Louise Lasser, the actress best known for playing Mary Hartman in Norman Lear’s groundbreaking series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, has died at the age of 87. Over a career spanning decades, Lasser appeared in television, films and theatre. But it was her unforgettable portrayal of the anxious suburban housewife Mary Hartman that turned her into one of television’s most distinctive stars.
Who Is Louise Lasser?
Louise Lasser was born in New York City on April 11, 1939. She studied political science at Brandeis University, where she also performed in musicals and cabaret productions. Before completing her degree, she left college to pursue acting full-time.
Her career took off almost immediately. Reflecting on those early days, she once told the Los Angeles Times, “My career started almost too easily. In New York, the first agent I met sent me on my first audition, and I was signed for a show-stopping part. After that there was a flood of offers.”
Despite her quick success, Lasser admitted she felt unprepared and later trained under renowned acting teacher Sanford Meisner to hone her craft.
Louise Lasser’s Career
Throughout the early 1970s, Lasser appeared in television series including The Bob Newhart Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Then came Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.
Created by Norman Lear, the satirical soap opera became one of television’s most talked-about shows, with Lasser starring in 315 of its 325 episodes. Interestingly, she almost never accepted the role. Lasser turned it down five times before finally agreeing.
Recalling the decision years later, she said, “I kept saying, no, it’s just not right. I had no job, no money… After the fifth meeting, I said to my manager, ‘You mean he’s not going to call again?'”
Eventually, she realised she didn’t really want to say no and accepted the part that would define her career.
Norman Lear himself believed no one else could have played Mary Hartman. “She came in my office, started to read the lines and forget it. There’s only one Louise Lasser,” he once said.
Louise Lasser’s Marriage To Woody Allen
Lasser was also known for her relationship with filmmaker Woody Allen. The two met in 1962 on a double date even though they were both with other people. They married in 1966 before divorcing four years later.
During their time together, Lasser appeared in several of Allen’s early films, including Take the Money and Run, Bananas and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask). Years later, she joked that playing Mary Hartman had finally given her an identity beyond being known as Woody Allen’s former wife.
Although Louise Lasser appeared in numerous television shows and films throughout her career, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman remains the role audiences remember most. With her passing at 87, television has lost one of its most original and unforgettable performers.
RIP Louise Lasser!
