Marian Mercer
Born
Marian Ethel Mercer

(1935-11-26)November 26, 1935
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
DiedApril 27, 2011(2011-04-27) (aged 75)
Newbury Park, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Years active1955-2000
Spouse(s)Martin Cassidy (divorced)
Patrick Hogan (19??–2011; her death)
Children1
From The Sandy Duncan Show (1972). Front, L-R: Pam Zarit, Sandy Duncan, Tom Bosley. Back: M. Emmet Walsh, Marian Mercer

Marian Ethel Mercer (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.

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,[2] 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.[3]

Marian 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;[3] 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[4] 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

Year Title Role Notes
1969 John and Mary Mags Elliot
1978 Sammy Stops the World Evie
1980 Oh, God! Book II Harriet Manley
1980 9 to 5 Missy Hart
1992 Out on a Limb Ann Campbell Van Der Haven

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

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hevesi, Dennis (May 4, 2011). "Marian Mercer, Actress With Zany Streak, Is Dead at 75". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ "It's a Living". The New York Times. 2012. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Canby, Vincent (December 19, 1980). "'NINE TO FIVE,' OFFICE COMEDY". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ Girion, Lisa; Verrier, Richard (January 15, 2009). "Actors' hospital to close". Los Angeles Times.
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