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Marian Ethel Mercer (November 26, 1935 – April 27, 2011) was an American actress and singer.
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She drew critical notice for her performance in New Faces of 1962, and won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance, and the Theatre World Award for her performance as Marge MacDougall in Promises, Promises (1968). Additional theatre credits include Hay Fever and the short-lived 1978 revival of Stop the World – I Want to Get Off with Sammy Davis Jr. In 1979, she starred as Deirdre in Bosoms and Neglect.
Mercer was a regular on television, appearing in The Dom DeLuise Show, The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters, The Sandy Duncan Show, A Touch of Grace (starring Shirley Booth), The Andy Williams Show, and the situation comedy It's a Living, in which she played piquant restaurant hostess Nancy Beebe Miller. (Mercer was one of four members of the cast who lasted through the series' network and syndicated runs; the others were Gail Edwards, Paul Kreppel, and Barrie Youngfellow). She had recurring roles on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; its sequel, Forever Fernwood; St. Elsewhere; and Empty Nest.
She made guest appearances on such shows as Love, American Style; Archie Bunker's Place; Mama's Family; Benson; The Golden Girls; Murder, She Wrote; Touched by an Angel; and Suddenly Susan, among many others. She had featured roles in the The Cracker Factory (1979), which starred Natalie Wood, and Murder in Three Acts (1986), starring Peter Ustinov and Tony Curtis. Her big screen credits include John and Mary (1969); Oh, God! Book II (1980); and 9 to 5 (1980), where she played Missy Hart.
Mercer had been reunited with two former co-stars of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (in which she played Wanda Rittenhouse Jeeter) in two separate projects. She was reunited first with Dabney Coleman (he had played Merle Jeeter) in the film 9 to 5; and then with Louise Lasser (who played Mary Hartman) on It's a Living.
Death
Mercer was a resident of the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles where she resided until her death on April 27, 2011, from Alzheimer's disease in Newbury Park, California at the age of 75.
Filmography
Film
1969 John and Mary Mags Elliot 1978 Sammy Stops the World Evie 1980 Oh, God! Book II Harriet Manley 1980 9 to 5 Missy Hart 1992 Out on a Limb Ann Campbell Van Der Haven
Television
1972 Kay Fox Main role 1973 Myra Bradley Main role 1974 Love, American Style Lucy Segment: "Love and the Itchy Condition" 1974 Police Woman Jo Enders Episode: "Fish" 1975 Great Performances Masha Episode: "The Seagull" 1975 Miss Chandler Episode: "The Lyle Principle" 1976 Serpico Sister Margaret Episode: "The Traitor in Our Midst" 1976–77 Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Wanda Rittenhouse Jeeter Supporting role 1977 Forever Fernwood Wanda Jeeter Supporting role 1978 King of the Road Mildred TV film 1978 Grace Episode: "The One Where Harvey Gets a Job as an Escort" 1979 Eleanor TV film 1979 Archie Bunker's Place Miss Bradshaw Episode: "Bosom Partners" 1980 Phyl & Mikhy Miss Crandal Episode: "Mikhy's Visitor" 1980–1989 It's a Living Nancy Beebe Miller Regular role (120 episodes) 1981, 1984 Benson Trudi, Ursula Van Dyne Episodes: "Rivals", "Made in Hong Kong: Parts 1 & 2" 1982 9 to 5 Frances Episode: "The Loverwear Party" 1982 Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice Rita TV film 1983 Ace Crawford... Private Eye Maureen Episode: "The Gentleman Bandit" 1983 Foot in the Door Mrs. Griffin TV series 1983, 1986 St. Elsewhere Eve Leighton Recurring role (season 2), guest (season 5) 1984 Mrs. Rhodes 1 episode 1984 Mama's Family Felicia Episode: "Mama for Mayor: Part 2" 1984 Booker Mrs. Ruffner TV film 1986 ABC Afterschool Special Sister Regina Episode: "Are You My Mother?" 1986 You Again? Dr. Woods Episode: "Henry and Matt Get Sick" 1986 Murder in Three Acts Daisy Eastman TV film 1989 Oh, Henry! Mildred TV film 1990 Magda Episode: "Sisters and Other Strangers" 1991 Sunday Dinner Martha Benedict Main role 1991 June Robbins TV film 1992 Murder, She Wrote Penelope Hope Daniels Episode: "The Witch's Curse" 1992 Harry and the Hendersons Monica Episode: "Born Again" 1992–1994 Empty Nest Ursula Dietz Episode: "The Unimportance of Being Charley", "My Mother, My Self", "Love a la Mode" 1993 Home Free Grace Bailey Main role 1996 Common Law Bunny Episode: "In the Matter Of: John's 15 Minutes" 1998 Working Mrs. Richards Episode: "The Closer" 1998 Touched by an Angel Flo Episode: "Lady of the Lake" 1998 Suddenly Susan Mrs. Richmond Episode: "The Thanksgiving Episode" 2000 Providence Episode: "Paradise Inn"
External links
Categories: 1935 Births, 2011 Deaths, Actresses From Akron, Ohio, American Stage Actresses, American Musical Theatre Actresses, American Television Actresses, Drama Desk Award Winners, Musicians From Akron, Ohio, Theatre World Award Winners, Tony Award Winners, University Of Michigan Alumni, Deaths From Alzheimer's Disease In California, People From Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, 21st-century American Women, American People Of Scottish Descent
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