Saturday, October 26, 2013

Marcia Wallace Dead at 70

Actress Marcia Wallace has died at age 70. She gained fame as Carol Kester for six seasons on THE BOB NEWHART SHOW. She later won an Emmy Award in 1992 for her voice over work as teacher Edna Krabappel on The Simpsons,

"I was tremendously saddened to learn this morning of the passing of the brilliant and gracious Marcia Wallace," said SIMPSONS executive producer Al Jean in a statement. "She was beloved by all at THE SIMPSONS and we intend to retire her irreplaceable character."

Wallace earned another Emmy nomination in 1994 for a turn on Murphy Brown as 'Secretary 66' in 1994.

The 1992 Simpsons episode for which she won found Ms. Krabappel giving Bart a month of detention. He exacted revenge by responding to her newspaper singles ad. Wallace would go on to star in 177 episodes of THE SIMPSONS.

Wallace's friend Cathryn Michon, who co-wrote and directed Wallace's last film, the upcoming Muffin Top, told Deadline that the actress passed away at 9 p.m. on Friday night "due to complications from breast cancer of which she was a long and proud survivor and advocate for women and healing." Wallace was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1985.

"Ironically (her death) was during breast cancer awareness month during which she was always a funny ray of hope for so many," said Michon.

Just before a BOB NEWHART SHOW reunion in 2007, co-star Suzanne Pleshette told USA Today she and Wallace had bonded over both surviving cancer. "We've been able to be completely open with each other, which I don't even do with my other girlfriends," said Pleshette.

Marcia Wallace died on October 25, 2013, what
would have been Jeanne Cooper's 85th birthday.
In 2009, Wallace played Annie Wilkes on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, who was involved in Katherine's kidnapping story.

In 2004, Wallace published an autobiography, "Don't Look Back, We're Not Going That Way." The comedian aired out the book's contents in the subtitle, which read How I Overcame a Rocky Childhood, a Nervous Breakdown, Breast Cancer, Widowhood, Fat, Fire & Menopausal Motherhood and Still Managed to Count My Lucky Chickens.

The actress was also a common fixture on game shows, including HOLLYWOOD SQUARES, THE $25,000 PYRAMID, TO TELL THE TRUTH and MATCH GAME. Wallace's husband of six years, hotelier Dennis Hawley died in 1992. Their son, Michael Hawley, recently appeared with her in Muffin Top.

1 comment:

  1. R.I.P. I used to love her on Match Game back in the 70's.

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