Anna Berger (July 26, 1922 – May 26, 2014) was an American character actress in film and television, who specialized in playing frazzled housewives and matriarchs.
Early life and education Berger grew up on the Lower East Side and began acting as a child. After graduating from Seward Park High School, she studied acting in 1948.
Career She appeared in such films as Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) and the Adam Sandler vehicle You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008), and on such television series as Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Everybody Loves Raymond and NYPD Blue. She also acted on The Goldbergs.
On Broadway, Berger appeared in Unlikely Heroes (1971), The Rose Tattoo (1966), Gideon (1961), and Twilight Walk (1951).
In the early-1960s, Berger was the New York City Board of Education's drama specialist for community center programs.
Death Berger was married to Robert Malatzky, and they had two daughters. Berger died on May 26, 2014, aged 91, in Manhattan."Anna Berger, an Actress With a Gift for Matriarchs, Dies at 91", nytimes.com; June 3, 2014; accessed June 7, 2014.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1959Middle of the NightCaroline1974The Taking of Pelham One Two ThreeThe Mother1975Hester StreetPoultry Woman1981Endless LoveNurse1983LovesickAnalysis1987The House on Carroll StreetFuneral Woman1989Crimes and MisdemeanorsAunt May1989Mortal SinsMother Weinschank1990Book of LoveMama Gabooch1991The Dark BackwardMrs. Malt1991MobstersMrs. Greene1992Deep CoverCongresswoman1995The Killers WithinMrs. Thomas1996Mother NightEpstein's Mother1997SoleilHonorine Azoulay2000Sunset StripOlder Waitress2000Lost SoulsMrs. Levotsky2000The Amati GirlsStella2001Ghost WorldSeymour's Mother2002Clover BendRose2003The Hebrew HammerHarriet Tubbleman2008You Don't Mess with the ZohanOlder Lady in Salon2008Bastard of Orleans, or Looking for JoanVesuvia Maggiore2011MargaretNeighborhood Lady #12013Chinese PuzzleLa vieille dame
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1952Lux Video TheatreMrs. PalettoEpisode: "The Face of Autumn"1954Goodyear Television PlayhouseMamaEpisode: "And Crown Thy Good"1954The Philco Television PlayhouseBookkeeper2 episodes1963Naked CityMrs. DelehantyEpisode: "Golden Lads and Girls"1975KojakMrs. LipnickEpisode: "The Nicest Guys on the Block"1976The Blue KnightMrs. GoldmanEpisode: "Cop Killer"1976Harry OMrs. KlineEpisode: "Victim"1976Street KillingLouiseTelevision film1976BarettaWomanEpisode: "They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To"1976Raid on EntebbeMrs. BergTelevision film1977RhodaBetsyEpisode: "The Ultimatum"1977Seventh AvenueCelia Blackman3 episodes1977, 1981Barney MillerMiriam Buckman / Georgia Himmel2 episodes1977Contract on Cherry StreetMrs. MooreTelevision film1978The Last TenantMrs. Munro1979CHiPsMary TaylorEpisode: "Repo Man"1979Ryan's HopeBeryl Feldman15 episodes1981Cagney & LaceyMrs. GoldmanEpisode: "Pilot"1984Terrible Joe MoranReal Estate AgentTelevision film1987Leg WorkOlder WomanEpisode: "Things That Go Bump in the Night"1988HothouseHerbert's MotherEpisode: "His Mother"1990People Like UsHester SlatkinTelevision film1990Singer & SonsMrs. Tarkasian4 episodes1990ThirtysomethingLotte StraussEpisode: "Photo Opportunity"1991N.Y.P.D. MountedWomanTelevision film1991NursesMrs. GarberEpisode: "Coming to America"1992–1993Civil WarsBetty Howell4 episodes1993Johnny BagoMa Tenuti6 episodes1994Empty NestBellaEpisode: "What's a Mother to Do?"1994Chicago HopeMary Collito2 episodes1994Murphy BrownSecretary #70Episode: "The Secret Life of Jim Dial"1994The George Carlin ShowCat WomanEpisode: "George Puts on a Happy Face"1994Missing ParentsElaine FreiburgTelevision film1995The CommishRuby SimpkinsEpisode: "Letting Go"1995Charlie GraceOld WomanEpisode: "One Simple Little Favor"1996Tracey Takes On...JudgeEpisode: "Law"1996The Home CourtAunt SophieEpisode: "Love, Death & Soda"1996ERMr. Brazil's CaregiverEpisode: "Fear of Flying"1996, 1998, 2005NYPD BlueBelle / Rosemary / Marian Kadell3 episodes1997Sunset BeachMrs. FarmerEpisode #1.2261997–1998The NannyMarilyn2 episodes1998Nothing SacredGrandmother OwensEpisode: "Holy Words"1998, 2000Everybody Loves RaymondRita Stipe2 episodes1999The Thirteenth YearIrate TouristTelevision film2000Something to Sing AboutMrs. Goldberg2000BetteThe HousewifeEpisode: "Halloween"2000JAGMrs. PalermoEpisode: "JAG TV"2002The SopranosCookie Cirillo2 episodes2002Law & Order: Special Victims UnitKaren's GrandmotherEpisode: "Resilience"2002New AmericansMrs. RabinowitzTelevision film2005CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationBetsy LewisEpisode: "Snakes"2005Law & Order: Criminal IntentAmyEpisode: "Diamond Dogs"
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