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Louise Lasser, Mary Hartman star, dies at 87

tvJul 7, 2026311,066

Louise Lasser, the star of Norman Lear’s satirical soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, died of natural causes at her Manhattan home Monday at age 87. Lasser’s idiosyncratic performance, remembered for her pigtails, bangs and baby-doll dresses, made the short-lived series a distinctive TV landmark. She began her screen career in early Woody Allen films and was his second wife, appearing as his leading lady in Take the Money and Run, Bananas and Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex. Critics and viewers also recall her later genre turn in Blood Rage and a notorious SNL hosting stint that highlighted her unsettling comic gifts. Colleagues and fans posted remembrances noting her singular deadpan and the cultural influence of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman on television satire.

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