Mary Louise Wilson (born November 12, 1931) is an American actress, singer, and comedian, known for her role in Grey Gardens. She is also known for her appearances on One Day at a Time.
Early life Wilson was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but raised in New Orleans, Louisiana.Wilson, Mary Louise. My First Hundred Years in Show Business: A Memoir. Abrams Press, 2015. Print.
Work Filmography YearTitleRole(s)Notes1971 Klute an ad agency secretary Going Home Mrs. Green the real estate lady 1972 Up the Sandbox Betty 1978 King of the Gypsies Ivy 1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Miss Mo-dene 1983 Zelig Ruth, Zelig's half-sister 1984 Teachers Teacher 1986 The Money Pit Benny's mom 1989 Cheap Shots Dotty Pet Sematary Dory Goldman She-Devil Mrs. Trumper 1990 Everybody Wins Jean Green Card Mrs. Sheehan 1993 The Adventures of Huck Finn Miss Watson Mr. Wonderful Muriel Manners 1998 Stepmom Mrs. Franklin 1999 24 Nights Lillian 2002 Searching for Paradise Evelyn Greenslate 2003 The Third Date Lulu Short film Psychoanalysis Changed My Life Dr. Anya Zurmer 2013 Nebraska Aunt Martha 2018 Ocean's 8 Marlene
Television The Royal Family (1977) as Kitty Dean One Day at a Time (1976-1977) as Ginny Wroblicki Maude (1978) as Congresswoman Irene McIlhenny Lou Grant (1982) A Mistaken Charity (1986) as Mrs. Simmonds Tales from the Darkside (1986) The Thorns (1988) Blind Spot (1993) as Mrs. Deitz Remember WENN (1996) Cosby (1999) Frasier (2000) as Helen The Sopranos (2000) as Catherine Romano A Season for Miracles (1999) as Corinna The Women (2002) as Mrs. Morehead Louie (2010) as Louie's mother Nurse Jackie (2012) as Doris Mozart in the Jungle (2014-2018) as Bunny Orange is the New Black (2016) as Millie Modern Family (2018) as Becky Pritchett ‘’Tales of the City’’ (2019) as Doris
Stage
Broadway Hot Spot (1963) as Sue Ann (Broadway debut) Flora the Red Menace (1965) as Comrade Ada Lovers and Other Strangers (1968) as Bernice Noël Coward's Sweet Potato (1968) (replacement) Promises, Promises (1968) as Marge MacDougall Watercolor & Criss-Crossing (1970) The Women (1973) as Nancy Blake Gypsy: A Musical Fable (1974) as Tessie Tura The Royal Family (1975) as Kitty Dean The Importance of Being Earnest (1977) as Miss Prism The Philadelphia Story (1980) as Elizabeth Imbrie Fools (1981) as Lenya Zubritsky Alice in Wonderland (1982) as the Red Queen The Odd Couple (1985) as Mickey Cabaret (1998) as Fräulein Schneider The Women (2001) as Mrs. Morehead Grey Gardens (2006) as Edith Bouvier Beale (Tony Award) On the Twentieth Century (2015) as Letita Peabody Primrose
Off-Broadway Bonds of Interest (1958) The Threepenny Opera (1959) (replacement) Dime a Dozen (1962) A Great Career (1968) Whispers on the Wind (1970) Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You and The Actor's Nightmare (1982) (replacement) Baby with the Bathwater (1983) Macbeth (1989) Flaubert's Latest (1992) Full Gallop (1995) (co-author, winner of the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show) Bosoms and Neglect (1998) The Beard of Avon (2004) Grey Gardens (2006) 4000 Miles (2011)
Other Gypsy (1974) Anyone Can Whistle (1980) Social Security (1987) False Admissions (1994) The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore (1996) Morning's at Seven (2002) The Rivals (2005) The Guardsman (2010)
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated Work Result 1996 Obie Award Distinguished Performance by an Actress Full Gallop 1998 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Cabaret 1999 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Bosoms and Neglect 2004 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play The Beard of Avon 2006 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Grey Gardens Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Performance by a Featured Actress Drama League Award Distinguished Performance 2007 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Richard Seff Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Broadway or Off-Broadway Production 2012 Obie Award Distinguished Performance by an Actress 4000 Miles Drama League Award Distinguished Performance 2015 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical On the Twentieth Century
References
External links
Grey Gardens, "Working in the Theatre" video from the American Theatre Wing (November 2006)