The Hunger Games Star Lynn Cohen Dies Aged 86

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Actor Lynn Cohen died on Friday at the age of 86, her representative confirmed today.

The 86-year-old was widely known for her role in HBO’s Sex and the City as Magda, a Ukrainian housekeeper and nanny for Miranda and her family. She reprised her role in both of its subsequent films.

Cohen also played Mags in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and appeared in Across the Universe, as well as TV shows Law & Order and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

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Lynn Cohen was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1933, and studied acting at Michael Howard Studios in New York City. She began her acting career in 1983 on Without a Trace, going on to appear in NYPD Blue, Deconstructing Harry, and Nurse Jackie.

Her career spanned decades, with Cohen’s acting credits also including several roles on Broadway in the 1990s, in such productions as Ivanov and Orpheus Descending.

She won the 2009 Richard Seff Award for her starring role in Chasing Manet, and was later nominated for the 2014 Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding featured actress in a play for her role in I Remember Mama, The Hollywood Reporter reports.

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Tributes have already began pouring in for Cohen following the news of her death, with actor James Urbaniak – her Hello Lonesome co-actor – reminiscing on their time spent together.

He wrote:

The great NY actor Lynn Cohen died today. I met her outside the Guthrie in Minneapolis on a sunny day in 1987, a moment I vividly recall. I thought she was cool. I saw her around regularly in NY over the next 20 years & finally worked with her in 2008. RIP, Lynn. You were awesome

Playwright and screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris described Cohen as ‘one of the most talented and generous souls [he] ever met’, adding: ‘She had this way of believing in you so ferociously, that you were forced to believe in yourself.’

Actor Willie Garson wrote:

Bless you and godspeed, our wonderful Magda for 15 years of episodes and films, thanks for your friendship and amazing talent….R.I.P. indeed

While actor Heather Whaley wrote:

We are completely devastated by the news that we have lost the lovely and amazing Lynn Cohen. We are sending all of our love – every last bit of it – to Ronny. Damn.

Lynn Cohen is survived by her husband, Ronald, whom she was married to for more than 50 years since 1964.

Our thoughts are with Lynn’s loved ones at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Lynn.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.

Lucy Connolly

A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).