 1954, collaborating with choreographer Jerome Robbins to create the role of Tiger Lily in “Peter Pan,” which later became the first Broadway show filmed for color television. Lee also made appearances in “Hotel Paradiso” with Angela Lansbury and in “Sunday in New York” starring Robert Redford.
But arguably one of her biggest roles was as Minnie Fay in the original production of “Hello, Dolly!,” which opened on Jan. 16, 1964.
Along with her acting accomplishments, Lee also worked with and coaches many iconic and legendary stars including 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 (per PEOPLE).
Lee was also a consultant to film directors on projects such as “Places in the Heart,” “The Last of the Mohicans,” and “The Morning After.”And with that, she directed cabaret shows based on the music of Stephen Sondheim.
In 2009, she released a memoir called “I’ve Slept with Everybody: A Memoir.” In it, she spoke about her accomplished career, along with her relationships over the years. According to PEOPLE, she was working on a second book titled “Snapshots Redux” at the time of her passing.
Sondra Lee’s Last Public Appearance
According to PEOPLE, Lee’s last public appearance came at Carnegie Hall on June 23, 2025, in which she was there for the Transport Group’s Hello, Dolly! In Concert.
As the original musical’s last surviving artist, she earned a well-deserved standing ovation.
Tributes Pour In For Sondra Lee
“Dance with the angels dear Sondra Lee. Your energy is/was so vibrant and inviting. Always enjoyed seeing you. Rest gently. #SondraLee Original Minnie Fay in Hello Dolly and Tiger Lily in Peter Pan,” one person posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“RIP Sondra Lee, 95, tiny dynamo who originated the roles of Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly! and Tiger Lily in Peter Pan,” another person commented.
