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Lisa was born on July 9, 1955, in Ohio and grew up in Colorado. Her career in movies and television spanned many decades, highlighted by her role as "Marybeth Elliott" in 'Gone Girl' alongside Ben Affleck.
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In 1984, while performing in Wendy Wasserstein’s comedy 'Isn’t It Romantic' at Playwrights Horizons, The Times named her one of 15 stage actresses to watch. She was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her role in that play.
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Seth McFarlane, the creator of 'Family Guy' and 'The Orville', praised "her stage presence, magnetism, skill, and talent were matched only by her unwavering kindness and graciousness toward all of us."
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Lisa also enjoyed success on Broadway, notably starring as "Cassie" in Neil Simon's play 'Rumors' in 1988. Her television career included roles in popular shows such as 'Nashville,' 'Masters of Sex,' 'Royal Pains,' and 'The Orville.' In 2021, she made her final television appearance as "Esther Haber" in an episode of the Amazon Prime series 'Them.'
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Other notable movie roles included Lisa's portrayal of Bonnie in 'Cocktail,' where she played Tom Cruise’s older love interest, Mallory in 'Young Guns' and Flora in 'Dragonfly.' Her first acting credit was playing the mom in the 1984 film 'The Hotel New Hampshire,' starring Rob Lowe and Jodie Foster.
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One of her most recent stage appearances was in 2018 at the Huntington Theater Company in Boston, where she played one of the two lead roles in the premiere of Eleanor Burgess’s 'The Niceties.' In this drama, she portrayed a seemingly progressive lesbian professor opposite a young Black college student, played by Jordan Boatman.
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Lisa passed away on June 4, 2021, in a tragic hit-and-run involving an electric scooter. She was crossing Amsterdam Avenue on her way to meet her wife, Kathryn Kranhold, when she was struck. The scooter driver ran a red light at West 64th Street and fled the scene, causing Lisa to be thrown from the crosswalk.
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After enduring ten days in critical condition, Lisa, aged 65, tragically passed away. She sustained a traumatic brain injury in the devastating accident, which deeply affected the acting community and beyond.
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A number of notable friends, fans, and family members paid tribute to the late actress following her tragic passing. Gone Girl author and screenwriter Gillian Flynn expressed her sadness, saying, "My heart is so sad at the passing of Lisa Banes. I had the fortune to work with Lisa on 'Gone Girl', and she was vibrant, sharp, and incredibly charming. She would have absolutely intimidated me if she hadn't been so genuinely kind. Sending love to her wife, family, and many friends."
Lisa Banes had a diverse career in film, TV, and theater. She starred in movies like "Gone Girl" and "Cocktail," and appeared in TV shows such as "Royal Pains" and "The Good Wife."
In 2021, she tragically died after being hit by a car in New York City, which sparked an outpouring of tributes from the entertainment industry. Her work continues to be remembered and celebrated.
