Selma Diamond

Selma Diamond (August 5, 1920 – May 13, 1985) was a Canadian and American comedienne, actress, and radio and television writer, known for her high-range, raspy voice and her portrayal of Selma Hacker on the first two seasons of the NBC television comedy series Night Court. Diamond was also the main inspiration for the character of Sally Rogers on the series The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Early life Diamond was born on August 5, 1920, in London, Ontario, Canada, When Diamond was a young girl, they moved to Brooklyn, New York.

Diamond attended high school in Brooklyn and graduated from New York University. Later, she moved to the West Coast and hired an agent. She worked in radio and, eventually, television. Her first radio writing credit was in 1943 on Blue Ribbon Town with Groucho Marx. That initial credit turned into a 65-week tenure with Marx's show and a longer friendship with him. The Drene Show with Rudy Vallee, Duffy's Tavern, and The Kenny Baker Show.

Diamond wrote for the radio version of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet for 20 weeks. She left that show in 1950 and became one of the staff hired by comedy writer Goodman Ace (who had previously hired her for some work on Danny Kaye's 1940s radio show) for The Big Show (1950–1952), the 90-minute weekly program hosted by actress Tallulah Bankhead. In 1951-1952, Diamond collaborated with cartoonist Gill Fox, writing for his "Jeanie" comic strip that ran daily in the New York Herald Tribune.

Diamond moved to television as one of the writers for Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca's Your Show of Shows. While writing for another Caesar vehicle, Caesar's Hour, Diamond earned an Emmy nomination. She also worked for Ace once again, writing for Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall television series. and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and she made numerous film appearances, including Stanley Kramer's comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (as the unseen telephone voice of Spencer Tracy's wife, Ginger Culpepper), Bang the Drum Slowly (as hotel switchboard operator Tootsie), and All of Me (as Margo). In 1982, she appeared in My Favorite Year with a memorable small role as wardrobe mistress for King Kaiser's Comedy Calvalcade, a fictional show which clearly echoed the time and venue of her work for Sid Caesar. She was also a semi-regular for four seasons of the Ted Knight comedy series Too Close For Comfort.

In addition to her writing, Diamond performed as an actress, making her debut in a summer touring version of Bye, Bye Birdie. Her other work in summer stock productions included Come Blow Your Horn and Barefoot in the Park. On television, she portrayed Selma Hacker on Night Court in 1984 and 1985 for which she received her second Emmy nomination.

Death Diamond died of lung cancer on May 13, 1985, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, aged 64, with no known family members.

She is buried in Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1963 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Ginger Culpeper Voice 1973 Bang The Drum Slowly Tootsie 1982 My Favorite Year Lil 1983 Lovesick Harriet Singer, M.D. Twilight Zone: The Movie Mrs. Weinstein Segment: "Kick the Can" 1984 All of Me Margo

Television Year Title Role Notes 1963 Jackie Gleason: American Scene Magazine American Scene Magazine Reporter Episode: "#1.17" 1972 Arnie Selma Episode: "Wilson Tastes Like a Good Candidate Should" McMillan & Wife Gas Station Attendant Episode: "An Elementary Case of Murder" Magic Carpet Mrs. Vogel Television Film 1977 The Edge of Night Mrs. Yoast Unknown Episodes 1978 Flying High Woman in beauty salon Episode: "Swan Song for an Ugly Duckling" 1980 - 1984 Too Close for Comfort Mildred Rafkin 08 Episodes 1983 Archie Bunker's Place Mrs. Isaacson Episode: "Three Women" The Other Woman Aunt Jeanette Television Film Nine to Five Selma Episode: "The Phantom" Trapper John, M.D. Martha Episode: "What a Difference a Day Makes" 1984 The Ratings Game Francine's Mother Television Film (voice only) 1984 - 1985 Night Court Bailiff Selma Hacker / Selma Hacker 36 Episodes 1985 The Jetsons Di Di Episode: "Elroy in Wonderland" (voice) 1989 Night Court Bailiff Selma Hacker Archive Footage / Episode: "Clip Show: Part 1"