# Lynn Cohen

Lynn Harriette Cohen (née Kay; August 10, 1933 – February 14, 2020) was an American actress known for her roles in film, television and theater. She was particularly known for her role as Magda in the HBO series Sex and the City, which she also played in the 2008 film of the same name and its 2010 sequel, as well as for portraying Mags in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Mrs. Litvak in The Vigil.

## Early life

The daughter of Louis Kay and Bertha Cornsweet Kay, Lynn Harriette Kay was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to a Jewish family. She studied for a year each at the University of Wisconsin and Northwestern University, after which she moved to St. Louis, where she began acting in regional theater.

## Career

Cohen began her career in the 1970s appearing in Off-Broadway productions, receiving Drama League Award and Lucille Lortel Awards nominations. Notable credits include Hamlet starring Kevin Kline and Macbeth starring Liev Schreiber. On Broadway, Cohen appeared in Orpheus Descending starring Vanessa Redgrave (1989) and Ivanov, reuniting her with Kevin Kline (1994).
Cohen consistently played powerful, impressive women. Her first notable film role was in the 1993 comedy Manhattan Murder Mystery. From 1993 to 2006, she played Judge Elizabeth Mizener in the NBC drama series Law & Order, appearing in a total of 12 episodes. She also guest-starred on NYPD Blue, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Blue Bloods, and had a recurring role on Damages.
From 2000 to 2004, Cohen had a recurring role as Magda in the HBO comedy series Sex and the City. She reprised her role in the 2008 film of the same name, as well as its 2010 sequel. Cohen also appeared in Munich (2005) as Golda Meir, Vanya on 42nd Street, Synecdoche, New York, Eagle Eye and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

## Personal life

Cohen married Gilbert Frazen in 1957, and he died in 1960. In 1964, she married Ronald Theodore Cohen, and they remained married until her death in 2020. She had one adult child and two grandchildren.

## Death

Cohen died on February 14, 2020, in New York at the age of 86.

## Selected filmography

* Without a Trace (1983) – Woman with Dog
* Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) – Lillian House
* Law & Order (1993–2006, TV Series) – Judge Elizabeth Mizener
* Vanya on 42nd Street (1994) – Vonenskaya
* I Shot Andy Warhol (1996) – Hotel Earle Concierge
* Walking and Talking (1996) – Andrew's mom
* Everything Relative (1996) – Mrs. Kessler
* Hurricane Streets (1997) – Lucy
* Deconstructing Harry (1997) – Janet's mom
* Once We Were Strangers (1997) – Natasha
* My Divorce (1997) – Mother
* Cosby (1997, TV Series, Appeared in Episode: "Florida") – Dorothy
* Meschugge (1998) – Mrs. Fish
* Cradle Will Rock (1999) – Mama Silvano
* Just One Time (1999) – Sophia
* Fast Food Fast Women (2000) – Jesse
* Ten Hundred Kings (2000) – Anne Shephard
* Sex and the City (2000–2004, TV Series) – Magda
* The Jimmy Show (2001) – Ruth
* Hi-Yah! (2002, Short) – Gramma
* Fishing (2002) – Ruthie
* The Station Agent (2003) – Patty
* Evergreen (2004) – Grandmom
* Last Call (2004, Short) – Betsy
* The Last Days of Leni Riefenstahl (2005, Short) – Leni Riefenstahl
* While the Widow Is Away (2005, Short) – The Widow
* Munich (2005) – Golda Meir
* Invincible (2006) – Mrs. Spegnetti
* The Hottest State (2006) – Harris's mother
* Delirious (2006) – Muffy Morrison
* Days of Our Lives (2007, TV Series) – Ms. Ashwell
* The Summoning of Everyman (2007) – Doctor
* Ablution (2007, Short) – Esther
* Then She Found Me (2007) – Trudy Epner
* The Life Before Her Eyes (2007) – Sister Beatrice
* Across The Universe (2007) – Grandmother Carrigan
* Deception (2008) – Woman
* Sex and the City (2008) – Magda
* Synecdoche, New York (2008) – Caden's mother
* Eagle Eye (2008) – Mrs. Wierzbowski
* Eavesdrop (2008) – May
* Staten Island (2009) – Dr. Leikovic
* Everybody's Fine (2009) – Old Woman on First Train
* Damages (2009–2012, TV Series, Appearance in four episodes) – Stefania McKee
* Nurse Jackie (2009–2012, TV Series) – Mrs. Zimberger
* The Extra Man (2010) – Lois Huber
* Red Dead Redemption (2010, Video Game) – Mrs. Bush (voice)
* A Little Help (2010) – Mrs. Cosolito
* Sex and the City 2 (2010) – Magda
* Hello Lonesome (2010) – Eleanor
* The Kindergarten Shuffle (2010) – Lynn
* Somewhere Tonight (2011) – Mrs. Pecorino
* Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2011, TV Series, Appeared in Episode: "Beef") – Donna Rosa Doletti
* The Romance of Loneliness (2012) – Mina
* Not Waving But Drowning (2012) – Sylvia
* Art Machine (2012) – Roberta
* Where Is Joel Baum? (2012) – Mrs. Stein
* Bottled Up (2013) – Gladys
* A Case of You (2013) – Harriet
* Chasing Taste (2014) – Murial
* The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) – Mags
* Gabriel (2014) - Nonny
* They Came Together (2014) – Bubby
* The Cobbler (2014) – Sarah Simkin
* The Affair (2014, TV Series) – Joan Bailey
* Getting On (2014, TV Series) – Janice Carmaglia
* Deadbeat (2015, TV Series, Appeared in Episode: "Last Dance with Edith Jane") – Edith Jane
* All in Time (2015) – Mrs. Joshnman
* Master of None (2015, TV Series) – Carol
* A Woman Like Me (2015) – Alex's mom
* The Pickle Recipe (2016) – Rose
* Chicago Med (2016, TV Series, Appearance in one episode) – Rose Wechsler
* Sollers Point (2017) – Ladybug
* Walden: Life in The Woods (2017) – Alice
* Benji the Dove (2017) – Miss O'Dell
* Omphalos (2018) – Babs
* The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2018, TV Series) – Bubbabosia
* After Class (2019) – Agatha
* The World Without You (2019) – Gretchen
* Lingua Franca (2019) – Olga
* Feast of the Seven Fishes (2019) – Nonnie
* The Vigil (2019) – Mrs. Litvak
* God Friended Me (2020) – Rose