'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman' Star Was 87
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Louise Lasser, best known for starring in Norman Lear’s satirical soap opera "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," has died at age 87 from natural causes in Manhattan.
- Lasser's role in "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" showcased her as a frazzled Midwestern homemaker in a show known for its absurdist comedy and satire of consumerism's impact on American housewives.
- She began her career on Broadway and was Woody Allen’s first leading lady, starring in his early films before their 1970 divorce.
- Lasser was a celebrated comedian who hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 1976 and appeared on popular TV shows such as "The Bob Newhart Show," "Taxi," and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."
- In later years, she took on roles in dark comedies like "Happiness" and "Funny Pages," and had a notable recurring role in HBO’s "Girls," where her character’s storyline involved a darkly comedic assisted suicide plot.
