Beth Howland

Elizabeth Howland (May 28, 1941 – December 31, 2015) was an American actress known for her work on stage and television. She was best known for playing waitress Vera Gorman in the sitcom Alice.

Howland originated the role of Amy in the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim's Company, where she introduced the patter song "Getting Married Today".

Life and career Early years Howland was born on May 28, 1941, in Brighton, Massachusetts. At the age of 16, she left home to follow a dancer friend to New York City.

Career

Howland can be seen dancing and singing in the chorus of the movie Li'l Abner (1959) as Clem's wife, alongside future television star Valerie Harper. where she made guest appearances on television series such as Love, American Style, Cannon, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Little House on the Prairie, Eight Is Enough, and The Love Boat. For her work on Alice, Howland received four Golden Globe Award nominations. She later took on numerous telefilm roles, including You Can't Take It with You (as Essie) and A Caribbean Mystery.

She remained on Alice throughout its nine seasons. After the sitcom ended in 1985, Howland went into semi-retirement. She made occasional guest appearances in shows including Murder, She Wrote, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and The Tick. She also starred in the ABC Afterschool Special, "Terrible Things My Mother Told Me".

Personal life From 1961 to 1969, Howland was married to actor Michael J. Pollard, with whom she had a daughter.

In 2002, she wed actor Charles Kimbrough and remained married to him until her death in 2015. Kimbrough and Howland had appeared together in Company.

Death Howland died of lung cancer on December 31, 2015, at the age of 74. Per her request, her death was not reported to the media until May 24, 2016. 1970 Original Cast Album: Company Herself / Amy Documentary film by D. A. Pennebaker, observing the marathon recording session to create the original cast album for the Stephen Sondheim musical Company. 1972 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Linda Foster Episode: "Have I Found a Guy for You" (S 3:Ep 10)

The Ted Bessell Show Margaret Made-for-TV movie directed by Bill Persky. Love, American Style Rita Episode: "Love and Carmen Lopez/Love and the Cover/Love and the Cryin' Cowboy" (S 5:Ep 13) 1974 Thunderbolt and Lightfoot Vault Manager's Wife UncreditedCrime film written and directed by Michael Cimino.

Cannon Secretary Episode: "Nightmare" (S 5:Ep 1) The Rookies Mrs. Ross Episode: "Reading, Writing and Angel Dust" (S 4:Ep 2) Bronk June Kramer Episode: "Echo of Danger" (S 1:Ep 4) The Mary Tyler Moore Show Joan Episode: "Mary Richards Falls in Love" (S 6:Ep 11) 1976 Little House on the Prairie Clerk Episode: "The Pride of Walnut Grove" (S 2:Ep 14) 1976–85 Alice Vera Louise Gorman Novak Contract role (202 episodes) 1977 Eight Is Enough Mavis Episode: "Is There a Doctor in the House?" (S 2:Ep 1)

The Love Boat Lee Noble Episode: "Third Wheel/Grandmother's Day/Second String Mom" (S 2:Ep 27) You Can't Take It with You Essie Carmichael Made-for-TV movie directed by Paul Bogart. 1980 The Wild Wacky Wonderful World of Winter Stripper Made-for-TV movie 1981 The Love Boat Eloise Farnsworth Episodes: 1982 American Playhouse Housewife Episode: "Working" (S 1:Ep 14)

Jeannie Davis Episodes: Captain Bernice Tobin Episode: "Youth Takes a Holiday/Don't Leave Home Without It/Prisoner of Love" (S 7:Ep 4) A Caribbean Mystery Evelyn Hillingdon Made-for-TV movie directed by Robert Michael Lewis. 1985 Comedy Factory Kate Weston Episode: "It Takes Two" (S 1:Ep 6)

ABC Afterschool Special Eleanor Flemming Episode: "Terrible Things My Mother Told Me" (S 16:Ep 5) You Can't Take It with You Anita Briggs Episode: "For Whom the Phone Rings" (S 1:Ep 14) 1993 Murder, She Wrote Sandy Oates Episode: "Lone Witness" (S 9:Ep 19) 1997 Sabrina the Teenage Witch Mrs. Ericson Episode: "Cat Showdown" (S 1:Ep 19)

Chicken Soup for the Soul Diane Episode: "Thinking of You/Mama's Soup Pot/The Letter" (S 1:Ep 17) Batman Beyond Singer (voice) Episode: "Out of the Past" (S 3:Ep 5)

The Tick Bea Episode: "Arthur, Interrupted" (S 1:Ep 8) As Told by Ginger Dr. Leventhal (voice) Episode: "And She Was Gone" (S 2:Ep 23)