Nancy Walker(bornAnna Myrtle Swoyer;[note 1][citation needed]May 10, 1922 – March 25, 1992)[1]was an American actress and comedian of stage, screen, and television. She was also afilmandtelevision director(lending her talents toThe Mary Tyler Moore Show,on which she also made several guest appearances). During her five-decade-long career, she may be best remembered for her long-running roles as Mildred onMcMillan & Wifeand as Ida Morgenstern on several episodes ofThe Mary Tyler Moore Showand on the spinoff seriesRhodaas a prominent recurring character.
Nancy Walker | |
|---|---|
 TrailerforBest Foot Forward(1943) | |
| Born | Anna Myrtle Swoyer May 10, 1922 |
| Died | March 25, 1992(aged 69) Studio City, Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Other names | Nan Barto |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, director |
| Years active | 1937–1992 |
| Spouses | Gar Moore
(m.1948;div.1949)David Craig (m.1951) |
| Children | 1 |
| Father | Dewey Barto |
Early life
editShe was born Anna Myrtle Swoyer inPhiladelphiato vaudevillian parents, the elder of two daughters. When she was 10 months old, she made her debut invaudevillealongside her parents. She decided to become an actress at the age of 10.[1]
Acting career
edit
In 1937, as "Nan Barto", Walker appeared on theNBCradio programsCoast to Coast on a BusandOur Barn.[2]She made herBroadwaydebut in 1941 inBest Foot Forward.The role provided Walker with her film debut, when she signed a contract withMetro-Goldwyn-Mayerto appear in the 1943film version,starringLucille Ball.She also appeared withMickey RooneyandJudy Garlandin the second film version ofGirl Crazy(1943). Her next film,Broadway Rhythm,in which she had a featured musical number backed byTommy Dorsey and His Orchestra,"Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet", ended Walker's contract with MGM.[citation needed]
She continued acting throughout the 1940s and 1950s, originating the roles of Hildy Eszterhazy ( "I Can Cook, Too!" ) inOn the Town(1944), Yetta Samovar inBarefoot Boy with Cheek(1947), and Lily Malloy inLook, Ma, I'm Dancin'!(1948) on Broadway. She was nominated for aTony Awardin 1956 for her work in the musical revuePhoenix '55,and again in 1960 for her performance inDo Re Mi,oppositePhil Silvers.[3]
Walker also starred in the short-lived Broadway musical comedyCopper and Brassin 1957, and appeared in the 1958New York City Centerproduction ofWonderful Town.For the early 1970s revival ofA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,she appeared again opposite Silvers, playing the character of Domina. Owing to her television contractual responsibilities, she was unable to transfer with the show to Broadway. Her musical appearances led to record releases, includingI Hate Men(1959; withSid Bassand his orchestra, featuring such show tunes as "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair",and" You Irritate Me So "); the cover featured Walker humorously sticking male dolls with pins.[4]
Dozens of television guest appearances and recurring roles followed, providing her with steady work. Her career spanned five decades and included comedies, dramas, and television variety shows such asFaye Emerson's Wonderful Town,The Garry Moore Show,andThe Carol Burnett Show.
In the 1960–61 television season, she appeared in two episodes ofNBC'sThe Tab Hunter Show.In 1970, she secured a recurring role as Emily, the housekeeper, on the television seriesFamily Affair,which starredBrian Keith.After five seasons, though, the ratings ofFamily Affairhad plummeted opposite NBC's popularThe Flip Wilson Show.The series was canceled at the end of that season.[5]
In 1970, she also made her first appearance playing Ida Morgenstern, the mother ofValerie Harper's characterRhoda Morgensternon the first season ofThe Mary Tyler Moore Show.The role proved to be ideal for her. The episode that introduced her character, "Support Your Local Mother", was so well received that it won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing Achievement in a Comedy Series forJames L. BrooksandAllan Burns.Walker thereafter became an annual guest star on the show for the next three years. When the MTM spinoff seriesRhodapremiered in 1974, Walker was a regular cast member in 41 episodes.[citation needed]
From 1971 to 1976, she was a regular on the successfulRock Hudsondetective seriesMcMillan & Wife,playing the McMillans' housekeeper, Mildred. During the first two years ofRhoda,Walker was not featured every week, so she was able to shuttle back and forth between the CBS sitcom and the NBC detective series. These two roles brought her sevenEmmy Awardnominations. In 1976, ABC-TV offered Walker a contract to headline her own series,The Nancy Walker Show,which was produced byNorman Lear's production company, in which she starred as Nancy Kittredge, a talent agent. Walker appeared on a second-season episode ofThe Muppet Show.[6]
Before she filmed the first episode of the series, Walker made her only appearance onRhodafor the 1976–77 season. In the season premiere, "The Separation", Rhoda (Valerie Harper) and her husband Joe (David Groh) decide to separate. Rhoda tries to keep the news from her mother Ida (Walker), since Ida is about to embark on a year-long trip across America with Rhoda's father (Harold Gould). Ida learns the truth from Rhoda prior to Ida's departure.
One of Walker's last major film roles was in the 1976 all-star comedy spoofMurder by Death.She continued to remain active in show business until her death, playing Rosie, aNew Jerseydiner waitress, in a series of commercials forBountypaper towelsfrom 1970 to 1990. She helped make the product'sslogan,"the quicker picker-upper", a commoncatchphrase.[7]She credited the towel commercials with landing her the role of Ida Morgenstern.[8]
In 1990, Walker began starring on theFoxsitcomTrue Colorsas Sara Bower, the outspoken mother of Ellen Davis Freeman (Stephanie Faracy), who moves into Ellen's household despite having objections to her daughter's interracial marriage. In 1990, Walker appeared as herself in theColumboepisode "Uneasy Lies the Crown".[citation needed]
Directing career
editWalker had guest starred as Rhoda's motherIda Morgensternin several episodes ofThe Mary Tyler Moore Show,and continued that role in itsspin-offRhoda.After establishing the character, Walker directed some episodes of both series, along with episodes of othersituation comedyseries.[9]
In 1980, Walker made her feature-film directorial debut, directingdiscogroupThe Village PeopleandOlympianBruce Jennerin the pseudo-biographical musicalCan't Stop the Music.The film was a box-office failure, and Walker's sole feature-film directorial credit. After the film, she did some stage and television directing, including three episodes of the situation comedyAlice.[9]
Personal life
editWalker was married twice. Her first husband wasGar Moore,whom she wed on August 1, 1948. They divorced within 10 months. She remarried, to musical theater teacher David Craig on January 29, 1951. Craig died in 1998 at the age of 75 from lung cancer.[10]
Walker was also a close friend of actorMontgomery Clift.BiographerPatricia Bosworthstated the two first met in 1948, but did not become good friends until 10 years later, after Clift's disfiguring car accident. Bosworth adds that Walker would sustain him as his dearest friend for the rest of his life; their relationship was one of mutual support – whereas most of Clift's friends assumed he needed to be looked after, or else left alone, Walker stated, "he needed to be needed", adding "I liked his face better after the accident; his strengthshonethrough. "Clift nicknamed friends for whom he felt particular affection, and he called Walker" Nanny ".[11]
Walker was aDemocratwho supportedAdlai Stevenson's campaign during the1952 presidential election.[12]
Death
editWalker died of lung cancer on March 25, 1992, at age 69, inStudio City, California.[13]
Filmography
edit| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1943 | Best Foot Forward | Nancy – Blind Date | |
| 1943 | Girl Crazy | Polly Williams | |
| 1944 | Broadway Rhythm | Trixie Simpson | |
| 1954 | Lucky Me | Flo Neely | |
| 1972 | Stand Up and Be Counted | Agnes | |
| 1973 | The World's Greatest Athlete | Mrs. Petersen | |
| 1973 | 40 Carats | Mrs. Margie Margolin | |
| 1975 | Death Scream | Mrs. Jacobs | |
| 1976 | Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood | Mrs. Fromberg | |
| 1976 | Murder by Death | Maid | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1959 | The World of Sholom Aleichem | Wife | Play of the Week "Tale of Chelm" |
| 1959–1964 | The Garry Moore Show | Herself | Regular guest star (13 episodes) |
| 1960 | The Tab Hunter Show | Buddy Parker | Episode: "I Love a Marine" |
| 1970–1971 | Family Affair | Emily Turner | Recurring role (6 episodes) |
| 1971–1974 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Ida Morgenstern | Recurring role (4 episodes) |
| 1971–1976 | McMillan & Wife | Mildred | Main cast (32 episodes) |
| 1972 | Bridget Loves Bernie | Aunt Ruthie | Episode: "The Little White Lie That Grew" |
| 1973 | The Partridge Family | Mrs. Applebaum | Episode: "Aspirin at 7, dinner at 8" |
| 1974 | Thursday's Game | Mrs. Bender | Television film |
| 1974–1978 | Rhoda | Ida Morgenstern | Main cast (42 episodes) |
| 1976–1977 | The Nancy Walker Show | Nancy Kitteridge | Main role (13 episodes) |
| 1977 | Blansky's Beauties | Nancy Blansky | Main role (13 episodes) |
| 1978 | Fantasy Island | Mumsy | Episode: "The Common Man" |
| 1982 | Trapper John, M.D. | Harriett Krieger | Episode: "42" |
| 1987 | The Golden Girls | Angela | Recurring role (2 episodes) |
| 1987–1988 | Mama's Boy | Molly McCaskey | Main role (6 episodes) |
| 1989 | Newhart | Aunt Louise | Episode: "Attack of the Killer Aunt" |
| 1990 | Columbo | Herself | Episode: "Uneasy Lies the Crown" |
| 1990–1992 | True Colors | Sara Bower | Main cast (46 episodes) |
Stage/musical theatre work
edit- Best Foot Forward(1941)
- On the Town(1944–1946)
- Barefoot Boy with Cheek(1947)
- Look Ma, I'm Dancin'!(1948)
- Along Fifth Avenue(1949)
- The Roaring Girl(1951)
- Pal Joey(1952; succeedingHelen Gallagher)
- Phoenix '55(1955)
- Fallen Angels(1956; 1966)
- Desk Set(1957)
- Copper and Brass(1957)
- Wonderful Town(1958)
- The Girls Against the Boys(1959)
- Do Re Mi(1960–1962)
- Everybody Loves Opal(1962)
- Folies Bergère(1964)
- UTBU(1966) (as director)
- Luv(1967)
- The Cherry Orchard(1968)
- The Cocktail Party(1968)
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum(1971)
- Sondheim: A Musical Tribute(1973)
Notes
edit- ^Often mistranscribed as "Smoyer"
References
edit- ^ab"Walker, Nancy (1922–1992)".Encyclopedia.com.RetrievedJune 5,2024.
- ^Delaney, Betsy Marks (June 25, 2013)."Little Theatre of Alexandria Twentieth Century".ShowBizRadio.RetrievedFebruary 2,2014.
- ^"Nominations: 1961".Tony Awards.RetrievedOctober 2,2024.
- ^DiFonzo, Nick (2004).The WORST album covers in the world... EVER!.London: New Holland Publishers. p. 85.ISBN978-1-8433-0888-1..The album cover and a discussion of the album can be seenhereandhere.
- ^Brooks, Tim;Earle Marsh (1995).The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present(Sixth ed.).Ballantine Books.p.336.ISBN978-0-3453-9736-2.
- ^Garlen, Jennifer C.; Graham, Anissa M. (October 26, 2009).Kermit Culture: Critical Perspectives on Jim Henson's Muppets.McFarland & Company. p. 218.ISBN978-0-7864-5375-7.
- ^Davis, Dyer (May 1, 2004).Rising Tide: Lessons from 165 Years of Brand Building at Procter and Gamble.Harvard Business Press. p. 280.ISBN978-1-5913-9147-0.Retrieved2013-05-07.
- ^"Nancy Walker, 69, of 'Rhoda' And Paper-Towel Commercials".The New York Times.March 26, 1992.RetrievedJuly 27,2012.
- ^ab"Nancy Walker: Credits".TV Guide.RetrievedOctober 2,2018.
- ^"David Craig, 75, Singing Instructor".The New York Times.September 5, 1998.RetrievedOctober 2,2018.
- ^Bosworth, Patricia (June 5, 2012).Montgomery Clift: A Biography.Open Road Media. pp. 322–323.ISBN978-1-4532-4501-9.
- ^Motion Picture and Television Magazine.November 1952. page 33.
- ^"Feisty Nancy Walker loses long battle with cancer".UPI. 25 March 1992. Archived fromthe originalon December 13, 2021.
Sources
editThomas S. Hischak.The Oxford Companion to the American Musical: theatre, film, and television(June 2008), Oxford University Press, USA (ISBN0195335333)
External links
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