Marsha Mason facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marsha Mason
Mason in 2018
Born	(1942-04-03) April 3, 1942 (age 83) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, director
Years active	1966–present
Spouse(s)	Gary Campbell ​ ​ (m. 1965; div. 1970)​ Neil Simon ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1983)​

Marsha Mason (born April 3, 1942) is an American actress and director who has had a long career in movies, television, and theater. She is famous for her starring roles in several popular films from the 1970s and 1980s.

Mason received four nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress, one of the highest honors an actor can get. These nominations were for her roles in the movies Cinderella Liberty (1973), The Goodbye Girl (1977), Chapter Two (1979), and Only When I Laugh (1981). She also won two Golden Globe Awards for her acting.

For ten years, she was married to the famous playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon. He wrote many of the hit movies she starred in, including three of her Oscar-nominated films. On television, she is known for her roles in the sitcoms Frasier and The Middle.

Acting Career

Marsha Mason has worked as an actress for over 50 years. She has appeared in movies, on television shows, and in plays on Broadway, which is home to the most famous theaters in the United States.

Success in Movies

Mason became a major movie star in the 1970s. Her career took off after the writer Neil Simon saw her in the 1973 film Blume in Love. He cast her in his Broadway play, The Good Doctor. Soon after, they were married.

During their marriage, Simon wrote several movies that became big hits with Mason in the lead role.

• Cinderella Liberty (1973): For this film, Mason earned her first Academy Award nomination.
• The Goodbye Girl (1977): This comedy was a huge success. Mason's performance won her a Golden Globe Award and another Oscar nomination.
• Chapter Two (1979): This movie was based on the real-life story of how Mason and Simon met and married. It earned her a third Oscar nomination.
• Only When I Laugh (1981): Mason received her fourth and final Oscar nomination for her role in this film.

Mason at the premiere of Seems Like Old Times in 1980

After she and Simon divorced in 1983, Mason continued to act in movies. She starred with Clint Eastwood in the successful film Heartbreak Ridge (1986). She also appeared in other films like Stella (1990) and the comedy Drop Dead Fred (1991).

Work in Television

Mason has also had a successful career in television. From 1997 to 1998, she had a memorable recurring role on the popular sitcom Frasier. She played Sherry Dempsey, the fun-loving girlfriend of Martin Crane. Her performance earned her a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award.

From 2010 to 2017, she played Pat Spence, the mother of the main character, Frankie Heck, on the ABC sitcom The Middle. She has also appeared in episodes of many other shows, including Madam Secretary, The Good Wife, and the Netflix series Grace and Frankie.

Theater and Directing

Mason in 2010

Mason began her career in the theater and has continued to perform on stage throughout her life. She has acted in many Broadway plays, including The Night of the Iguana (1996) and Steel Magnolias (2005). She has also performed in theaters across the country, from Chicago to Washington, D.C.

In addition to acting, Mason is a talented director. She has directed several plays, including productions of Neil Simon's Chapter Two and Steel Magnolias. This shows her deep understanding of storytelling, both in front of the audience and behind the scenes.

Personal Life

Marsha Mason was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 3, 1942. She grew up in Crestwood, Missouri, with her parents and younger sister, Linda. She attended Webster University, where she performed in many plays and discovered her love for acting.

Mason was married to actor Gary Campbell from 1965 to 1970. She was later married to writer Neil Simon from 1973 to 1983.

For many years, Mason lived on a farm in New Mexico where she grew organic herbs. She later moved and now lives in Connecticut. She has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame to honor her successful career and her connection to her hometown.

Filmography

Here is a list of some of Marsha Mason's most well-known movies and television shows.

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

Marsha Mason has been recognized with many awards and nominations for her acting.

See also

In Spanish: Marsha Mason para niños