Joan Copeland dead at 99: Broadway star and Law & Order actress passes in her sleep at home

LAW & Order actress and Broadway star Joan Copeland is dead at the age of 99 after passing away in her sleep at her Manhattan home. 

The famed soap opera star was also the sister of legendary playwright Arthur Miller – who wrote many of the plays Joan performed in during her six decade-long-career. 

She was also the younger sister of Kermit Miller, and was briefly sister-in-law to Marilyn Monroe, when the blond bombshell was married to Arthur.

Joan died early Tuesday in her sleep at her Manhattan home on Central Park West, her son, Eric, told The Hollywood Reporter.

One of the first members of The Actors Studio, Copeland worked on several daytime soap operas across all the major networks.

She portrayed twins Maggie and Kay on CBS’ Love of Life from 1960-63 and the villainess Andrea Whiting on CBS’ Search for Tomorrow from 1967-72.

She later appeared on CBS’ The Edge of Night, NBC’s How to Survive a Marriage, CBS’ As the World Turns and ABC’s One Life to Live.

Joan found her greatest fame on Broadway, where she appeaed opposite Ralph Bellamy and Edward Binns in Sidney Kingsley’s Detective Story.

She went on to serve as Katharine Hepburn’s understudy in the musical Coco, based on the life of Coco Chanel. That show ran for more than 320 performances from 1969-70.

Joan found herself again center stage in 1976, when she played Vera Simpson in a revival of the Rodgers & Hart musical Pal Joey.

She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance.

In the 1950’s, Joan turned her attention to television, where she enjoyed years of success.

Between 1993-1997 she portrayed the recurring character of Judge Rebecca Stein on Law & Order.

Her movie credits include Jungle 2 Jungle, The Peacemaker, and in one of her final roles Joan served as the voice of Tanana in Disney’s Brother Bear.

Joan was married to George J. Kupchik, an engineer, from 1946 until his death in 1989. She had a son named Eric with him.