Claim to Fame:
Louise Lasser became a household name for starring as the neurotic, unhappy
housewife Mary Hartman on the outrageous soap opera parody 'Mary Hartman, Mary
Hartman' which aired 5 nights a week in 1976-1977.
Family Life: Woody Allen (2 February 1966 - 1969) (divorced)
Info: Louise was class of 61 at Brandeis where she starred in a succession
of college musicals with Stuart Damon (of the soap "General Hospital").
Trivia: Louise first won notice in 1962 replacing Barbra Streisand in the
show-stopping role of Miss Marmelstein in the Broadway musical "I Can Get It For
You Wholesale".
Her father, Sol Lasser, was a well-known writer of an annual income tax guide.
Louise studied political science at Brandeis University.
Louise was the first host to be banned from performing on Saturday Night Live
again, after she hosted at the end of the first season on July 24, 1976. Lasser
was said to be going through personal problems at the time and was reportedly
nearly incoherent throughout the broadcast. Lasser refused to do any skits
(except ones where she was by herself or with Chevy Chase).
At one point before the show aired, Louise told producer Lorne Michaels that she
would not go on the air unless a certain sketch was cut. Michaels responded by
informing her that if she did so, he would announce on the live broadcast
exactly why she was not appearing as planned, and that the show would continue
without her. Chase planned to play all of Lasser's parts in a Mary Hartman wig,
with Dan Aykroyd taking Chase's parts.
Ultimately, she did go on. However, this episode was such a disappointment to
Lorne Michaels that it was also barred from syndication.
Where
is She Now: Despite seemingly walking away from her small screen
success as Mary Hartman, Louise continued to appear in memorable guest
appearances and the occasional TV-movie. Often cast as neurotics, apologetics or
just plain exasperating characters, the actress offered strong turns as Judd
Hirsch's ex-wife on "Taxi" in 1980 and 1982, as Ed Begley Jr.'s bungling aunt on
"St. Elsewhere" in 1982 and 1984, and as a woman who wreaks havoc in the life of
Richard Mulligan on "Empty Nest" (NBC, 1992).
Louise also found a secondary career as an acting teacher in New York.
Write to Louise:
Louise Lasser
200 E 71st St. #20C
New York, NY 10021
VIDEO CLIP: Check out this video clip of Louise in
the 2003 movie
National Lampoon's Gold Diggers. Click Here
CREDITS:
Lady Killers aka National Lampoon's Gold Diggers (2003) .... Doris Mundt
Wolves of Wall Street (2002) .... Landlady
Queenie in Love (2001) .... Martha
Club Land (2001) (TV) .... Frieda Barber
Fast Food Fast Women (2000) .... Emily
Requiem for a Dream (2000) .... Ada
Mystery Men (1999) .... Violet, The Blue Raja's Mom
Happiness (1998) .... Mona Jordan
Sudden Manhattan (1997) .... Dominga
Layin' Low (1996) .... Mrs. Muckler
The Night We Never Met (1993) .... Mrs. Winkler
"Empty Nest" .... Louise Polsky (1 episode, 1992)
- Good Neighbor Harry (1992) TV Episode .... Louise Polsky
Frankenhooker (1990) .... Jeffreys Mother
Modern Love (1990) .... Greg's Mom
Rude Awakening (1989) .... Bonnie
Sing (1989) .... Rosie
Surrender (1987) .... Joyce
Blood Rage (1987) .... Maddy
The Perils of P.K. (1986)
Crimewave (1985) .... Helene Trend
"St. Elsewhere" .... Aunt Charise (2 episodes, 1984)
- Cramming (1984) TV Episode .... Aunt Charise
- In Sickness and in Health (1984) .... Aunt Charise
"Laverne & Shirley" .... Sister Margaret (1 episode, 1983)
- The Monastery Show (1983) TV Episode .... Sister Margaret
"Taxi" .... Phyllis Bornstein Consuelos (3 episodes, 1980-1982)
- Get Me Through the Holidays (1982) .... Phyllis Bornstein Consuelos
- Take My Ex-Wife, Please (1982) .... Phyllis Bornstein Consuelos
- Fathers of the Bride (1980) .... Phyllis Bornstein Consuelos
"It's a Living" (1980) .... Maggie McBurney (1981-1982)
For Ladies Only (1981) (TV) .... Beth Doyle
Stardust Memories (1980) (uncredited) .... Sandy Bates' Secretary
In God We Tru$t (1980) .... Mary
Simon (1980) (voice) (uncredited) .... Doris the Computer
Just Me and You (1978) (TV) .... Jane Alofsin
"Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" .... Mary Hartman (1976-1977)
"Saturday Night Live" .... Host (1 episode, 1976)
- Episode #1.23 (1976) TV Episode .... Host
"Medical Center" .... Esther (1 episode, 1975)
- The Price of a Child (1975) TV Episode .... Esther
Moe and Joe (1974) (TV)
"McCloud" .... Sgt. Maggie Philbin (1 episode, 1974)
- A Cowboy in Paradise (1974) TV Episode .... Sgt. Maggie Philbin
"Love Story" .... Elaine Kaplan (1 episode, 1973)
- The Roller Coaster Stops Here (1973) TV Episode .... Elaine Kaplan
Isn't It Shocking? (1973) (TV) .... Blanche
Coffee, Tea or Me? (1973) (TV) .... Susan Edmonds
Slither (1973) .... Mary Fenaka
"Mary Tyler Moore" .... Anne Adams (1 episode, 1973)
- Mary Richards & the Incredible Plant Lady (1973) .... Anne Adams
"The Bob Newhart Show" .... Mrs. Radford (1 episode, 1972)
- P-I-L-O-T (1972) TV Episode .... Mrs. Radford
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (1972) .... Gina
Such Good Friends (1971) .... Marcy Berns
"Love, American Style" .... (segment "Love and the Plumber") (1 episode, 1971)
Bananas (1971) .... Nancy
Men of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger Story (1971) (TV)
Take the Money and Run (1969) .... Kay Lewis
What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966) (voice) .... Dubbed voice
What's New, Pussycat (1965) (uncredited) .... The Nutcracker
"The Doctors" (1963) TV Series .... Jackie ( 1964)
WRITING CREDITS:
Just Me and You (1978) (TV)
What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966)
Updated:
1/21/2007
