Louise Lasser (1939 - 2026) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 07-07-2026, 12:27 PM

https://deadline.com/2026/07/louise-...ad-1236975719/

Louise Lasser, whose pig-tailed braids, bangs and baby-doll dresses took the nation by storm when they became her trademark look on Norman Lear’s Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in the 1970s, died Monday at her home in Manhattan. She was 87.

Her death was reported by her friend Susan Charlotte to The New York Times.

Initially making her name in early Woody Allen films – the two married in 1966 – Lasser employed a droll, deadpan comic delivery to great effect not only in Allen’s Take the Money and Run, Bananas and Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask), but in buzzy commercials for NyQuil and Excedrin
Early in her career she even briefly appeared on Broadway in 1962 as Barbra Streisand’s replacement in the musical I Can Get It for You Wholesale, but it wasn’t until January 1976 that Lasser shot to international stardom as the title character in Lear’s wildly offbeat soap opera parody Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

As envisioned by Lear, Hartman was not only a soap parody, but an actual soap, televised in syndication five days a week in half-hour installments, in some markets during traditional daytime soap timeslots and in some markets at 11 p.m. Both time periods were telling: The deadpan comedy and satirical bent was fitting in the post-primetime slots, while the faux melodrama of a working class family in small town Ohio (the fictional Fernwood) made for a clever addition to the afternoon sturm und drang that filled network hours.

With each episode opening in what was then the genre’s standard weepy music and static shot of a suburban kitchen, Mary Hartman (the name was repeated in both the show’s title and the audio accompanying the opening credits, with Mary’s mother, played by Dody Goodman, calling for her daughter as if summoning a child home for dinner) mixed everyday tribulations – at least as presented in advertising of the day – like waxy yellow building with domestic issues (impotence, adultery) and horrors of a more newsworthy kind (most notably, a mass murder just down the street from the Hartman residence).

Bonniegirl · 07-07-2026, 03:05 PM

Oh wow. So sad. Sorry to be hearing this!

Rest in peace , Louise . Mary Hartman always in my heart!

1960'sTVfan · 07-07-2026, 04:03 PM

Sad to learn about this, I had read recently that her health was not good and she had been confined to a wheelchair.

Just a few days ago I finished up watching season 1 episodes of Mary Hartman from the DVD set.

R.I.P. to her, a brilliant actress.

opus · 07-07-2026, 10:02 PM

SNL tribute

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Dude111 · 07-07-2026, 10:49 PM

Very sad

Alan Brady's Hair · 07-08-2026, 08:58 AM

Had a hilarious guest shot as Alex's ex-wife on Taxi, when Louie makes a play for her. RIP

howilu · 07-08-2026, 09:48 AM

I remember Louise Lasser on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. She was the perfect choice to play the title character. I'll always remember her breathy greeting on the show to her daughter Heather. Another role that stood out for her was as Phyllis, Alex's ex-wife on Taxi.

She was married to Woody Allen from 1966 to 1970 and had roles in several of his films, including the first movie I remember seeing at a drive-in movie in Minnesota, Bananas. It's a sad day for fans of MH2 who watched the show instead of the late news in many markets. May she rest in peace.

Howard · 07-08-2026, 06:41 PM

Absolutely brilliant in everything I had seen of her talent. I wish she did more work following MHMH! Loved her in Taxi and then she kinda faded out.

07-07-2026, 12:27 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,454	Louise Lasser (1939 - 2026) https://deadline.com/2026/07/louise-...ad-1236975719/ Louise Lasser, whose pig-tailed braids, bangs and baby-doll dresses took the nation by storm when they became her trademark look on Norman Lear’s Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in the 1970s, died Monday at her home in Manhattan. She was 87. Her death was reported by her friend Susan Charlotte to The New York Times. Initially making her name in early Woody Allen films – the two married in 1966 – Lasser employed a droll, deadpan comic delivery to great effect not only in Allen’s Take the Money and Run, Bananas and Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask), but in buzzy commercials for NyQuil and Excedrin Early in her career she even briefly appeared on Broadway in 1962 as Barbra Streisand’s replacement in the musical I Can Get It for You Wholesale, but it wasn’t until January 1976 that Lasser shot to international stardom as the title character in Lear’s wildly offbeat soap opera parody Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. As envisioned by Lear, Hartman was not only a soap parody, but an actual soap, televised in syndication five days a week in half-hour installments, in some markets during traditional daytime soap timeslots and in some markets at 11 p.m. Both time periods were telling: The deadpan comedy and satirical bent was fitting in the post-primetime slots, while the faux melodrama of a working class family in small town Ohio (the fictional Fernwood) made for a clever addition to the afternoon sturm und drang that filled network hours. With each episode opening in what was then the genre’s standard weepy music and static shot of a suburban kitchen, Mary Hartman (the name was repeated in both the show’s title and the audio accompanying the opening credits, with Mary’s mother, played by Dody Goodman, calling for her daughter as if summoning a child home for dinner) mixed everyday tribulations – at least as presented in advertising of the day – like waxy yellow building with domestic issues (impotence, adultery) and horrors of a more newsworthy kind (most notably, a mass murder just down the street from the Hartman residence).

07-07-2026, 03:05 PM	#2
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,948	Oh wow. So sad. Sorry to be hearing this! Rest in peace , Louise . Mary Hartman always in my heart!

07-07-2026, 04:03 PM	#3
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,134	Sad to learn about this, I had read recently that her health was not good and she had been confined to a wheelchair. Just a few days ago I finished up watching season 1 episodes of Mary Hartman from the DVD set. R.I.P. to her, a brilliant actress.

07-07-2026, 10:02 PM	#4
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,668	SNL tribute

07-07-2026, 10:49 PM	#5
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 36,745	Very sad

07-08-2026, 08:58 AM	#6
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 1,835	Had a hilarious guest shot as Alex's ex-wife on Taxi, when Louie makes a play for her. RIP

07-08-2026, 09:48 AM	#7
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,964	I remember Louise Lasser on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. She was the perfect choice to play the title character. I'll always remember her breathy greeting on the show to her daughter Heather. Another role that stood out for her was as Phyllis, Alex's ex-wife on Taxi. She was married to Woody Allen from 1966 to 1970 and had roles in several of his films, including the first movie I remember seeing at a drive-in movie in Minnesota, Bananas. It's a sad day for fans of MH2 who watched the show instead of the late news in many markets. May she rest in peace.

07-08-2026, 06:41 PM	#8
Howard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 23, 2003 Posts: 256	Absolutely brilliant in everything I had seen of her talent. I wish she did more work following MHMH! Loved her in Taxi and then she kinda faded out.