Marcia Strassman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marcia Strassman
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Strassman in 1975
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| Born |
Marcia Ann Strassman
April 28, 1948 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | October 24, 2014 (aged 66) Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress, singer, television personality |
| Years active | 1963–2014 |
| Known for | Welcome Back, Kotter Honey, I Shrunk the Kids M*A*S*H |
| Spouse(s) |
Robert Collector
(m. 1984; div. 1989) |
| Children | 1 |
Marcia Ann Strassman (born April 28, 1948 – died October 24, 2014) was an American actress and singer. She was famous for playing Nurse Margie Cutler in the TV show M*A*S*H. She also played Julie Kotter in Welcome Back, Kotter and Diane Szalinski in the movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989).
Contents
Early Life and Acting Career
Marcia Strassman was born in New York City and grew up in Passaic, New Jersey. She started acting at a young age. One of her first roles was in an episode of The Patty Duke Show.
In 1963, when she was just 15 years old, she took over a role in an Off-Broadway musical called Best Foot Forward. She replaced another famous actress, Liza Minnelli, in that role.
Music Career
In 1967, Marcia also became a singer. She signed with Uni Records. Her first song, "The Flower Children", became a popular hit in some parts of the United States, especially on the West Coast. It also did well in Vancouver, Canada.
She released a few more songs, but they did not become as widely known. After a short time, she focused more on her acting career again.
Becoming a TV Star
After her singing career, Marcia returned to acting. She got a repeating role as Nurse Margie Cutler in the early episodes of the popular TV show M*A*S*H.
In 1975, she landed a big role as Julie Kotter in the ABC comedy series Welcome Back, Kotter. She played the wife of the main character, high school teacher Gabe Kotter. The show was very popular and lasted for four years. Marcia once felt unhappy on the show due to a misunderstanding with the lead actor, Gabe Kaplan. They later found out a producer had caused the problem. They cleared things up and even talked about it on The Tonight Show.
Other Roles in Movies and TV
Throughout the 1970s and beyond, Marcia Strassman appeared in many other TV shows. She had guest roles in popular series like The Rockford Files, The Love Boat, and Magnum, P.I.. In 1980, she starred in a TV movie based on the famous book Brave New World.
She also had important movie roles. She played Rick Moranis's wife, Diane Szalinski, in the hit movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989). She returned for the sequel, Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992), and a 3-D film spin-off called Honey, I Shrunk the Audience! in 1994. Later, she played Nancy Sterngood in the TV series Tremors (2003).
Later Life and Passing
In March 2007, Marcia Strassman was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. She wrote a book in 2008 where she shared stories about her life, her career, and her illness.
Marcia Strassman passed away from the disease at her home in Sherman Oaks, California, on October 24, 2014. She was 66 years old. She had one daughter named Elizabeth Collector.
Discography
- "The Flower Children" / "Out of the Picture" (1967)
- "The Groovy World of Jack & Jill" / "The Flower Shop" (1967)
- "Self-Analysis" / "Star Gazer" (1968)
Bibliography
- Strassman, Marcia; Marshall, Penny (Foreword) (2008). Life with a Side Order of Cancer. Richmond, VA: Palari Publishing.
See also
In Spanish: Marcia Strassman para niños
