Ann Morgan Guilbert (October 16, 1928 – June 14, 2016), sometimes credited as Ann Guilbert, was an American television and film actress and comedian who portrayed a number of roles from the 1950s on, most notably as Millie Helper in 61 episodes of the early 1960s sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show,[1] and later Yetta Rosenberg, Fran Fine's doddering grandmother, in 56 episodes of the 1990s sitcom The Nanny.

Ann Morgan Guilbert
Guilbert as Millie Helper on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Born(1928-10-16)October 16, 1928
DiedJune 14, 2016(2016-06-14) (aged 87)
Other namesAnn Guilbert
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian
Years active1952–2016
Height5 ft 1 in (155 cm)
Spouses
(m. 1951; div. 1966)
(m. 1967; died 1997)
Children2, including Hallie Todd

Life and career edit

Guilbert was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota,[2] the daughter of Dr. Gerald Guilbert, a physician, and his wife, Cornelia (née Morgan).[3] Her paternal grandfather, Lionel Guilbert, was an immigrant from England.[4]

She attended Solomon Juneau High School and after moving to San Francisco studied theater arts at Stanford University.[5] She began her career as a featured performer and singer in the Billy Barnes Revues of the 1950s and 1960s.

After The Dick Van Dyke Show, she made guest appearances in many other television shows, including Adam-12 (the premiere episode); as well as The Andy Griffith Show; Love, American Style; That Girl; I Dream of Jeannie; Dragnet; The Love Boat; Picket Fences; Seinfeld; Curb Your Enthusiasm; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Life in Pieces. From 1993 to 1999, she appeared as Yetta Rosenberg on The Nanny. In December 2004, she appeared in the reunion of The Nanny titled The Nanny Reunion: A Nosh to Remember with Fran Drescher and other cast members of The Nanny.[6]

Personal life edit

Guilbert was married to writer and producer George Eckstein from 1951 until their divorce in 1966. They had two children together, actress Hallie Todd and acting coach Nora Eckstein.[7] Her second marriage, to Guy Raymond, lasted from 1967 until his death in 1997.[8]

Death edit

Guilbert died of pancreatic cancer[9] in Los Angeles on June 14, 2016, aged 87.[7][10] An episode of Life in Pieces was dedicated to her memory.

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1962 Two for the Seesaw Molly
1963 The Man from the Diners' Club Ella Trask
1964 One Man's Way Mrs. Grayle
1967 A Guide for the Married Man Technical Advisor (Charlie's Wife)
1968 How Sweet It Is! Bibi
1969 Viva Max! Edna Miller
1995 Grumpier Old Men Francesca 'Mama' Ragetti
1998 Sour Grapes Mrs. Drier
2010 Please Give Andra

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1961 My Three Sons Verna Foster Episode: "Unite or Sink"
1961–1966 The Dick Van Dyke Show Millie Helper Recurring role
1962 You're Only Young Once Connie Fletcher TV film
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour The Pet Shop Proprietress Episode: "How to Get Rid of Your Wife"
1966 Hey, Landlord Mrs. Henderson Episode: "Pursuit of a Dream"
1967 'Good Morning World Harriet Hatfield Episode: "You vs. Me"
1967 The Andy Griffith Show Ella Episode: "Aunt Bee's Cousin"
1967, 1970 Dragnet 1967 Marnie Prout / Bessie McDermott Episodes: "The Big Neighbor", "Burglary: Helpful Woman"
1968 Adam-12 Ruth Elkins Episode: "Log 1: The Impossible Mission"
1969 I Dream of Jeannie Thelma Crawford Episode: "Jeannie for the Defense"
1969 Room 222 Mrs. Garrett Episode: "Fathers and Sons"
1971 The D.A.: Conspiracy to Kill Martha Grimes TV film
1971 The New Andy Griffith Show Nora Supporting role
1971 The Partridge Family Mrs. Bruner Episode: "The Undergraduate"
1971 Love, American Style Mrs. Manfried Segment: "Love and the Tuba"
1972 Second Chance Charlene TV film
1972, 1974 Emergency! Tilly Meers / Cora Episodes: "Women", "Surprise"
1973 Chase Mae Monroe Episode: "Pilot"
1975 The Ghost Busters The Witch Episode: "Which Witch Is Which?"
1975 On the Rocks Mrs. Palik Episode: "Dear John"
1976 Maude Mathilda Episode: "Walter's Stigma"
1976 Amelia Earhart Esther Biddles TV miniseries
1981 Barney Miller Ms. Swallock Episode: "Stress Analyzer"
1989 Cheers Marge Thornhill Episode: "Call Me, Irresponsible"
1989 Newhart Aunt Bess Episode: "Georgie and Bess"
1990 Murder, She Wrote Harriet De Vol Episode: "Murder: According to Maggie"
1990–91 The Fanelli Boys Theresa Fanelli Main role
1991 Blossom Elizabeth Episode: "You Can't Go Home"
1991, 1996 Seinfeld Evelyn Episodes: "The Pen", "The Cadillac"
1991, 1993 Empty Nest Mama Todd Episodes: "Windy", "Mama Todd, the Sequel"
1992–1994 Picket Fences Myriam Wambaugh Recurring role (seasons 1–3)
1993 Home Improvement Wilson's Mother Episode: "To Build or Not to Build"
1993–1999 The Nanny Yetta Rosenberg Recurring role
2004 The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited Millie Helper TV film
2005 Curb Your Enthusiasm Lenore Episode: "Kamikaze Bingo"
2007 State of Mind Faye Fleischman Episode: "Passion Fishing"
2007 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Church lady Episode: “Alternate”
2012 Happily Divorced Myrna Episode: "The Burial Plotz"
2012 Friend Me Mrs. Nesbitt Episode: "Evan Is Now Friends with Vrementashen"
2012 Before We Made It Lily TV film
2013 Modern Family Grams Episode: "ClosetCon '13"
2013–2015 Getting On Birdy Lamb Recurring role
2014 The Winklers Chef TV film
2015 Grey's Anatomy Gabby Margraff Episode: "Old Time Rock and Roll"
2016 Life in Pieces Gigi Episodes: "Soccer Gigi TV Mikey", "CryTunes Divorce Tablet Ring"

Stage edit

Year Title Role Notes
1959 Billy Barnes Revue performer[11] Broadway debut
2000 Touch the Names performer[12]
2002 Play Yourself Selma[13]
2005 A Naked Girl on the Appian Way Sadie[14]

References edit

  1. ^ Willens, Michele (May 26, 1996). "They've Come a Long Way". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  2. ^ Minnesota Historical Society Birth Registry:
    Birth Certificate Index: 1928-41859 (surname misspelled as "Guilberd")
  3. ^ "Ann Morgan Guilbert". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  4. ^ Schmierbach, Edie (December 22, 2018). "Grumpier Old Men actress buried at Henderson". The Free Press (Mankato). "A Minneapolis native, the actress was the granddaughter of Lionel and Annie (Didra) Guilbert... Lionel Guilbert was an immigrant from England. He purchased his building in 1898 from his in-laws, Christian and Louisa (Buck) Didra."
  5. ^ Guild, Leo (January 30, 1966). "Milwaukee's Nosy TV Neighbor". The Milwaukee Journal. Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  6. ^ "Lifetime Television's 'The Nanny Reunion: a Nosh to Remember' Averages 3.6 Million Viewers". PR Newswire. December 7, 2004. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Ann Morgan Guilbert, Millie on 'Dick Van Dyke Show,' Dies at 87". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. June 15, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  8. ^ "California Marriage Index, 1960-1985", Raymond W. Guyer [actor Guy Raymond] and Ann Guilbert Eckstein, September 8, 1969, Los Angeles, California. Center of Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento; database copy of original record, archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  9. ^ "Ann Morgan Guilbert, Neighbor on 'Dick Van Dyke Show,' Dies at 87". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 15, 2016. Archived from the original on March 14, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  10. ^ "TV actress Ann Morgan Guilbert dead at 87" Archived September 24, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Fox News, June 18, 2016
  11. ^ The Broadway League. "Billy Barnes Revue – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  12. ^ Jones, Chris (June 5, 2000). "Touch the Names". Variety. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  13. ^ Isherwood, Charles (July 11, 2002). "Play Yourself". Variety. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  14. ^ The Broadway League. "A Naked Girl on the Appian Way – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved January 15, 2021.

External links edit