Howland told the AP in a 1979 profile that she was "very shy" and that she saw something of herself in the character. Howland earned four Golden Globe nominations during the comedy's 1976-85 run for her performance as the naive Vera. Beth Howland, the actress best known for her role as a ditzy waitress on the 1970s and '80s CBS sitcom "Alice," has died. "I'm a little naive sometimes but not as much as Vera. Her husband, actor Charles Kimbrough, told The Associated Press that Howland died Dec. 31 of lung cancer in Santa Monica, California, and there was no announcement, funeral or memorial service.

Source: Fox News May 25, 2016 08:10 UTC