Louise Lasser, star of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, dies at 87

tvJul 8, 2026341,237

Louise Lasser, the actress who shot to overnight stardom as the star of Norman Lear’s 1970s satirical soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, died of natural causes at her Manhattan home on July 6. She was 87. Variety notes Lasser’s normally reserved, soft-spoken demeanor was inverted in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, where she played a frazzled, materialistic Midwestern housewife. Press reports also recall Lasser’s marriage to filmmaker Woody Allen and a long career that included film, stage and late-night television appearances. Obituaries and social posts are remembering her Emmy-nominated lead on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and noting landmark moments such as her hosting of Saturday Night Live in the 1970s.

David Darmofal

@daviddarmofal.bsky.social

A big TV death if you grew up in the 1970s. Louise Lasser, star of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

8393h ago

Marilyn26

She was wonderfully deadpan as Mary Hartman and survived being married to Woody Allen. RIP.

[email protected]13

I watched that show, it came on late at night

Smigman12

OMG I remember that TV show. It was a strange show back then.

gtgnow10

Omg, this show. My dad was a tv repairman (and a farmer lol). He used to work on televisions out in his shop in the afternoon and watch this show, we could hear him laughing. And then he denied it when we called him out. Haha

Michael10

I have to admit that I loved watching her show after a good toke! 😳😇

TheCatMan8

So sorry to see this. RIP For those of us who did grow 'up in the 70's,' our lights are dimming. Feels like that everyday. Have stopped reading the obitiaries.

Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)

@bowiesongs.bsky.social

goodbye Louise Lasser. "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" remains one of the strangest TV shows ever aired--there's nothing quite like it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvBO...

488h ago

Quoting this

Moss Elixir14

If this were on now you'd see a lot of (annoying, performative) "WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING?!" reactions but it's also noteworthy for disturbingly realistic portrayals of domestic violence (with...Martin Mull as the abusive husband) & the proto-MAGA rise of the "hard hat" white far right. RIP, Louise.

Dr Pop Culture USA

@drpopcultureusa.bsky.social

Louise Lasser hosted SNL in 1976. It remains one of the more “controversial” episodes of the long-running series.

308h ago

Cinema Strikes Back

@cinemastrikesback.bsky.social

Oh man, RIP Louise Lasser. You want to see some truly next level shit. Watch her in Blood Rage, my god.

247h ago

Quoting this

🩸💀 The Horror Guru 💀🩸17

RIP Jeffrey's mom from Frankenhooker. 😢

Jay9

I second Blood Rage. It's great and her performance is beamed in from another film and she absolutely kills it. RIP

Will Sloan

@willsloanesq.bsky.social

RIP the queen Louise Lasser. Among other things, hosted a Top 5 episode of SNL.

297h ago

Marilyn

@stealthbirder.bsky.social

She was wonderfully deadpan as Mary Hartman and survived being married to Woody Allen. RIP.

262h ago

Sam Bagenstos

@sbagen.bsky.social

I remember trying to convince my babysitters to let me stay up to watch Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. I occasionally succeeded. RIP.

243h ago

Mark

@ferl67.bsky.social

Louise Lasser Dies: ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’ Star Was 87 deadline.com/2026/07/loui...

178h ago

Michael Schulman

@michaelschulman.bsky.social

Tonight I happened to turn on an episode of “Girls” with Louise Lasser in it. Such a lovely, sharp late-in-life performance. RIP

202h ago

J.A.Tallon

@tallon.bsky.social

Louise Lasser in "Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask" (with Woody Allen) - RIP

146h ago

jeffreyalexander07.bsky.social

@jeffreyalexander07.bsky.social

Some people considered "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" to be a cult following...At least it was funny & served a purpose. www.wsbradio.com/news/trendin...

148h ago

Forgotten TV

@forgotten.tv

𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗥 (𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟵–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲) 🕊 The iconic 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙣, 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙣 actress has died at age 87 with a career spanning the Broadway stage, iconic films, and late-night television.

127h ago

Grateful Fred⚡Play Dead

@therealcavey.bsky.social

The great Louise Lasser has left the stage 💔 #RIP #MaryHartmanMaryHartman

157h ago

Kevin D1

Oh, not another one 🥺

Gregg Levine

@greggjlevine.bsky.social

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it, but I still recall how grown up I felt when my parents let me watch MH-squared. It’s hard now to imagine how transgressive it was, how transgressive broadcast TV could be… and how funny. This was in large part due to the artistry of Louise Lasser. RIP, RIP.

83h ago

Jesse Coffey #BlueWave2026 #ICEOut #IStandWithPopeLeoXIV

@therealjessecoffey.bsky.social

Louise Lasser has died. The actress, writer, performing arts teacher and director was best known for her Emmy award-nominated performance as the title character in the soap opera satire “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman”.

Louise Lasser in her hosting gig on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”, on the episode dated July 24, 1976. (📸: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty Images)

67h ago

3 sources

variety.comLouise Lasser, Star of ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,’ Dies at 87 soapcentral.comMary Hartman, Mary Hartman Star Louise Lasser Dead at 87 yahoo.comLouise Lasser, 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman' actress, dies at 87

Louise Lasser, star of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, dies at 87tv

Louise Lasser, star of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, dies at 87

Related