Marian Ethel Mercer (November 26, 1935 – April 27, 2011) was an American actress and singer.

Career Born in Akron, Ohio, Mercer was the daughter of Samuel and Nellie Mercer. She graduated from the University of Michigan, then spent several seasons working in summer stock. She made her Broadway debut in the chorus of the short-lived musical, Greenwillow in 1960.

She drew critical notice for her performance in New Faces of 1962, and won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance, and the Theatre World Award for her performance as Marge MacDougall in Promises, Promises (1968). Additional theatre credits include Hay Fever and the short-lived 1978 revival of Stop the World – I Want to Get Off with Sammy Davis Jr. In 1979, she starred as Deirdre in Bosoms and Neglect.

Mercer was a regular on television, appearing in The Dom DeLuise Show, The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters, The Sandy Duncan Show, A Touch of Grace (starring Shirley Booth), The Andy Williams Show, and the sitcom It's a Living, in which she played piquant restaurant hostess Nancy Beebe Miller. (Mercer was one of four members of the cast who lasted through the series' network and syndicated runs; the others were Gail Edwards, Paul Kreppel, and Barrie Youngfellow). She had recurring roles on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; its sequel, Forever Fernwood; St. Elsewhere; and Empty Nest.

She made guest appearances on such shows as Love, American Style; Archie Bunker's Place; Mama's Family; Benson; The Golden Girls; Murder, She Wrote; Touched by an Angel; and Suddenly Susan, among many others. She had featured roles in the television films The Cracker Factory (1979), which starred Natalie Wood, and Murder in Three Acts (1986), starring Peter Ustinov and Tony Curtis. Her big screen credits include John and Mary (1969); Oh, God! Book II (1980); and 9 to 5 (1980), where she played Missy Hart.

Mercer had been reunited with two former co-stars of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (in which she played Wanda Rittenhouse Jeeter) in two separate projects. She was reunited first with Dabney Coleman (he had played Merle Jeeter) in the film 9 to 5; and then with Louise Lasser (who played Mary Hartman) on It's a Living.

Death Mercer was a resident of the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles where she resided until her death on April 27, 2011, from Alzheimer's disease in Newbury Park, California at the age of 75.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1969John and MaryMags Elliot1978Sammy Stops the WorldEvie1980Oh, God! Book IIHarriet Manley19809 to 5Missy Hart1992Out on a LimbAnn Campbell Van Der Haven

Television Year Title Role Notes1972Kay FoxMain role1973Myra BradleyMain role1974Love, American StyleLucySegment: "Love and the Itchy Condition"1974Police WomanJo EndersEpisode: "Fish"1975Great PerformancesMashaEpisode: "The Seagull"1975Miss ChandlerEpisode: "The Lyle Principle"1976SerpicoSister MargaretEpisode: "The Traitor in Our Midst"1976–77Mary Hartman, Mary HartmanWanda Rittenhouse JeeterSupporting role1977Forever FernwoodWanda JeeterSupporting role1978King of the RoadMildredTV film1978GraceEpisode: "The One Where Harvey Gets a Job as an Escort"1979EleanorTV film1979Archie Bunker's PlaceMiss BradshawEpisode: "Bosom Partners"1980Phyl & MikhyMiss CrandalEpisode: "Mikhy's Visitor"1980–1989It's a LivingNancy Beebe MillerRegular role (120 episodes)1981, 1984BensonTrudi, Ursula Van DyneEpisodes: "Rivals", "Made in Hong Kong: Parts 1 & 2"19829 to 5FrancesEpisode: "The Loverwear Party"1982Life of the Party: The Story of BeatriceRitaTV film1983Ace Crawford... Private EyeMaureenEpisode: "The Gentleman Bandit"1983Foot in the DoorMrs. GriffinTV series1983, 1986St. ElsewhereEve LeightonRecurring role (season 2), guest (season 5)1984Mrs. Rhodes1 episode1984Mama's FamilyFeliciaEpisode: "Mama for Mayor: Part 2"1984BookerMrs. RuffnerTV film1986ABC Afterschool SpecialSister ReginaEpisode: "Are You My Mother?"1986You Again?Dr. WoodsEpisode: "Henry and Matt Get Sick"1986Murder in Three ActsDaisy EastmanTV film1989Oh, Henry!MildredTV film1990MagdaEpisode: "Sisters and Other Strangers"1991Sunday DinnerMartha BenedictMain role1991June RobbinsTV film1992Murder, She WrotePenelope Hope DanielsEpisode: "The Witch's Curse"1992Harry and the HendersonsMonicaEpisode: "Born Again"1992–1994Empty NestUrsula DietzEpisode: "The Unimportance of Being Charley", "My Mother, My Self", "Love a la Mode"1993Home FreeGrace BaileyMain role1996Common LawBunnyEpisode: "In the Matter Of: John's 15 Minutes"1998WorkingMrs. RichardsEpisode: "The Closer"1998Touched by an AngelFloEpisode: "Lady of the Lake"1998Suddenly SusanMrs. RichmondEpisode: "The Thanksgiving Episode"2000ProvidenceEpisode: "Paradise Inn"

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