Marcia Wallace facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marcia Wallace
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Wallace in 1994
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| Born |
Marcia Karen Wallace
November 1, 1942 Creston, Iowa, U.S.
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| Died | October 25, 2013 (aged 70) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Parsons College |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1967–2013 |
| Known for | The Bob Newhart Show Full House The Simpsons |
| Spouse(s) |
Dennis Hawley
(m. 1986; died 1992) |
| Children | 1 |
Marcia Karen Wallace (born November 1, 1942 – died October 25, 2013) was an American actress and comedian. She was famous for her roles in TV comedies called sitcoms.
Marcia Wallace was best known as Carol Kester, the receptionist on The Bob Newhart Show. She also played Mrs. Carruthers on Full House. Many people know her as the voice of Edna Krabappel, the elementary school teacher on The Simpsons. She won an Emmy Award in 1992 for her voice work on The Simpsons. After her death, the character of Edna Krabappel was retired.
Wallace was known for being tall, having red hair, and a special laugh. Her career lasted for five decades, including work in TV, movies, and on stage. She often appeared on The Merv Griffin Show. This led to her getting a role created just for her on The Bob Newhart Show. In 1985, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After this, she became an activist, helping to raise awareness about cancer.
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Early Life and Education
Marcia Wallace was born in Creston, Iowa, on November 1, 1942. She was the oldest of three children. Her father owned a general store where Marcia and her siblings often helped out.
In high school, a teacher saw her talent in a school play. The teacher encouraged Marcia to think about acting as a career. After graduating from Creston High School, Wallace received a full scholarship to Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. There, she studied English and Theater. She performed in college plays like Brigadoon and The Music Man.
Acting Career Highlights
The day she graduated from college, Marcia Wallace moved to New York City. She had only $148 with her. To earn money, she typed scripts and worked as a substitute English teacher. She also performed in commercials and summer plays.
After performing in a nightclub for a year, Wallace and four friends formed an improv group. They called themselves The Fourth Wall. In 1968, Wallace performed with this group off-Broadway.
Wallace was a regular guest on The Merv Griffin Show, appearing over 75 times. When the show moved to Los Angeles, Wallace moved with it. One of her appearances in 1972 led to a phone call from TV producer Grant Tinker. He offered her a role on The Bob Newhart Show. The role of Carol Kester, the sarcastic receptionist, was written just for her.
After The Bob Newhart Show ended in 1978, Wallace appeared on many game shows. These included Match Game, Hollywood Squares, and Family Feud.
She also had other TV roles. She appeared on Bewitched and The Brady Bunch. She played school principal Mrs. Lyman on ALF. She was Mrs. Carruthers on Full House. Wallace also made guest appearances on shows like Murder, She Wrote and Magnum, P.I.. On one of the last episodes of Taxi, she played herself.
Voice Acting for The Simpsons
In 1989, The Simpsons cartoon began. Wallace joined the cast as the voice of Edna Krabappel. She played this character until her death in 2013. In 1992, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for her voice work on the episode "Bart the Lover".
Movie and Stage Work
Marcia Wallace also appeared in movies. These included My Mom's a Werewolf and Teen Witch. In the 2008 film Tru Loved, she played a high school drama teacher. In 2013, she voiced the librarian in Monsters University.
On stage, Wallace performed in many plays. She toured with the female version of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple. She also appeared in musicals like Gypsy and Promises, Promises.
Personal Life and Activism
Marcia Wallace married Dennis Hawley on May 18, 1986. He was a hotel manager. The couple adopted a baby boy named Michael. Dennis passed away in June 1992 from pancreatic cancer.
Before her marriage, Wallace was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1985. After this, she became a strong activist and speaker about the disease. In 2007, she received the Gilda Radner Courage Award. This award recognized her efforts to educate people about early cancer detection. It also honored her for inspiring others as a breast cancer survivor for 20 years.
Wallace wrote an autobiography called Don't Look Back, We're Not Going That Way. It was published in 2004. The book shared her experiences, including her cancer diagnosis and becoming a single mother.
Illness and Passing
Marcia Wallace died on October 25, 2013, just one week before her 71st birthday. She passed away from pneumonia and sepsis. Breast cancer was also listed as a major factor in her death. She was cremated after a private funeral.
The staff of The Simpsons knew about her health issues. Showrunner Al Jean said he was very sad to hear of her passing. Yeardley Smith, who voices Lisa Simpson, said that heaven was now a much funnier place because of Marcia. Her former co-star Bob Newhart said Marcia's death was a shock and that she was a talented actress and dear friend.
Al Jean announced that they would retire her character, Edna Krabappel, because she was "irreplaceable." The Simpsons episode "Four Regrettings and a Funeral" was dedicated to her. Wallace had recorded lines for several upcoming episodes. Her final episode, "The Man Who Grew Too Much," aired in March 2014.
In 2021, it was announced that Marcia Wallace's voice would appear one last time on The Simpsons. Archival recordings of her voice as Edna Krabappel were used in the episode "Diary Queen." This was a way to give a proper goodbye to her character.
See also
In Spanish: Marcia Wallace para niños
