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'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman' Star Was 87
The Hollywood Reporter • • general
Key Points:
- Louise Lasser, known for being Woody Allen’s first leading lady and the star of the satirical TV series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, has died at age 87 from natural causes in Manhattan.
- Lasser appeared in several early Woody Allen films, including What’s Up Tiger Lily? (1966), Take the Money and Run (1969), Bananas (1971), and Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex (1972), and was married to Allen from 1966 to 1970.
- Her breakthrough role was the title character in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976-77), a groundbreaking, satirical soap opera parody that tackled taboo topics and aired five nights a week in syndication, earning her an Emmy nomination.
- Despite personal struggles, including a 1976 cocaine-related arrest and erratic behavior that led to a ban from hosting Saturday Night Live again, Lasser channeled her anxiety into her acting, notably influencing Mary Hartman’s mental breakdown plotline.
- Lasser continued acting in TV and film through the 1980s and beyond, with roles in Taxi, It’s a Living, and films such as Requiem for a Dream (2000), maintaining a steady career into the 2010s.
