It's About Tyne

I'm no insider, so can someone knowledgeable discuss what amounts to the reverence for Tyne Daly within the Broadway community? Don't misunderstand me, I've always liked her and think she's a fine actress, if a bit mannered at times. It's just that the adoration of her has always seemed (to me) to be slightly over the top. Here's my theory: she seems to be very popular personally - decent, giving and generous, especially with younger actors - that that contributes to the outsized critical esteem in which she's held. Again, I've liked Daly since her Cagney & Lacey days, so I have no interest in being mean. Just genuinely curious about her hallowed status on Broadway.

I can't speak to what the Broadway community or even New Yorkers in general think, but as a TV viewer here on the Left Coast, I think Tyne Daly is one of our greatest living actresses. She starred in not just one (CAGNEY AND LACEY) but two (JUDGING AMY) long-running series and won Emmys for both (as well as an Emmy for a third show, CHRISTY).

I will literally watch anything the woman does.

With one exception: I had such fond memories from working with Lansbury in GYPSY, that I assumed I'd be disappointed with the Daly version. So I skipped it when it tried out in Los Angeles--much to my everlasting regret. A five minute clip on YouTube had me so enthralled I am still kicking myself for not seeing it live.

She has loyally returned to the New York stage several times since, so I'm not surprised the Broadway community embraces her. Just in case she reads this, I could use a hug myself!

Updated On: 5/16/15 at 11:37 PM

It's her integrity.

I think it's a combination of her long career in both Broadway and on TV, her continuation with theater despite her success on TV and as far as I've heard she is also one of the most humble and giving actresses to her fellow actors. I remember watching the Going Bridal vlog and Lisa Howard saying Tyne gave up her spot as the final bow of be curtain call to Lisa, saying she deserved it more as well as giving up her own dressing room while in the out of town run of Shoulda to Lisa and shared with Harriet saying that Lisa was the real star of the production (which, let's be honest, is true)

Thanks. More or else confirms what I suspected. Daly's kindness, humor and integrity have gone a long way towards shoring up her status - both on and off stage.

Worth considering, too, is that you can admire someone's work and still see her as a tad overrated. As I see it, Daly is a formidable actress, but an iffy singer. I wouldn't put Daly's body of work on the same scale as, say, Angela Lansbury's. (Not yet.)

Anyhoo, I remain a fan, but it's an interesting debate.