Actress Louise Lasser Dies at 87

Actress Louise Lasser, best known for her lead role in the 1970s satirical sitcom Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, died at her home in Manhattan at age 87. Her death marks the end of a career that spanned over five decades across television, film, and theater.

Lasser achieved national prominence between 1976 and 1977, starring in more than 300 episodes of the Norman Lear-produced soap opera parody. The series, which aired five days a week, utilized Lasser’s performance to critique suburban American life, earning her significant critical attention and multiple magazine covers. Her professional trajectory was also defined by early collaborations with Woody Allen, including roles in the films Bananas and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (*But Were Afraid to Ask).

Following her tenure on Mary Hartman, Lasser maintained a consistent presence in the entertainment industry. Her later filmography included appearances in Todd Solondz’s Happiness and Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream. She also reached contemporary audiences through a recurring role in the HBO series Girls in 2014. Lasser’s career began on Broadway in 1962, where she served as an understudy for Barbra Streisand, before transitioning into a diverse portfolio of character work that lasted until the final years of her life.