Doris Roberts

Doris May Roberts ( Green; November 4, 1925 – April 17, 2016 ) was an American actress and comedian whose career spanned seven decades of television and film. She received five Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild award during her acting career, which began in 1948.

Roberts studied acting at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City and started in films in 1961. She had several prominent film roles, including playing opposite Shirley Stoler in The Honeymoon Killers (1970), Elliott Gould in Little Murders (1971), Carol Kane in Hester Street (1975), Billy Crystal in Rabbit Test (1978), Robert Carradine in Number One with a Bullet (1987), Cady McClain in Simple Justice (1989), among many others.

Roberts achieved continuing success in television, becoming known for her role as Mildred Krebs in NBC's Remington Steele from 1983 to 1987 and achieved worldwide recognition for her co-starring role as the matriarch, Marie Barone, on the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2005). Towards the end of her acting career, Roberts also had a prominent role opposite Tyler Perry in Madea's Witness Protection (2012), and The Middle.

Roberts appeared as a guest on many talk and variety shows, as well as a panelist on several game shows. She was an advocate of animal rights and animal rights activism, supporting groups such as the United Activists for Animal Rights.

Early life Doris May Green was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to a family of Russian-Jewish immigrants. She was raised by her mother, Ann (née Meltzer), and her maternal grandparents in The Bronx, New York, after her father, Larry Green, deserted the family. Roberts' stepfather, whose surname she took as her own, was Chester H. Roberts. Chester and Roberts' mother operated the Z. L. Rosenfield Agency, a stenographic service catering to playwrights and actors. By her teens, Roberts was renowned for her skill as a typist and would assist with the family business. Ruth Finley was one such client who recalls her typing up final copies of The Fashion Calendar for print.

Career

Film and television

Roberts' acting career began in 1948 with a role on the TV series Studio One. She appeared in episodes of The Naked City (1958-1963), Way Out (1961), Ben Casey (1963), and The Defenders (1962-1963). In 1961, Roberts made her film debut in Something Wild (1961).

Roberts appeared in such 1960s/1970s films as A Lovely Way to Die, No Way to Treat a Lady, The Honeymoon Killers, Such Good Friends, Little Murders, A New Leaf, The Heartbreak Kid, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Hester Street, and Rabbit Test. In 1978, she appeared in a film about John F. Kennedy's assassination, Ruby and Oswald, in which Roberts played Jack Ruby's sister. She also appeared briefly in The Rose, as the mother of the title character (Bette Midler). Roberts had a very memorable, but uncredited role as the maid in "Barefoot in the Park" in 1967, with Robert Redford.

In an interview with the Archive of American Television, Rue McClanahan confirmed that in 1972, Roberts was approached by Norman Lear during the taping of an All in the Family episode to be a late replacement for Roberts, who was originally intended for the role of Vivian on Maude. Roberts later guest starred in a 1976 All in the Family episode, "Edith's Night Out" as a bar patron who befriended Edith.

Roberts also appeared on Alice, playing the mother of the title character (played by her former Broadway co-star Linda Lavin); on Barney Miller in two different roles, as the wife of a man who secretly visits a sex surrogate, and (in three episodes) as the harried wife of a middle-aged man who occasionally makes erratic decisions to give his life meaning. Roberts played the unhinged Flo Flotsky on four episodes of Soap, and Dorelda Doremus, a faith healer, on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Roberts played Theresa Falco on Angie, and later appeared as Mildred Krebs on NBC's Remington Steele from 1983-1987.

After Remington Steele ended, Roberts starred in several films including the TV film remake of If It's Tuesday, It Still Must Be Belgium (1987), Number One with a Bullet (1987), Simple Justice (1989), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), and Used People (1992). She also appeared on Full House as Danny Tanner's mother, Claire, as well as two episodes of Murder, She Wrote, and as lonely Aunt Edna on Step by Step among others.

Roberts achieved much of her fame for her role as Marie Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond, which ran on CBS from 1996 to 2005. Roberts was reportedly one of 100 actresses considered for the role. For her work on the series, Roberts was nominated for seven Emmy Awards (and won four times) for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She had previously won an Emmy for a guest appearance on St. Elsewhere, playing a homeless woman, and was also once nominated for her role on Remington Steele. Roberts was nominated for appearances on Perfect Strangers and a PBS special called The Sunset Gang.

In 2003, Roberts made a guest appearance as Gordo's grandmother in Lizzie McGuire. That same year, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2006, Roberts starred in Our House as a wealthy woman who took in homeless people into her own house, and in Grandma's Boy.

In 2007, Roberts made a guest appearance on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. and its sequel, Call Me Mrs. Miracle (2010).

On September 23, 2010, Roberts played Ms. Rinsky, Brick Heck's teacher in the second-season premiere episode of The Middle. This appearance reunited her with Patricia Heaton, her co-star from Everybody Loves Raymond. Roberts returned in two other episodes that season, "The Math Class" and the finale, "Back to Summer". In 2012, she played George Needleman's mother in Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection. In 2013, Roberts was a special guest star in the Major Crimes episode "There’s No Place Like Home".

Stage Roberts' stage career began in the 1950s on Broadway. She appeared in numerous Broadway shows including William Saroyan's The Time of Your Life, William Marchant's The Desk Set (with Shirley Booth), Neil Simon's The Last of the Red Hot Lovers (with James Coco and Linda Lavin) and Terrence McNally's Bad Habits. Roberts starred in McNally's Unusual Acts of Devotion at the LaJolla Playhouse in June 2009.

Honors In May 2005, Roberts received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from the University of South Carolina. She was awarded a trophy and certificate on her induction into the Bronx Walk of Fame on 24 June 2007 at the Paradise Theatre, the Grand Concourse, the Bronx, New York. She was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor on May 7, 2011. Roberts was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2003, at 7021 Hollywood Blvd.

Advocacy and other work On September 4, 2002, Roberts testified before a U.S. Congressional panel that age discrimination was prevalent in Hollywood. She was a registered Democrat.

An animal rights advocate, Roberts worked with the group Puppies Behind Bars, which works with inmates in training guide dogs and assistance dogs for the physically disabled and elderly, as well as dogs trained in explosives detection to be used by law enforcement agencies. She was also active with the Children with AIDS Foundation, where she served as chairwoman.

Personal life Roberts married Michael Cannata in 1956; they divorced in 1962. They had a son. She has three grandchildren. Roberts' second husband was writer William Goyen and they were married from 1963 until his death from leukemia in 1983.

Death Roberts died in her sleep on April 17, 2016, at her home in Los Angeles following a stroke, at age 90. Roberts also suffered from pulmonary hypertension for many years before her death. Just a month after her death, Roberts was memorialized in New York City, where a public tribute was held at the Ambassador Theatre, where she appeared in 1972 in The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild with Maureen Stapleton. Among the stars attending the service were Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton (her co-stars from Everybody Loves Raymond) and actor David Hyde Pierce. Romano said of Roberts:

In another interview, Romano jokingly referred to the kissing thing that Roberts would do off camera: "You know how great she was then!" He also added: "We had a little get together for her. She was one of a kind. She can outwork it, outdrink it, good kisser, I was joking! I appreciated her." Just a month after her death, Romano said: Roberts was interred at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles, California.

Filmography

Film Year Title RoleNotes 1961 Something Wild Mary Ann's Co-Worker 1964 Dear Heart Desk ClerkUncredited1967 Barefoot in the Park Hotel Maid Divorce American Style Hypnotic Subject 1968 No Way to Treat a Lady Sylvia Poppie A Lovely Way to Die Feeney Uncredited 1970 The Honeymoon Killers Bunny 1971 Little Murders Mrs. Chamberlain A New Leaf Mrs. Traggert Such Good Friends Mrs. Gold 1972 The Heartbreak Kid Mrs. Cantrow 1974 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Jessie, Mayor's Wife 1975 Hester Street Mrs. Kavarsky Blood Bath Mrs. Lambert1978 Rabbit Test Mrs. Carpenter Once in Paris... Brady's ex-Wife1979 Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff Marie The Rose Mrs. FosterLoosely based on the life of singer Janis Joplin 1987 Number One with a Bullet Mrs. Barzak 1989 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Frances Smith Simple Justice Anna DiLorenzo 1990 The Ladies on Sweet Street Bea 1992 Used People Aunt Lonnie 1993 The Night We Never Met Lion's Den Nosy Neighbor 1994 Taffy 1995 The Grass Harp Mrs. Richards 1997 Walking to Waldheim Mina Goldblatt Short drama film Sea World and Busch Gardens Adventures: Alien Vacation! Marie1998 My Giant Rose Kaminski A Fish in the Bathtub Frieda The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue Auntie ShrewVoice 2001 All Over the Guy Esther 2003 Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Peggy Roberts 2006 Grandma's Boy Grandma Lilly I-See-You.Com Doris Bellinger Keeping Up with the Steins Rose Fielder 2009 Play the Game Rose Sherman Aliens in the Attic Nana Rose Pearson 2010 Another Harvest Moon Alice 2012 Margarine Wars Grandma Betty Johansson Madea's Witness Protection Barbara 2014 The Little Rascals Save the Day Grandma2015 No Deposit Kat Nugent The Secret of Joy Grandma Short2016 The Red Maple Leaf Mrs. Samantha Adams Posthumous release The Escort Margaret Short; posthumous release Job's Daughter Ruth MorrisonPosthumous release (final feature film role) 2018 Zizi and Honeyboy Zizi Short; posthumous release (final role)

Television Year Title RoleNotes 1951 Starlight Theatre Operator Episode: "Act of God Notwithstanding"1952 Studio One in Hollywood The Madwoman Episode: "Jane Eyre" Suspense Woman Episode: "A Time on Innocence" 1954 Look Up and Live Minnah Episode: "Rider Number Six" 1961 'Way Out Edna Episode: "Side Show" 1962 Naked City Miss Tresant Episode: "One of the Most Important Men in the Whole World" 1963 Ben Casey Claire Forest Episode: "Father Was an Intern" 1969 CBS Playhouse Shimmy Episode: "Shadow Game"1975 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Helen Ferrell Episode: "Phyllis Whips Inflation" Medical Center Gladys Callahan Episode: "Two Against Death" Baretta Mrs. Asher Episode: "Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth"1976 All in the Family Marge Episode: "Edith's Night Out" Viva Valdez Gladys Episode: "The Nurse's Pipes" Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Dorelda Doremus 3 episodes The Streets of San Francisco Mrs. Strauss "The Thrill Killers" (Parts I and II) Family Etta Episode: "Home Movie" Rhoda Sylvia Levy Episode: "Meet the Levys" 1977 It Happened One Christmas Ma Bailey TV movie 1978–1980 Barney Miller Louise Kaufmann, Harriet Brauer 4 episodes 1978 Soap Flo Flotsky 4 episodes 1979–1980 Angie Theresa Falco 36 episodes (actress); 1 episode (director) 1979 Fantasy Island Marjorie Gibbs Episode: "Goose for the Gander/The Stuntman"1980 The Diary of Anne Frank Mrs. Van Daan TV movie Fantasy Island Madam Clooney Episode: "Delphine/The Unkillable" The Love Boat Rose Episode: "Sergeant Bull"1981–1982 Maggie Loretta 8 episodes Alice Mona Spivak 2 episodes 1982 St. Elsewhere Cora Episode: "Cora and Arnie"1983 Romance Theatre Maggie 5 episodes Cagney & Lacey Helen Freitas Episode: "Jane Doe #37" 1983–1987 Remington Steele Mildred Krebs Recurring: season 2, main role: seasons 3-5 (71 episodes) 1985 California Girls Mrs. Bowzer Television film 1985 Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre Mother Pig Episode: "The Three Little Pigs" season 4: episode 1 1986 Mr. Belvedere Judge Westphall Episode: "Deportation: Part 2" 1989 Perfect Strangers Mrs. Bailey Episode: "Maid to Order"1990 Full House Claire Tanner Episode: "Granny Tanny" Murder, She Wrote Helen Owens Episode: "Shear Madness" Blind Faith Tessie McBride Miniseries A Mom for Christmas Philomena TV movie 1991 Empty Nest Aunt Retha Episode: "The Last Temptation of Laverne" American Playhouse Mimi Finkelstein Episode: "The Sunset Gang"1993 The Boys Doris Greenblat 6 episodes The John Larroquette Show Mrs. Shenker Episode: "Pilot" 1993–1995 Dream On Angie Pedalbee 6 episodes1994 Murder, She Wrote Mrs. Leah Colfax Episode: "The Murder Channel" Step by Step Aunt Edna Episode: "I'll Be Home for Christmas" A Time to Heal Maddy TV movie 1995 Walker, Texas Ranger Elaine Portugal Episode: "The Big Bingo Bamboozle" 1996–2005 Everybody Loves Raymond Marie Barone Main role (210 episodes)1997 A Thousand Men and a Baby Sister Philomena TV movie Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Eunice, Doris Voice, episode: "Watch the Watch/She Likes Me?" 2001 The Sons of Mistletoe Margie TV movie 2002 Touched by an Angel Rose Episode: "The Bells of St. Peters"2003 Lizzie McGuire Grandma Ruth Episode: "Grand Ole' Grandma" A Time to Remember Maggie Calhoun TV movie2004 Raising Waylon Great Aunt Marie TV movie Sesame Street Herself Episode: "The Street We Live On"2006 Our House Ruth TV movie Me, Eloise (voice) Episode: "Eloise Goes to School Part 1" 2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Virginia Harrington Episode: "Privilege" 2009 Mrs. Miracle Emily Merkle/Mrs. Miracle TV movie 2010 Mrs. Miracle 2: Miracle In Manhattan Emily Merkle/Mrs. Miracle TV movie 2010–2011 The Middle Mrs. Rinsky 3 episodes 2011 Special Agent Oso Lena's Grandma Voice, episode: "A View to the Truth" Grey's Anatomy Gladys Polcher Episode: "It's a Long Way Back" Hot in Cleveland Lydia Episode: "Dancing Queens" Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension Mrs. Thompson Voice, television film The Desk Set Miss Rumple Broadhurst Theatre October 24, 1955 - July 7, 1956 1963 Marathon '33 Rae Wilson ANTA Playhouse December 22, 1963 - February 1, 1964 1966 Malcolm Standby for: Shubert Theatre January 11 - January 15 The Office Miss Punk Henry Miller's Theatre Never officially opened - April 30, 1966 Under the Weather Standby for: Shelley Winters as Flora Sharkey / Marcella Vankuchen / Hilda Cort Theatre October 27 - November 5 1967 The Natural Look Edna Longacre Theatre March 11 - March 11 1969 Last of the Red Hot Lovers Jeanette Fisher Eugene O'Neill Theater Center December 28, 1969 - September 4, 1971 1972 The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild Ambassador Theatre November 14 - December 2 1974 Bad Habits Booth Theatre May 5 - October 5 1978 Cheaters Grace Biltmore Theatre January 15 - February 11

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result Ref. 1983 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series St. Elsewhere 1985 Remington Steele 1989 Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Perfect Strangers 1991 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Special American Playhouse 1999 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Everybody Loves Raymond 2000 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 2001 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Online Film & Television Association Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 2002 American Film Institute Actor of the Year - Female - TV Series Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Online Film & Television Association Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 2003 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 2004 Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 2005 Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 2015 Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festival Best Actress in a Short Film Zizi and Honeyboy CineRockom International Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award

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