Cynthia Lee Harris (August 9, 1934 – October 3, 2021) was an American film, television, and stage actress. She is best known for her roles in the television series Edward & Mrs. Simpson and the sitcom Mad About You.
Life and career Cynthia Lee Harris was born in New York City in 1934, the daughter of Saul Harris, a haberdasher, and his wife, Deborah. She had two brothers, one of whom predeceased her. Interested in the stage from a young age, she began studying theater at age 12 and graduated from Smith College in 1955 with a degree in theater and literature.
She joined the Adams Memorial Theatre in Williamstown (in the same state on the campus of another college) where she performed in five summer seasons from 1955 to 1959. She then studied acting with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. Harris also studied with George Morrison.
Harris appeared in such television series and TV movies, such as Archie Bunker's Place and All My Children. In Edward and Mrs. Simpson, she was cast as the Duchess of Windsor, which earned her a BAFTA Award nomination in 1979. For five seasons, she played "comic yenta mom" Sylvia Buchman on the sitcom Mad About You, a role she reprised in the show's 2019 limited series revival. For almost two decades, she played "Mrs. B." in television advertisements for the now-defunct department store chain Bradlees.
She made her Broadway debut as an understudy for the drama Natural Affection in 1963. In 1971, she appeared on Broadway in the Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical, Company. In 1978, she received a BAFTA nomination for her performance as Wallis Simpson in Edward & Mrs. Simpson (1978).
Harris was one of the co-artistic directors for the Off-Broadway company The Actors Company Theatre, which she co-founded in 1993. She appeared in numerous plays with the company, including Home, Bedroom Farce and Lost in Yonkers, portraying nearly four dozen characters over the course of her tenure with the group. In 2013, Harris appeared as Adriana in the Primary Stages production of The Tribute Artist.
Death Harris died in New York City on October 3, 2021, at the age of 87. She was survived by her partner, Nathan Silverstein, as well as her brother and extended family. She had suffered from Type 1 diabetes for much of her life.
Filmography Film Year Title Role 1968 Isadora Mary 1972 Up the Sandbox Stella 1973 I Could Never Have Sex with Any Man Who Has So Little Regard for My Husband Laura 1982 Tempest Cynthia 1983 Reuben, Reuben Bobby Springer 1987 Three Men and a Baby Mrs. Hathaway 1991 Mannequin Two: On the Move Mom / Queen 1992 The Distinguished Gentleman Vera Johnson
Television Year Title Role Notes 1975 The Bob Newhart Show Diane Nugent 1 episode 1975 Kojak Helen Fielding 1 episode 1976–1977 Sirota's Court Court Clerk Maureen O'Conner Main cast 1978 Edward and Mrs. Simpson Wallis Warfield Simpson Title role 1979 Husbands, Wives & Lovers Paula Zuckerman Main cast 1979 Three's Company Mrs. Layton 1 episode 1980 Hart to Hart Amanda 1 episode 1981 Archie Bunker's Place Marcie Phillips 2 episodes 1982 Quincy, M.E. Louise Asten 2 episodes 1986–1987 L.A. Law Iris Hubbard Recurring role (season 1) 1987 Izzy and Moe Dallas Carter TV movie 1987 The Equalizer Judge Paula G. Walsh Episode: "Carnal Persuasion" 1987 Everything's Relative Gwen Spaulding 1 episode 1989 Kate & Allie Laurel Jordan 1 episode 1989 American Playhouse Elinor Leopold Episode: "Ask Me Again" 1989–1990 Ann Jillian Sheila Hufnagel Main cast 1990–1994 Murder, She Wrote Phyllis Thurlow / Lauren Delagre 2 episodes 1991 Law & Order Gifford Episode: "Out of Control" 1993 Law & Order Defense Attorney Professor Adele Diamond Episode: "Discord" 1993–1999, 2019 revival Mad About You Sylvia Buchman Recurring role (seasons 2–5, 8), main cast (seasons 6–7) 1994 All My Children Patricia Hale 1997 Law & Order Defense Attorney Professor Adele Diamond Episode: "Passion" 1999 Now and Again Ms. Masters 1 episode 2000 The Geena Davis Show Joyce Cochran 1 episode 2000 An American DaughterCharlotte "Chubby" Hughes TV movie 2004–2007 Rescue Me Mike's Mom 3 episodes
References
External links
Cynthia Harris @ broadwayworld.com Cynthia Harris @IBDB.com