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Georgia Engel

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Georgia Engel
Engel in 1977
Born
Georgia Bright Engel

(1948-07-28)July 28, 1948
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedApril 12, 2019(2019-04-12) (aged 70)
Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.
Resting placeCape Charles Cemetery, Cape Charles, Virginia, U.S.
EducationWalter Johnson High School
Alma materUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa
OccupationActress
Years active1969–2018
Known for

Georgia Bright Engel (July 28, 1948 – April 12, 2019) was an American actress. She is best known for having played Georgette Franklin Baxter in the sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1972 to 1977, Pat MacDougall on Everybody Loves Raymond from 2003 to 2005, and Mamie Sue on Hot in Cleveland from 2012 to 2015.[1][2] She was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards and a BAFTA award.

Early life

Georgia Engel was born in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Ruth Caroline (née Hendron) and Benjamin Franklin Engel, who was a Vice Admiral in the United States Coast Guard.[3][4] Engel attended the Kodiak Island Borough School District, Walter Johnson High School, and the Academy of the Washington Ballet from which she graduated. She earned her theater degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.[1][2]

Career

The wedding of Georgette and Ted in 1975

After college, Engel appeared in musical productions with Washington's American Light Opera Company. She moved to New York City in 1969, appearing off-Broadway in Lend an Ear, and for a year as Minnie Fay in the Broadway production of Hello, Dolly!, starting in December 1969.[5] A 1971 off-Broadway production of The House of Blue Leaves eventually played in Los Angeles, where Engel was seen by Mary Tyler Moore and her husband, producer Grant Tinker, her soon-to-be employers.[1][6]

Engel portrayed the character Georgette on The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1972 until the sitcom ended in 1977.[7] The role won her two Emmy nominations. After that sitcom ended, she teamed up with former Mary Tyler Moore Show co-star Betty White for The Betty White Show during its only (1977–78) season. She later co-starred on two short-lived 1980s sitcoms, Goodtime Girls as Loretta Smoot,[8] and in Jennifer Slept Here featuring Ann Jillian.[9]

Engel had a recurring role on Coach as Shirley Burleigh and starred as the voice of Love-a-Lot Bear in The Care Bears Movie (1985). She played a good witch in a 2007 recurring role[10][11] of Esmeralda[12] on the now-defunct NBC soap opera Passions.[13] Engel received consecutive Emmy Award nominations as outstanding guest actress in a comedy series in 2003, 2004, and 2005 for her role on Everybody Loves Raymond as Robert Barone's mother-in-law, Pat MacDougall.[14]

Engel made her "big screen" debut in Miloš Forman's first English-language movie Taking Off (1971),[15] playing "Margot", a performance that earned her a BAFTA nomination for best supporting actress. Her other film appearances include The Outside Man (1973),[16] Papa Was a Preacher (1987),[17] Signs of Life (1989),[18] The Sweetest Thing (2002),[19] and the made-for-TV movies The Day the Women Got Even (1980)[20] and A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story (1978).[21]

She lent her distinctive voice to the animated films Open Season (2006),[22] Open Season 2 (2008),[23] Open Season 3 (2010)[24] and Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001).

Engel returned to her stage roots in 2006, appearing on Broadway in the musical The Drowsy Chaperone, with Sutton Foster and Edward Hibbert. She created the role of Mrs. Tottendale, which she continued to perform, leaving the Broadway production as of April 1, 2007.[25] She was featured in the North American tour, performing in Toronto in September 2007,[26] through engagements at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco, in August 2008,[27] and at the Denver Performing Arts Complex in October 2008.[28]

For the summers of 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2010, Engel appeared in various productions at The Muny Theater in Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri. She also appeared in Show Boat in August 2010 as Parthy.[29] In July 2005, she appeared in Mame as Agnes Gooch,[30] in June 2007, she appeared in Oklahoma! as Aunt Eller,[31] and in July 2009, she appeared as Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man.[32][33]

In June 2010, Engel appeared at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine, production of The Drowsy Chaperone as Mrs. Tottendale.[34] In October through December 2010, Engel was featured in the Vineyard Theatre's off-Broadway production of Middletown, written by Will Eno.[35][36]

In 2012, she appeared in episodes of The Office as Irene, an older lady being helped by Erin Hannon (Ellie Kemper). She also appeared in two episodes of Two and a Half Men as the mother of Lyndsey McElroy, Alan's girlfriend. The character would also become a lesbian lover of Alan's mom, Evelyn.[37] In March 2012, 35 years after the close of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Engel was reunited with Betty White in the third season of Hot in Cleveland as Mamie Sue Johnson, best friend of White's character Elka, in a recurring role.[38]

Engel appeared in the new Annie Baker play John, which opened off-Broadway at the Signature Theatre on July 22, 2015 (previews), directed by Sam Gold. The play ran to September 6, 2015.[39] The cast also featured Lois Smith.[40] Engel won a 2016 Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress and was nominated for the 2016 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play for her role in this play.[41]

Engel starred in the musical Gotta Dance, which premiered at the Bank of America Theatre, Chicago on December 13, 2015, and ran until January 17, 2016. The cast also featured Stefanie Powers, Lillias White, and André De Shields. The musical was directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, with a book by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, and the score by Matthew Sklar and Nell Benjamin.[42] The musical, under the new title of Half Time, played a limited engagement at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. The production opened on May 31, 2018, and was scheduled to run to July 1, 2018.[43]

Personal life and death

Engel was an adherent of Christian Science.[44][45] She died on April 12, 2019, at the age of 70 in Princeton, New Jersey. Her friend John Quilty told The New York Times that the cause was unknown as Engel did not consult doctors due to her religious beliefs.[3] She was buried at Cape Charles Cemetery, in Cape Charles, Virginia.[46]

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1971 Taking Off Margot Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
1972 The Outside Man Mrs. Joan Barnes
1978 A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story Claire Ruth TV film
1980 The Day the Women Got Even Kathy Scott TV film
1983 The Magic of Herself the Elf Willow Song Voice
Television special
1985 Papa Was a Preacher 'Mama' Porter
1985 The Care Bears Movie Love-a-Lot Bear Voice
1989 Signs of Life Betty
2001 Dr. Dolittle 2 Giraffe Voice
2002 The Sweetest Thing Vera
2006 Open Season Bobbie Voice
2006 Boog and Elliot's Midnight Bun Run Bobbie Voice
Short film
2007 Nunsensations Sr. Marie Eugene Video
2007 The Beast Doris TV movie
2008 Open Season 2 Bobbie Voice
2010 Open Season 3 Bobbie Voice
2013 Grown Ups 2 Mrs. Jayne Lamonsoff
2016 The Family Lamp Marsha TV film
2018 Groomzilla Grandma Gigi TV film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1972–77 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Georgette Franklin Baxter 56 episodes
Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1976–77)
1974 Rhoda Georgette Franklin 1 episode: Rhoda's Wedding
1975 Dinah! Herself 1 episode
1975 The Mike Douglas Show Herself 3 episodes
1975–76 Tony Orlando and Dawn Herself 3 episodes
1977 The Jacksons Herself 1 episode
1977–78 The Betty White Show Mitzi Maloney 14 episodes
1977–82 The Love Boat Cleo Bagby 4 episodes
1978–83 Fantasy Island Brenda Rappaport 5 episodes
1979 Mork & Mindy Ambrosia Malspar 2 episodes
1980 The Associates Wendy Turner 1 episode: A Date with Johnny
1980 Goodtime Girls Loretta Smoot 13 episodes
1983–84 Jennifer Slept Here Susan Elliot 13 episodes
1991–97 Coach Shirley Burleigh 17 episodes
1992 Hi Honey, I'm Home! Georgette Franklin Baxter 1 episode: Elaine Takes a Wife
1998 Hercules Evelyn 2 episodes
2003–05 Everybody Loves Raymond Pat MacDougall 13 episodes
Prism Award for Best Performance in a Comedy Series (2006)
Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (2003–05)
2006 The View Herself 1 episode
2007 Passions Esmeralda 4 episodes
2008 The Oprah Winfrey Show Herself 1 episode
2008 Entertainment Tonight Herself 1 episode
2012 The Office Irene 3 episodes
2012 Two and a Half Men Jean 2 episodes
2012–15 Hot in Cleveland Mamie Sue Johnson 18 episodes
2018 One Day at a Time Sister Barbara 1 episode: Homecoming

Stage

Year Title Role(s) Venue(s) Notes Ref.
1969 Hello, Dolly! Minnie Fay St. James Theatre Broadway debut [47]
1971 The House of Blue Leaves performer Truck and Warehouse Theater [48]
1983 My One and Only Mickey St. James Theatre [49]
1991 Nunsense Sister Mary Amnesia Bucks County Playhouse, Pocono Playhouse [50]
1992 Cut the Ribbons performer Westside Theater [51]
1996 Sleeping Beauty Mme. Sophie/Fairy Godmother The Muny [52]
2000 The Pajama Game Mabel Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera [53]
2000 Dear World Gabrielle Goodspeed Opera House [54]
2002 The Boys from Syracuse Seeress American Airlines Theatre [55][56]
2006 The Drowsy Chaperone Mrs. Tottendale Marquis Theatre [57]
2007 The Drowsy Chaperone Mrs. Tottendale US national tour [58][59]
2009 The Music Man Mrs. Paroo The Muny [60]
2010 High Spirits Madame Arcati G&L Theatre [61]
2010 The Drowsy Chaperone Mrs. Tottendale Ogunquit Playhouse [62][63]
2010 Show Boat Parthy The Muny [64]
2010 Middletown Librarian Vineyard Theater [65]
2012 Uncle Vanya Marina Soho Rep [66]
2015 John Mertis Signature Theatre Company Obie Award
Drama Desk Award nomination
Drama League Award nomination
Lucille Lortel Award nomination 		[67][68][69][70][71]
2015 Gotta Dance Dorothy/Dottie Bank of America Theater [72][73]
2017 John Mertis American Conservatory Theater [74]
2017 Roman Holiday Countess Golden Gate Theatre [75]
2018 Half Time Dorothy Paper Mill Playhouse [76]

References

  1. ^ a b c Soloski, Alexis (28 August 2015). "Georgia Engel, a 'Mary Tyler Moore Show' Sidekick, Takes a Star Turn". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b "Overview for Georgia Engel". Turner Classic Movies.
  3. ^ a b Genzlinger, Neil (April 15, 2019). "Georgia Engel, Gentle-Voiced 'Mary Tyler Moore' Actress, Is Dead at 70". The New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  4. ^ "Georgia Engel Biography (1948–)". filmreference.com. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  5. ^ " Hello, Dolly! Cast replacements" Playbill (vault), accessed March 31, 2016
  6. ^ Gans, Andrew. "DIVA TALK: Chatting with Drowsy's Georgia Engel PLUS Audra McDonald and [title of show] on Disc" Playbill, August 11, 2006
  7. ^ The Mary Tyler Moore Show Archived 2015-02-01 at archive.today museum.tv, accessed March 31, 2016
  8. ^ Terrace, Vincent. "Goodtime Girls", Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials, Volume 2, VNR AG, 1985, ISBN 0918432618, p. 174
  9. ^ "Two New Fantasy TV Shows Make Unimaginative Debuts". The Toledo Blade. November 4, 1983. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  10. ^ "Changing for the Good". sheknows.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  11. ^ "SoapCentral.com". Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved Nov 16, 2019.
  12. ^ "Drowsy's Engel to Star in Wicked-Themed Daytime Soap "Passions"". Playbill. Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  13. ^ Newcomb, Roger (April 15, 2019). "Georgia Engel Dead at 70". We Love Soaps. United States: Blogger. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  14. ^ "Georgia Engel Emmy" emmys.com, accessed March 31, 2016
  15. ^ Taking Off at IMDb
  16. ^ The Outside Man tcm.com, accessed March 31, 2016
  17. ^ Papa Was a Preacher tcm.com, accessed March 31, 2016
  18. ^ Signs of Life tcm.com, accessed March 31, 2016
  19. ^ The Sweetest Thing tcm.com, accessed March 31, 2016
  20. ^ The Day the Women Got Even tcm.com, accessed March 31, 2016
  21. ^ A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story tcm.com, accessed March 31, 2016
  22. ^ Open Season tcm.com, accessed March 31, 2016
  23. ^ Open Season2 tcm.com, accessed March 31, 2016
  24. ^ Open Season 3 tcm.com, accessed March 31, 2016
  25. ^ Jones, Kenneth. Lovely in the End: Georgia Engel Exits Drowsy Chaperone April 1 "Lovely in the End: Georgia Engel Exits Drowsy Chaperone' April 1"] playbill.com, April 1, 2007
  26. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Georgia Engel to Star in Drowsy Tour; Additional Dates Revealed" Playbill, July 5, 2007 Retrieved January 2, 2022
  27. ^ Richter, Judy. " The Drowsy Chaperone, San Francisco" aislesay.com, accessed August 2, 2015
  28. ^ Moore, John. " 'Drowsy Chaperone' Embodies Georgia Engel's Optimism" Denver Post, October 10, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2022
  29. ^ Gans, Andrew. Gary Beach, Georgia Engel, Danny Gurwin, Michel Bell Ride a Show Boat at the Muny Starting Aug. 9" playbill.com, August 9, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2022
  30. ^ Teachout, Terry. "A Hot Time in the Old Town" Wall Street Journal, July 29, 2005
  31. ^ Lipton, Brian Scott. "Brown, Callaway, Engel, Hocking, Jue, et al. Set for the Muny", theatermania.com, May 7, 2007, accessed August 2, 2015
  32. ^ "Georgia Engel theatre profile". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved Nov 16, 2019.
  33. ^ Gans, Andrew (Jul 20, 2009). "Music Man, with Clow, Baldwin, Brown, English, Engel, Begins Muny Run July 20". Playbill. Retrieved Nov 16, 2019.
  34. ^ Peter, Thomas. Kressley, Engel and Larsen Headline 'The Drowsy Chaperone' at Ogunquit Playhouse" Playbill, June 9, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2022
  35. ^ " 'Middletown': Georgia Engel & Michael Park join cast" Retrieved 17 June 2015
  36. ^ " 'Middletown' Listing" vineyard.com, accessed August 3, 2015
  37. ^ 'Two and a Half Men': Georgia Engel cast as Evelyn's lesbian love interest Archived 2012-04-13 at the Wayback Machine, March 5, 2012
  38. ^ Alyse Whitney. "The TVLine-Up: TV Worth Watching Wednesday", TVLine, March 28, 2012
  39. ^ Clement, Olivia. "Annie Baker and Sam Gold Reunite for World Premiere of 'John' " Playbill, June 18, 2015
  40. ^ Clement, Olivia. "World Premiere of New Annie Baker and Sam Gold Collaboration, 'John', Begins Tonight" Playbill, July 22, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2022
  41. ^ "2016 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations Announced" Playbill, March 30, 2016
  42. ^ Viagas, Robert. "Broadway-Bound Gotta Dance, Starring Lillias White, André De Shields and Georgia Engel, Bows in Chicago" Playbill, December 13, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2022
  43. ^ Hetrick, Adam. "New Musical 'Half Time', Starring André De Shields, Georgia Engel, Donna McKechnie, and Lillias White, Begins Paper Mill Run" Playbill, May 31, 2018
  44. ^ Soloski, Alexis (28 August 2015). "Georgia Engel, a 'Mary Tyler Moore Show' Sidekick, Takes a Star Turn". The New York Times.
  45. ^ "Sister Amnesia Role Never Lets Actress Forget Her Love Of Theater". Retrieved January 2, 2022.[permanent dead link‍]
  46. ^ "Recent Obituaries". Doughty Funeral Homes and Crematory. Retrieved Nov 16, 2019.
  47. ^ "Hello, Dolly! – Broadway Musical – Original". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League.
  48. ^ Soloski, Alexis (28 August 2015). "Georgia Engel, a 'Mary Tyler Moore Show' Sidekick, Takes a Star Turn". New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  49. ^ "My One And Only – Broadway Musical – Original". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  50. ^ Lawler, Sylvia. "Life after Georgette". The Morning Call. Newspapers.com. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  51. ^ "Last Chance". New York Times. 9 October 1992. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  52. ^ Pollack, Joe (19 August 1996). "Sleeping Beauty". Variety. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  53. ^ Jones, Kenneth (18 July 2000). "Hey There: Cuccioli Sings Pajama Game in Pittsburgh July 18-23". Playbill. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  54. ^ Jones, Kenneth (10 December 2000). "Sun Sets on Goodspeed's Dear World Revival Dec. 10". Playbill. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  55. ^ Isherwood, Charles (18 August 2002). "The Boys From Syracuse". Variety. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  56. ^ "The Boys from Syracuse – Broadway Musical – 2002 Revival". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  57. ^ Brantley, Ben (2 May 2006). "Nostalgic 'Drowsy Chaperone' Opens on Broadway". New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  58. ^ Boslaugh, Sarah. "Regional Reviews: St. Louis - The Drowsy Chaperone - 11/2/2007". Talkin' Broadway. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  59. ^ "The Drowsy Chaperone – Broadway Musical – Tour". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  60. ^ Gans, Andrew (20 July 2009). "Music Man, with Clow, Baldwin, Brown, English, Engel, Begins Muny Run July 20". Playbill. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  61. ^ Silk, Chris (8 January 2010). "Review: Georgia Engel raises the dead in 'High Spirits'". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  62. ^ Sheehan, Joe (17 June 2010). "Ogunquit's 'Drowsy Chaperone' awakens audience with laughter". York County Coast Star. Seacoast Online. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  63. ^ "The Drowsy Chaperone to open season at Ogunquit Playhouse". Fosters Daily Democrat. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  64. ^ Gans, Andrew (9 August 2010). "Gary Beach, Georgia Engel, Danny Gurwin, Michel Bell Ride a Show Boat at the Muny Starting Aug. 9". Playbill. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  65. ^ Isherwood, Charles (3 November 2010). "Word-Woozy Roundelay in Average Town Ruled by Singular Sadness". New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  66. ^ Stasio, Marilyn (19 June 2012). "Uncle Vanya". Variety. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  67. ^ Isherwood, Charles (11 August 2015). "Review: In 'John,' Pondering Life's Mysteries From Gettysburg". New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  68. ^ "2016 Obie Award Winners Announced". Obie Awards. American Theatre Wing. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  69. ^ Cox, Gordon (28 April 2016). "Drama Desk Nominations: 'She Loves Me,' 'American Psycho' Earn Most Nods (FULL LIST)". Variety. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  70. ^ Cox, Gordon (20 April 2016). "Drama League Awards Nominations: Jessica Lange, Lupita Nyong'o, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Lots More (FULL LIST)". Variety. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  71. ^ "2016 Nominees : Lucille Lortel Awards". The Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  72. ^ Oxman, Steven (30 December 2015). "Pre-Broadway Review: 'Gotta Dance'". Variety. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  73. ^ Vrie, Kris (1 December 2015). "Georgia Engel as Dorothy in Gotta Dance". Time Out. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  74. ^ Hurwitt, Sam (11 March 2017). "Review: Annie Baker's 'John' is oddly unsettling". East Bay Times. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  75. ^ "Review: Does 'Roman Holiday' seduce in San Francisco debut?". The Mercury News. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  76. ^ Brantley, Ben (14 June 2018). "Review: Hip-Hopping With the Stars in 'Half Time'". New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
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