Legendary ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’ Star Louise Lasser Dies At 87

• Louise Lasser, the Emmy-nominated star of ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,’ died of natural causes on July 6 at the age of 87.
• She became a television icon in the 1970s for her starring role in Norman Lear’s groundbreaking satirical soap opera.
• Lasser also appeared in several films, HBO’s Girls, and spent her later years teaching and mentoring young actors.

 

Louise Lasser, the Emmy-nominated actress who became a television icon as the star of the groundbreaking satirical soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, has died. She was 87. Lasser died of natural causes at her home in New York City on July 6, according to her longtime friend Susan Charlotte, who confirmed her death.

Born in New York City on April 11, 1939, Lasser rose to fame in 1976 when she took on the title role in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Produced by Norman Lear, the unconventional series aired five nights a week and became a cultural phenomenon for its sharp satire of suburban life and American consumerism. Lasser’s unforgettable performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and made her one of television’s biggest stars of the decade.

Louise Lasser rises to stardom

Before her television breakthrough, Lasser appeared in several early films directed by her then-husband, filmmaker Woody Allen, including Take the Money and Run, Bananas and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask). She later expanded her career with roles in films including Happiness and Requiem for a Dream, while a new generation of viewers came to know her through her recurring role as Beadie on HBO’s Girls.

Away from the screen, Lasser devoted much of her later career to teaching aspiring actors through her acting studio on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Friends and former students remembered her as an insightful mentor whose passion for acting extended well beyond her own performances. She is survived by her partner, Michael Citriniti.

Life in and out of the spotlight

Lasser’s acting career began on Broadway before she found success in television and film. Over the years, she made memorable guest appearances on series including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Laverne & Shirley and St. Elsewhere. She also famously hosted an early episode of Saturday Night Live during the show’s inaugural season, further cementing her place in 1970s television history.

Although she stepped away from the spotlight in later years, Lasser remained closely associated with Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, a series widely regarded as one of television’s most innovative comedies. Her fearless performance helped redefine what audiences expected from a leading actress on television, ensuring her place as one of the era’s most distinctive and influential stars.