Patti LuPone.
Patti LuPone, captured by John Nacion for Variety via Getty, is not one to shy away from speaking her truth—especially when it comes to former co-stars and lovers.
In a bold and unfiltered interview with The New Yorker, published Monday, May 26, the Broadway powerhouse opened up about long-standing tensions with fellow legends Audra McDonald, Glenn Close, and her ex-partner Kevin Kline, as she prepares for her upcoming guest appearance on …And Just Like That.
Known for her searing honesty and razor-sharp wit, LuPone delved into professional rifts and personal disappointments, offering a rare glimpse into the backstage drama that shaped some of Broadway’s most iconic chapters.
On Audra McDonald
While the two once shared the stage at The Drama League’s 27th Annual All-Star Benefit Gala, LuPone revealed that things weren’t as harmonious behind the curtain. “Audra just stopped talking to me,” LuPone said bluntly, without revealing further details about what caused the fallout. The remark stood as a quiet but cutting acknowledgment that even Broadway royalty can fall out of tune.
On Glenn Close
Perhaps the most infamous rift remains her clash with Glenn Close, whose casting in Sunset Boulevard derailed LuPone’s path to the American production. “It wasn’t just business. It was personal, and it hurt,” LuPone declared. The sting of being replaced still lingers, and her words make clear that this isn’t a chapter she’s willing to close quietly.
On Kevin Kline
LuPone also reflected on her former romance with actor Kevin Kline, calling the relationship “passionate but unsustainable.” “We loved each other, but it was too fiery, too volatile,” she said. While their chemistry once burned brightly, she admitted that the emotional highs and lows ultimately wore them both down.
Despite the years that have passed, LuPone’s memories remain sharp—and so does her voice. As she steps into her next role with …And Just Like That, she’s proving once again that she’s a force to be reckoned with—onstage, onscreen, and in every unapologetically honest interview.
