Did 'Phyllis' Kill Lisa Gerritsen's Career? I Say Yes!

[Brian Damage]

I have been doing a bit of research on Lisa (Bess Lindstrom) Gerritsen's career and all I can say is Wow! She was involved in a lot of projects on both TV and movies.

Then came The Mary Tyler Moore Show and subsequent spin-off Phyllis and all of a sudden this once hot young commodity disappeared. What the heck happened???

[shotzette]

Wow. That's a pretty big leap to a conclusion with minimal facts to support it. There could be a reason that Lisa Gerritson is no longer persuing an acting career.

A. Not all cute child actors make good adult actors

B. When you are no longer the "flavor of the month" things change

C. She may be doing something that she finds to be more fulfilling

D. All of the above or none of the above; who's to say?

[Leslie Eckhardt]

I'm not sure why Lisa dropped out of showbiz after Phyllis, but I don't think it was because she lost her talent as she aged. I always thought she was one of the most under-appreciated actors in MTM and Phyllis. Her portrayal of Bess hit just the right note, and she played perfectly opposite Cloris Leachman and helped engender understanding for the Phyllis character.

[scotsguy]

I think also,Acting can be such a tough business,going to auditions,not getting the part,the uncertainty of it all,maybe she just thought I'll get a 9 to 5 job.

[PracTz]

I'm not so sure Ms. Gerritsen really wanted to have an acting career after childhood. Compare how chipper, enthusiastic and razor sharp her performances were in the early "MTM" as a child and how draggy and sullen her performances seemed on "Phyllis" as a teen. I have no idea what may have happened on or offstage that might have turned her off acting but I wouldn't be surprised that as soon as she came of legal age, she put her foot down never to act again and perhaps was even relieved at "Phyllis's" cancellation.

[Brian Damage]

I will say this, she lost her "cute Factor" a while after MTM. When Phyllis came along she was a young adult. I'd really like to know what happened after the show went off the air. Was she fed up with Hollywood or was Hollywood fed up with her?

Either way, I am sure she is happy whatever she is doing today.

[Mr. Television]

Here's a nice archive website about Lisa. It tells of all the things she used to be in.

http://web.archive.org/web/200304040...om/page_1.html

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

Here's a nice archive website about Lisa. It tells of all the things she used to be in.

http://web.archive.org/web/200304040...om/page_1.html

Thanks Sonny

[Chrisothebigc]

Lisa's involvement in PHYLLIS was limited, because she chose to pursue her education. She had no intention of continuing on in the entertainment industry. She quietly retired when PHYLLIS was cancelled. I forget the source, it was years ago. She married, had kids and worked for some company for years...sorry, can't remember which one. Silly to assume PHYLLIS killed anyone's career, really. It wasn't the TITANIC, you know. ��

[ThomasE]

Just as long she is doing ok. I liked Bess.

[missy's pop pop]

WHAT "career?" If my memory is correct, Lisa Gerritsen appeared in "My World and Welcome to It" (1969-70) before she became Bess Lindstrom on "Mary Tyler Moore," "Phyllis," et al.

That's like asking "Did 'Bewitched' Kill Erin Murphy's Career?"

[jehobden]

Originally Posted by missy's pop pop

WHAT "career?" If my memory is correct, Lisa Gerritsen appeared in "My World and Welcome to It" (1969-70) before she became Bess Lindstrom on "Mary Tyler Moore," "Phyllis," et al.

That's like asking "Did 'Bewitched' Kill Erin Murphy's Career?"

She made enough other performances, aside from these 3 series, to receive note in a TV Guide cover article in 1971. (She appeared on the cover with MTM.) The article, mostly a picture layout, also noted her recent appearance as a Girl Scout on The Odd Couple, where she appeared with Pamelyn Ferdin & several other young actresses.