How is Estelle Parsons doing?

She's 98, so there's only so good that one's health can be at that age, particularly when considering that there are performers 20 and 30 years younger who no longer have the energy or ability to do a full production.

98 and looking wonderful. Highly unlikely we’ll see her onstage again, but so grateful she’s still with us. I always dream cast her in my head as Mertis in Annie Baker’s John.

Hot take: I preferred her Violet over Deanna Dunagan’s. As far as her age, she famously commented in a profile after she took over the role that the stairs that winded Dunagan really didn’t bother her much. She’s 12 years Dunagan’s senior.

Updated On: 5/30/26 at 12:53 PM

Funny enough. i just got out of “The People Vs. Lenny Bruce” at Theatre Row and they announced a series of post-show talkbacks this month, one of them being with Estelle Parsons. She said the talkback dates are on their website but I didn’t see them listed right now.