Louise Lasser, star of 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman' and ex-wife of Woody Allen, dies at 87
The American actress, best known for her role in the satirical soap opera 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman' and for her early collaborations with filmmaker Woody Allen, died Monday of natural causes at her Manhattan home.
Death announced
Louise Lasser died on Monday, July 6, at her home on Manhattan's Upper East Side. She was 87. Her friend Susan Charlotte confirmed the death and said the cause was natural causes. The news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter and later confirmed by multiple outlets.
A television phenomenon
Lasser was best known for her lead role in the syndicated satirical soap opera "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," which aired five nights a week from January 1976 to July 1977. The show, produced and developed by Norman Lear, parodied daytime dramas and consumer culture. Lasser's character, Mary, was a pigtailed, innocent-looking Ohio housewife in gingham dresses, fretting about mundane household issues while navigating darkly comic storylines involving infidelity, serial killers and cults. The series pushed boundaries with deadpan humor and became a hit, making Lasser a frequent cover subject for magazines like People, Newsweek, Ms. and Rolling Stone. She earned an Emmy nomination in 1976, though her category was unusually classified.
She's a survivor, but that makes me sad. Because she's a survivor in a world I wonder if it's worth surviving in.
The show ran for 325 episodes and spawned two spin-offs.
Early career and Woody Allen collaborations
Before television fame, Lasser worked on Broadway, replacing Barbra Streisand in the musical 'I Can Get It for You Wholesale'. She married filmmaker Woody Allen in 1966, and the two collaborated on several films, including 'What's Up Tiger Lily?' (1966), 'Take the Money and Run' (1969), 'Bananas' (1971), and 'Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex' (1972). They divorced in 1970. Her reserved demeanor played well against Allen's neurotic screen persona, making her a memorable part of his early ensemble.
Later years
After "Mary Hartman," Lasser continued acting in films such as 'Requiem for a Dream' and 'Mystery Men,' and in 2014 appeared in the HBO series 'Girls' as the artist Beadie. She also had a role in the 2022 drama 'Funny Pages.'
I am shocked and deeply saddened: Louise Lasser is no longer among us. Let's raise our glass to this brilliant creator of 'Mary Hartman'.
Timeline
- Born in Manhattan, New York.
- Marries Woody Allen and appears in his film 'What's Up Tiger Lily?'.
- Appears in Allen's 'Take the Money and Run'.
- Stars in Allen's 'Bananas'.
- Acts in 'Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex'.
- Premiere of 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman'.
- The show ends after 325 episodes.
- Joins the cast of HBO's 'Girls' as Beadie.
- Appears in the film 'Funny Pages'.
- Dies of natural causes at her Manhattan home.
Life and legacy
Born in Manhattan on April 11, 1939, Lasser studied political science at Brandeis University before dropping out to pursue acting with Sanford Meisner. She began her career in theater and television commercials, eventually landing roles that made her a beloved figure in American comedy. Her offbeat, deadpan style left an indelible mark on television satire.
