Louise Lasser: From Broadway Debut to Mary Hartman Legacy

Louise Lasser (April 11, 1939 – July 6, 2026) was an American actress, writer, teacher, and director best known as the title character in the satirical soap Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. She earned an Emmy nomination for that role. She made her Broadway debut in the 1962 musical I Can Get It for You Wholesale. Lasser appeared in early Woody Allen films like Take the Money and Run and Bananas. She also hosted Saturday Night Live in 1976 and guest-starred on classics such as The Bob Newhart Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Lasser married Woody Allen in 1966 and later ran her own acting studio in Manhattan. In 1976 she faced a minor legal incident in Los Angeles when she was cited for cocaine possession and unpaid ticket fines. The case was ultimately resolved with counseling. Lasser died at her Manhattan home in July 2026 at age 87. Her work on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman remains a cult favorite, and she broke ground as a Clio Award winner and ensemble award nominee. Her career continues to influence actors and satirists today.

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