Nancy Walker (May 10, 1922 – March 25, 1992) was an American actress and comedienne of stage, screen, and television. She was also a film and television director (most notably of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, on which she made several guest appearances). During her five-decade long career, she may be best remembered for her long-running roles as Mildred on McMillan & Wife and Ida Morgenstern, who first appeared on several episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and later became a prominent recurring character on the spinoff series Rhoda.
Appeared in multiple commercials as a spokesperson for Bounty Paper Towels as the lovable Rosie the Waitress in the 1970s and 1980s.
2
Despite her enormous success as a comedienne, Walker was highly insecure and underwent years of therapy.
3
When auditioning for "Best Foot Forward" on Broadway, George Abbott thought she was the actress Helen Walker auditioning and signed her up for a bit part. After she got the part, her talent was revealed and the part was rewritten into a starring role for her. She decided to keep the name "Walker."
4
Met husband and vocal coach David Craig when she lost her voice during the run of the Broadway musical "Look Ma, I'm Dancing" in 1948.
5
Was twice nominated for Broadway's Best Actress (Musical) Tony Award for Actress in a Musical in 1956, for "Phoenix '55," and in 1961, for "Do Re Mi".
6
Her first major Broadway role was as the Blind Date in "Best Foot Forward" (1941). She made her film debut repeating her stage role in the film version (Best Foot Forward (1943)).
7
Received a Tony Award nomination in 1956 for lead Actress in the musical, 'Phoenix '55.'
Bertha Furman (segment "Love and the Oldly Weds") / Mother (segment "Love and the See-Through Man") / Mrs. Morrison (segment "Love and the Pulitzer Prize")
Medical Center
1972
TV Series
Mrs. Bainbridge
Stand Up and Be Counted
1972
Agnes
Keep the Faith
1972
TV Movie
Sophie
Decisions! Decisions!
1971
TV Movie
Family Affair
1970-1971
TV Series
Emily Turner
NBC Experiment in Television
1969
TV Series
The Tab Hunter Show
1960
TV Series
Buddy Parker
Play of the Week
1959-1960
TV Series
Rifkele
The World of Sholom Aleichem
1959
TV Movie
The Red Skelton Hour
1955-1958
TV Series
Sadie / Gertie - Bolivar's Girlfriend
Kraft Theatre
1958
TV Series
Teresa
Playwrights '56
1956
TV Series
Letty Bern
Max Liebman Spectaculars
1956
TV Series
Texaco Star Theatre
1954
TV Series
Marlene
Lucky Me
1954
Flo Neely
Musical Comedy Time
1950
TV Series
Mary Custer
Broadway Rhythm
1944
Trixie Simpson
Girl Crazy
1943
Polly Williams
Best Foot Forward
1943
Nancy - Blind Date
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Alice
1984-1985
TV Series 3 episodes
Can't Stop the Music
1980
Magic Night
1980
TV Movie
13 Queens Boulevard
1979
TV Series 2 episodes
Rhoda
1978
TV Series 4 episodes
Mary Tyler Moore
1973-1974
TV Series 2 episodes
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Frank Sinatra Show
1950
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Broadway Rhythm
1944
performer: "Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet"
Best Foot Forward
1943
performer: "The Three B's" 1941, "I Know You by Heart" 1941, "Alive and Kickin'" 1941
That's Entertainment! III
1994
Documentary performer: "The Three B's" 1941 - uncredited
Fame
1983
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Muppet Show
1977
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Rhoda
1976
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The 28th Annual Tony Awards
1974
TV Special performer: "Upper Berth"
The Garry Moore Show
1962-1963
TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Lucky Me
1954
performer: "High Hopes", "Blue Bells of Broadway"
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The New Hollywood Squares
1988
TV Series
Herself - Panelist
Hour Magazine
1983-1984
TV Series
Herself
The Alan Thicke Show
1981
TV Series
Herself
Password Plus
1980
TV Series
Herself - Celebrity Contestant
The Mike Douglas Show
1975-1980
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Big Show
1980
TV Series
Herself - Host
The Mary Tyler Moore Hour
1979
TV Series
Herself
The Muppet Show
1977
TV Series
Herself - Special Guest Star
Saturday Night Live
1976
TV Series
Herself
Dinah!
1974-1976
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Good Morning America
1976
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Valerie Harper
1975
TV Special
Herself
The Paul Lynde Comedy Hour
1975
TV Movie
Herself
Tony Orlando and Dawn
1975
TV Series
Herself
Cher
1975
TV Series
Herself
The Carol Burnett Show
1975
TV Series
Herself
The Hollywood Squares
1974
TV Series
Herself - Panelist
The 28th Annual Tony Awards
1974
TV Special
Herself - Performer
The Kraft Music Hall
1970
TV Series
Herself
The Bob Hope Show
1970
TV Series
Herself
The Ed Nelson Show
1969
TV Series
Herself
The Ed Sullivan Show
1950-1967
TV Series
Herself
The Merv Griffin Show
1965
TV Series
Herself
Girl Talk
1965
TV Series
Herself
The Garry Moore Show
1959-1964
TV Series
Herself
The Danny Kaye Show
1963-1964
TV Series
Herself
The Andy Williams Show
1962
TV Series
Herself
The Jack Paar Tonight Show
1958-1962
TV Series
Herself
The Tonight Show
1962
TV Series
Herself - Actress
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
TV Series
Herself - Actress
Talent Scouts
1962
TV Series
Herself
What's My Line?
1961
TV Series
Herself - Mystery Guest
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall
1960-1961
TV Series
Herself
The 15th Annual Tony Awards
1961
TV Special
Herself - Nominee: Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
I've Got a Secret
1960
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Revlon Revue
1960
TV Series
Herself
The Big Party
1959
TV Series
Herself
The Arthur Murray Party
1959
TV Series
Herself
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show
1958
TV Series
Herself
The Patrice Munsel Show
1958
TV Series
Herself
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1955
TV Series
Herself
The Red Skelton Hour
1955
TV Series
Herself
Tonight!
1955
TV Series
Herself
The Blue Angel
1954
TV Series
Herself
The Frank Sinatra Show
1950-1952
TV Series
Herself
Wonderful Town, U.S.A.
1951
TV Series
Herself
Texaco Star Theatre
1949
TV Series
Herself - Comedian
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
American Masters
2009
TV Series documentary
Herself
Broadway: The American Musical
2004
TV Mini-Series documentary
Hildy Esterhazy (in 'On the Town')
That's Entertainment! III
1994
Documentary
Nancy - Blind Date (uncredited)
The Golden Girls
1989
TV Series
Angela
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1983
TV Series
Mrs. Petersen
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2005
TV Land Award
TV Land Awards
Favorite Mother-In-Law
Rhoda (1974)
1987
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series
The Golden Girls (1985)
1981
Razzie Award
Razzie Awards
Worst Director
Can't Stop the Music (1980)
1980
Stinker Award
The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards
Worst Sense of Direction (Stop them before they direct again!)
Can't Stop the Music (1980)
1979
Golden Globe
Golden Globes, USA
Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Television Series
Rhoda (1974)
1978
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Rhoda (1974)
1977
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Series
Rhoda (1974)
1976
Golden Globe
Golden Globes, USA
Best Supporting Actress - Television
McMillan & Wife (1971)
1976
Golden Globe
Golden Globes, USA
Best Supporting Actress - Television
Rhoda (1974)
1976
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Rhoda (1974)
1975
Golden Globe
Golden Globes, USA
Best Supporting Actress - Television
McMillan & Wife (1971)
1975
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Rhoda (1974)
1975
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
McMillan & Wife (1971)
1974
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Best Supporting Actress in Drama
McMillan & Wife (1971)
1973
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Drama