Marilyn Roberta Sokol (born February 22, 1944) is an American actress, musician, comedian, and producer, perhaps best known for her roles as Lulu Brecht in Can't Stop the Music (1980) and as Ma Otter in Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977). She has received an Emmy Award, Obie Award, and a Bistro Award.
Biography She lives in New York City and has appeared in film, television as well as in theatre on Broadway, off-Broadway and regional theatres.
Sokol was born February 22, 1944, in the Bronx, New York City, and attended Calvin Coolidge High School in Washington, D.C., and New York University. She began her professional career in 1966 as a belly dancer in the national production of Man of La Mancha. She won an Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress in 1972 for her performance in a Chelsea Theater Center production of The Beggar's Opera.Ellen Stern, "Suddenly It's Sokol", New York, October 24, 1977.Audrey Berman, "17th Annual 'Obies'", The Village Voice, May 11, 1972. In 1977, she voiced Ma Otter in Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. In 1980, she was nominated for Worst Supporting Actress at the 1st Golden Raspberry Awards for her role in Can't Stop the Music. She has worked as a comedian, singer, and cabaret performer.Stephen Holden, "Cabaret: Marilyn Sokol Sings", The New York Times, February 4, 1984.Stephen Holden, "Cabaret: Marilyn Sokol", The New York Times, September 10, 1987. In 2012-2013, she starred in the off-Broadway production Old Jews Telling Jokes.Neal Conan, "'Old Jews' Take Jokes To The Stage", Talk of the Nation, June 14, 2012. She has taught as a distinguished lecturer in the theatre program at Lehman College."Professor Sokol Praised for Role in 'Love Divided By/Times Three'" , Lehman College, October 21, 2010. She also portrayed Agnes Vertrulli on the web series Submissions Only in 2014.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1971The HospitalLady Lib.Uncredited1976Sandy1977Linda1978Foul PlayStella1979Something Short of ParadiseRuthie Miller1980Alice Squib1980Can't Stop the MusicLulu Brecht1988Crocodile Dundee IIDoris1989Family BusinessMarie1994Men LiePorno Witness1995The Basketball DiariesChanting Woman1999Man on the MoonMadame2002Big AppleMs. Callahan2005Bag Lady2008Lucky DaysCherie2011Musical ChairsMrs. Greenbaum2011Wounded WarriorGrandma GraceShort2015Unplugging Aunt VeraAunt VeraShort2015SamMrs. Goldfarb2019Almost LovePeggy
Television Year Title Role Notes1972-1992Sesame StreetVarious MuppetsRecurring role1977Emmet Otter's Jug-Band ChristmasMa OtterVoice, TV movie1977Barney MillerDr. Lorraine Dooley"Sex Surrogate"1977All That GlittersFarrah Abuban1980ScalpelsDr. Betty HackerTV movie1982Sesame StreetCamp Director Aunt MayOn camera appearance, 5 episodes1986Joe BashBetty"Joe's First Partner"1991Law & OrderMarilee Katz"His Hour Upon the Stage"1996Law & OrderMrs. Levine"Encore"1996All My Children1999Sex and the CityDr. Velma Rubin"The Awful Truth"2000Between the LionsThe Strange Old Woman"Sausage Nose"2011Are We There Yet?Old Woman"The Salsa Episode"2014Submissions OnlyAgnes VetrulliMain role2015Difficult PeopleOlder Woman"Pilot"
Notable theater productions Year Boston Won the Pennant (1969) The Great God Brown, Cybel, Dec. 10, 1972 - Jan. 13, 1973 Don Juan, Matherine, Dec. 11, 1972 - Jan. 13, 1973 Elephant Steps (1974) (in the role of Ragtime Lady, her performance of "Watch Me Put My Right Foot Through the Door" has been captured on the cast album) Welcome to the Club, Arlene Metzler, Apr. 13 - 22, 1989 Guilt Without Sex (one woman show, 1991)Stephen Holden, "Review/Cabaret; Marilyn Sokol's Way With Guilt", February 7, 1991. Conversations with My Father, Hannah de Blinde, Mar. 22, 1992 - Mar. 14, 1993 Shlemiel the First (1994-1997) Angel Levine (1995) Sam and Itkeh (1997) If Memory Serves (1999) Closet Chronicles (2003) In the Wings (2005) Old Jews Telling Jokes (2012)
References
External links Official website