PHOTOS'Glee’ & ‘Big Bang Theory’ Star Dies Of Congestive Heart Failure
Nov. 22 2019, Published 6:38 p.m. ET
Glee and Big Bang Theory star Jane Galloway Heitz has passed away at the age of 78 due to congestive heart failure. Her daughter, Amie Richardson, told The Hollywood Reporter that she died on November 13 at a hospital in Highland Park, Illinois. Jane was best known for her role as Lillian Adler, the former head of the Glee club in Glee.
Jane’s character on Glee appeared in the show twice in flashbacks. The first time, in an extended director’s cut of the pilot, and then again in the series finale, which aired in 2009 and 2015, respectively. However, her presence was felt throughout the series, as a photo of her was on display in the choir room. A plaque underneath her photo read, “By its very definition, Glee is about opening yourself up to joy.” Lillian helped inspire Matthew Morrison’s character to take over the glee club at the fictitious McKinley High.
Jane was born in Minneapolis on September 18, 1941. She attended the University of Minnesota for a couple of years, and then moved to Chicago in her early 20s.
Along with acting, Jane also launched her own casting agency, where she helped launch the career of Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family. She also assisted Steve Carrell, Stephen Colbert and Richard Kind. She sold her casting agency in 1997 to focus on acting full time.
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Eric, 48, took to Twitter on November 21 to express his gratitude for Jane’s help throughout his career. “Jane was the first casting director to ever call me in for an audition in Chicago. She became a great friend and mentor. I tried to always make sure she knew she had a starring role in my career. She put me on that path I’m on,” he wrote. “I wish I could have said thank you one more time.”
Jane’s television credits include The Big Bang Theory, Shameless, Grey’s Anatomy, ER, Monk, Prison Break, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Without a Trace, and Early Edition.
She also appeared in the films The Straight Story, I Know Who Killed Me, and Just Visiting.
Jane was a widower to her husband Joe, and is survived by her daughter Amie and three grandchildren, Claire Emmaline, Jack Henry and William Mark. According to her obituary, her funeral will be held on November 30 in Illinois.
