Phyllis Jeanne Somerville (December 12, 1943 – July 16, 2020) was an American stage, film, and television actress. She is best known for her roles in Little Children (2006), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Surviving Family (2012), The Big C (2010–2013), and Outsiders (2016–2017).
Personal life Somerville was born in Iowa City, Iowa, to Lefa Mary (née Pash; 1918–2011) and the Rev. Paul Somerville (1919–1995), who moved the family around as he preached at different churches, until settling in Traer, and eventually Cresco, Iowa. There, her mother worked as a librarian, and Phyllis attended high school, where she was involved with cheerleading, drama, and music, including playing clarinet in the All-State band. She had three brothers: Paul (clinical social worker, MBA) (1947–2005), Stephen (naval officer, forensic pathologist) and Bruce (artist).Profile, iagenweb.org; accessed May 30, 2014.
She attended Morningside College and then transferred to the University of Northern Iowa, studying theatre and graduating with a degree in English in 1966. In college, she starred in productions such as The Visit, Electra, and Macbeth. She next did graduate work performing classical roles such as Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Hilberry Theatre through Wayne State University in Detroit and later became a resident equity actress with the Arena Stage in Washington, DC. Her first paid job as an entertainer was at Buckskin Joe amusement park over summer break in college.Lefa Pash Somerville obituary, iowajones.org; accessed May 28, 2014.Profile , unialum.org; accessed May 28, 2014.Phyllis Somerville interview with AARP, aarp.org; accessed May 28, 2014.
She lived in New York City, where she died in 2020, aged 76, of natural causes.Profile, wcfcourier.com; accessed May 28, 2014.Profile, historicimages.com; accessed May 28, 2014.
Theatre Somerville made her Broadway debut as Wilma in the 1974 musical Over Here!, which was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical. The following year, she performed in the off-Broadway musical The Journey of Snow White as the Witch. She appeared in the 1978 Broadway production of Once in a Lifetime. In 1983, she was the understudy for Kathy Bates in the Broadway production of Marsha Norman's 'night, Mother, and later toured in the role opposite Mercedes McCambridge. In 1984, she originated the role of Glory in Norman's next play, Traveler in the Dark, at the American Repertory Theater.
In 1990, she originated the role of Joyce in The Sum of Us by David Stevens. In 2001, she originated the role of Hannah in the off-Broadway musical The Spitfire Grill, a role played in the 1996 film by Ellen Burstyn. In 2009, she performed in the musical Happiness at the Lincoln Center Theatre. She has appeared in other productions off-Broadway, as well as in regional theatre, including many roles with the Hartford Stage Company. She was a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company. In 2014, she appeared off-Broadway in an experimental all-female production of I Remember Mama, alongside Rita Gardner, Heather MacRae, and Barbara Barrie.Profile, abouttheartists.com; accessed May 24, 2014.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1981ArthurSaleslady1992Leap of FaithDolores1997Trouble on the CornerCrazy Woman 1998MontanaWaitressThe ImpostorsWoman at Bar with PillsJust One TimeScratchy-voiced WomanCurtain CallGladysBetter LivingNellie 1999Simply IrresistibleRuthBringing Out the DeadMrs. Burke2001The Sleepy Time GalRebecca's Adoptive Mother2002SwimfanAunt Gretchen Christopher2005Just Like the SonJudge2006Little ChildrenMay MacGorvey 2007Broken EnglishPsychicLucky YouPawnbroker 2008The Brooklyn HeistConnieThe Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonGrandma Fuller2009The Mighty MacsSister Sister 2011One FallMrs. BarrowsA Bird of the AirIvy Campbell 2012Forgetting the GirlRubySurviving FamilyMary Giaconne 2013StokerMrs. McGarrickThe DoubleMrs. James2015StuffGinger2016DetoursAnnie Delaney2017Our Souls at NightRuth2018DianeIna2019PomsHelen
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1990Law & OrderMs. MalteseEpisode: "Subterranean Homeboy Blues"1991Law & OrderKristen CameronEpisode: "Heaven"1992LovingMrs. SwanEpisode #1.2201 1994As the World TurnsAlice1 episode1995New York NewsEdith SchemerEpisode: "The Using Game"1995–1996NYPD BlueDorothy Russell2 episodes 1998One Life to LiveCharlotte StonecliffEpisode #1.7668Guiding LightMrs. BeasleyUnknown episodesSex and the CityGertrude MorganEpisode: "The Power of Female Sex"Homicide: Life on the StreetFaye Ann RalstonEpisode: "Brotherly Love"2000The SopranosBrendaEpisode: "Big Girls Don't Cry" 2001Third WatchFranEpisode: "A Hero's Rest"Law & Order: Special Victims UnitMrs. MossEpisode: "Victims"2002Law & Order: Criminal IntentMrs. McLeishEpisode: "The Third Horseman"2003Chappelle's ShowOld Lady #2Episode: "O'Dweeds & Trading Spouses" 2004As the World TurnsAnnabelle Fettle1 episodeLaw & Order: Criminal IntentLouise PolitanoEpisode: "The Saint"2007KidnappedAnnie Phillips3 episodes2008Life on Mars Mrs. RaimesEpisode: "Out Here in the Fields"2010CSI: MiamiLouise RussoEpisode: "In the Wind"2010–2013The Big CMarlene19 episodes2011FringeAlice MerchantEpisode: "6B" 2013House of CardsRusso's MotherEpisode: "Chapter 8"UnforgettableRuthEpisode: "Memory Kings"ElementaryMiriam BergEpisode: "The Marchioness" 2014Taxi BrooklynSasha LowenthalEpisode: "Brooklyn Heights"The BlacklistSkye KincaidEpisode: "The Mombasa Cartel" 2015Blue BloodsBeth Del RioEpisode: "Occupational Hazards"The Night ShiftMarilyn CapshawEpisode: "Eyes Look Your Last"DaredevilMrs. Vistain2 episodesThe Good WifeLouise NolfiEpisode: "The Deconstruction"2016ImpastorEster StrumbleEpisode: "Guardian Angel"2016–2017OutsidersLady Ray13 episodes2017Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtMeemawEpisode: "Kimmy Steps on a Crack!" 2018Castle RockLeanne ChambersEpisode: "Severance"Madam SecretaryGloria PaleyEpisode: "Requiem"2021Mare of EasttownBetty CarrollPosthumous release
Podcasts YearTitleRoleNotes2016HomecomingEllen Bergman3 Episodes
Awards and nominations Year Award / Festival Category Work Result 2006 Awards Circuit Community Awards Best Cast Ensemble Little Children 2009 Gold Derby Awards Best Ensemble Cast The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2012 Indie Gathering International Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Surviving Family Golden Door Film Festival Best Supporting Actress 2016 Long Island International Film Expo Best Supporting Actress Stuff
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