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Actress Lynn Redgrave died from cancer Sunday night at her home in Kent, Conn.

In New Jersey, The Paper Mill Playhouse is mourning the loss of Redgrave, who appeared on the Paper Mill Playhouse stage in "The Importance of Being Earnest" in early 2009 and has remained close with the Millburn theater until her passing.

Ms. Redgrave is to be honored at Paper Mill Playhouse's Gala Event on Wednesday, May 12th at The Hilton Short Hills.

Paper Mill Playhouse will pay tribute to the life and legacy of Lynn Redgrave and present its first Frank Carrington Excellence in the Arts Award. Named after Paper Mill Playhouse's co-founder and first Executive Producer, this award is given to a Paper Mill Playhouse artist who has accomplished great things in the entertainment field. The award will be accepted by Ms. Redgrave's good friend Cynthia Mace.

"We were honored to have Lynn Redgrave perform at Paper Mill last year, says Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill Playhouse Artistic Director. What was so inspiring about Lynn was that her dedication to her art was only surpassed by her commitment to her family. Although Lynn Redgrave was theater royalty, she made everyone feel as if they were her best friend. She will truly be missed."

"Lynn Redgrave was an inspiration to everyone at Paper Mill Playhouse, says Mark W. Jones, Paper Mill Playhouse Executive Director. That is to say that every person who worked here came to know her and delighted in her charm and joy for living. Too, all of us basked in her wisdom and devotion to her craft. We are delighted to honor her legacy at our Gala."

Lynn Redgrave was the Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee for "Gods and Monsters" (1998) and "Georgy Girl" (1966). Ms. Redgrave won the 2003 Drama Desk Award for Talking Heads as Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. In 2006, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for "The Constant Wife." She was also nominated for a Grammy Award for "The Witches" in the category of Best Spoken Word Album for Children. Ms. Redgrave was a founding member of Britain's National Theatre, now the Royal National Theatre, under the direction of Sir Laurence Olivier. She has also written the text for Journal, "A Mother and Daughter's Recovery From Breast Cancer," featuring photographs by her daughter, Annabel Clark, currently in its third printing from Umbrage Editions.

— ANDY LAGOMARSINO, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM