Franne Lee

Franne Lee
Born
Frances Elaine Newman[1]

(1941-12-30)December 30, 1941
The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
DiedAugust 27, 2023(2023-08-27) (aged 81)
Atlantis, Florida, U.S.
Occupation(s)Costume and production designer
Notable workSaturday Night Live
PartnerEugene Lee (1970s)

Frances Elaine Newman (December 30, 1941 – August 27, 2023), known professionally as Franne Lee, was an American costume and production designer for stage, television, and film.[2] She won multiple Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards.

Lee dated set designer Eugene Lee during the 1970s, and the couple had a son together. While the couple never married, she adopted his last name.[3] The two collaborated on productions including Candide, directed by Harold Prince at the Chelsea Theater Center in Brooklyn in 1973.[4] They shared the 1974 Tony Award for best scenic design, and Lee won a second Tony Award for Best Costume Design.[2] She would later win another Tony Award for costume design in 1979 for her costume designs, for her work on the original Broadway production of Sweeney Todd.[2]

On television, Franne was the original costume designer for Saturday Night Live, and designed the costumes for characters such as the Coneheads, the Killer Bees, and Roseanne Roseannadanna.[5] She left the show in 1980.[2]

Franne Lee died in Atlantis, Florida on August 27, 2023, at the age of 81.[6][5]

  1. ^ "Franne Lee, Tony Winner Who Also Costumed Coneheads, Dies at 81". The New York Times. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Genzlinger, Neil (September 1, 2023). "Franne Lee, Tony Winner Who Also Costumed Coneheads, Dies at 81". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  3. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (February 10, 2023). "Eugene Lee, Set Designer for Broadway and 'S.N.L.', Dies at 83". New York Times. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  4. ^ Barnes, Clive (December 21, 1973). "Stage: 'Candide' Returns in Triumph". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Franne Lee, who designed costumes for 'SNL' and 'Sweeney Todd,' dies at 81". NPR. September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  6. ^ "Franne Lee Dies: Broadway And 'SNL' Costume Designer Who Created Looks Of Coneheads, Blues Brothers & Roseanne Roseannadanna Was 81". Deadline. September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.