American actress
Marian Mercer
Born Marian Ethel Mercer
(1935-11-26 ) November 26, 1935Died April 27, 2011(2011-04-27) (aged 75) Alma mater University of Michigan Years active 1955-2000 Spouse(s) Martin Cassidy (divorced) Patrick Hogan (19??–2011; her death) Children 1
From The Sandy Duncan Show (1972). Front, L-R: Pam Zarit, Sandy Duncan , Tom Bosley . Back: M. Emmet Walsh , Marian Mercer
Marian Ethel Mercer [citation needed ] (November 26, 1935 – April 27, 2011) was an American actress and singer.
Career
Born in Akron, Ohio , Mercer was the daughter of Samuel and Nellie Mercer.[ 1] She graduated from the University of Michigan , then spent several seasons working in summer stock . She made her Broadway debut in the chorus of the short-lived musical, Greenwillow in 1960.[ 2]
She drew critical notice for her performance in New Faces of 1962 , and won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical , the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance, and the Theatre World Award for her performance as Marge MacDougall in Promises, Promises (1968).[ 1] Additional theatre credits include Hay Fever and the short-lived 1978 revival of Stop the World – I Want to Get Off with Sammy Davis Jr. [ 1] In 1979, she starred as Deirdre in Bosoms and Neglect .
Mercer was a regular on television, appearing in The Dom DeLuise Show , The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters , The Sandy Duncan Show , A Touch of Grace (starring Shirley Booth ), The Andy Williams Show , and the sitcom It's a Living ,[ 3] in which she played piquant restaurant hostess Nancy Beebe Miller. (Mercer was one of four members of the cast who lasted through the series' network and syndicated runs; the others were Gail Edwards , Paul Kreppel , and Barrie Youngfellow ). She had recurring roles on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman ; its sequel, Forever Fernwood ; St. Elsewhere ; and Empty Nest .
She made guest appearances on such shows as Love, American Style ; Archie Bunker's Place ; Mama's Family ; Benson ; The Golden Girls ; Murder, She Wrote ; Touched by an Angel ; and Suddenly Susan , among many others. She had featured roles in the television films The Cracker Factory (1979), which starred Natalie Wood , and Murder in Three Acts (1986), starring Peter Ustinov and Tony Curtis . Her big screen credits include John and Mary (1969); Oh, God! Book II (1980); and 9 to 5 (1980), where she played Missy Hart.[ 4]
Mercer had been reunited with two former co-stars of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (in which she played Wanda Rittenhouse Jeeter) in two separate projects. She was reunited first with Dabney Coleman (he had played Merle Jeeter) in the film 9 to 5 ;[ 4] and then with Louise Lasser (who played Mary Hartman) on It's a Living .
Death
Mercer was a resident of the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California [ 5] where she resided until her death on April 27, 2011, from Alzheimer's disease in Newbury Park, California at the age of 75.[ 1]
Filmography
Film
Television
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1972
The Sandy Duncan Show
Kay Fox
Main role
1973
A Touch of Grace
Myra Bradley
Main role
1974
Love, American Style
Lucy
Segment: "Love and the Itchy Condition"
1974
Police Woman
Jo Enders
Episode: "Fish"
1975
Great Performances
Masha
Episode: "The Seagull"
1975
The Bob Crane Show
Miss Chandler
Episode: "The Lyle Principle"
1976
Serpico
Sister Margaret
Episode: "The Traitor in Our Midst"
1976–77
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Wanda Rittenhouse Jeeter
Supporting role
1977
Forever Fernwood
Wanda Jeeter
Supporting role
1978
King of the Road
Mildred
TV film
1978
The Harvey Korman Show
Grace
Episode: "The One Where Harvey Gets a Job as an Escort"
1979
The Cracker Factory
Eleanor
TV film
1979
Archie Bunker's Place
Miss Bradshaw
Episode: "Bosom Partners"
1980
Phyl & Mikhy
Miss Crandal
Episode: "Mikhy's Visitor"
1980–1989
It's a Living
Nancy Beebe Miller
Regular role
1981, 1984
Benson
Trudi, Ursula Van Dyne
Episodes: "Rivals", "Made in Hong Kong: Parts 1 & 2"
1982
9 to 5
Frances
Episode: "The Loverwear Party"
1982
Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice
Rita
TV film
1983
Ace Crawford... Private Eye
Maureen
Episode: "The Gentleman Bandit"
1983
Foot in the Door
Mrs. Griffin
TV series
1983, 1986
St. Elsewhere
Eve Leighton
Recurring role (season 2), guest (season 5)
1984
The Love Boat
Mrs. Rhodes
1 episode
1984
Mama's Family
Felicia
Episode: "Mama for Mayor: Part 2"
1984
Booker
Mrs. Ruffner
TV film
1986
ABC Afterschool Special
Sister Regina
Episode: "Are You My Mother?"
1986
You Again?
Dr. Woods
Episode: "Henry and Matt Get Sick"
1986
Murder in Three Acts
Daisy Eastman
TV film
1989
Oh, Henry!
Mildred
TV film
1990
The Golden Girls
Magda
Episode: "Sisters and Other Strangers"
1991
Sunday Dinner
Martha Benedict
Main role
1991
The Julie Show
June Robbins
TV film
1992
Murder, She Wrote
Penelope Hope Daniels
Episode: "The Witch's Curse"
1992
Harry and the Hendersons
Monica
Episode: "Born Again"
1992–1994
Empty Nest
Ursula Dietz
Episode: "The Unimportance of Being Charley", "My Mother, My Self", "Love a la Mode"
1993
Home Free
Grace Bailey
Main role
1996
Common Law
Bunny
Episode: "In the Matter Of: John's 15 Minutes"
1998
Working
Mrs. Richards
Episode: "The Closer"
1998
Touched by an Angel
Flo
Episode: "Lady of the Lake"
1998
Suddenly Susan
Mrs. Richmond
Episode: "The Thanksgiving Episode"
2000
Providence
Episode: "Paradise Inn"
References
^ a b c d Hevesi, Dennis (May 4, 2011). "Marian Mercer, Actress With Zany Streak, Is Dead at 75" . The New York Times .
^ https://playbill.com/article/marian-mercer-tony-winner-for-promises-promises-dies-at-75-com-178891
^ "It's a Living" . The New York Times . 2012. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012.
^ a b Canby, Vincent (December 19, 1980). " 'NINE TO FIVE,' OFFICE COMEDY" . The New York Times .
^ Girion, Lisa; Verrier, Richard (January 15, 2009). "Actors' hospital to close" . Los Angeles Times .
External links
1950–1975 1976–2000 2001–present
International National Artists