Brandis Kemp (February 1, 1944 – July 4, 2020) was an American actress best known for her appearances in Fridays and AfterMASH from the years 1980 to 1985. She then appeared in a wide variety of films and TV shows as a character actress for the remainder of her career.
Brandis Kemp | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sally Kemp February 1, 1944 Palo Alto, California, U.S. |
| Died | July 4, 2020 (aged 76) Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1979–2003 |
| Spouse | |
Early life edit
She grew up in Palo Alto, California, and attended three colleges: San Jose State College, Stanford University (where she earned a master's degree in drama and literature) and the American Conservatory Theater. She battled dyslexia throughout her school years. After college she spent a year in Hawaii, then to Oregon where she met future Fridays' cast member and future husband Mark Blankfield at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She then moved to New York for five years.[citation needed] Her first job in New York was teaching speech to policemen and firemen at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In 1979 she moved to Los Angeles just before Fridays broke.[1]
Theatre edit
She performed onstage in such productions as Meetin' On The Porch (The Canon Theatre), A Man's A Man (La Jolla Playhouse), Look Homeward, Angel (Pasadena Playhouse), Women Behind Bars (Roxy Theatre), Bullshot Crummond (Westwood Playhouse, Coronet Theatre and National Tour), and El Grande de Coca-Cola (Studio One). She worked with the Stanford Repertory Theatre (2 seasons) and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (1 season).
Fridays edit
Producers of the TV show caught her performances as part of the Low Moan Spectacular comedy troupe in the plays "Bullshot Crummond"[2] and "El Grande de Coca Cola" and selected her as a member of their new ensemble cast.[3]
In 1980, she developed strong comedic recurring characters such as the "Creative Palm Reader" as well as adding her talents to comedy sketches on many levels. She became the "go to" female cast member because of her flexibility and strong delivery (much like Laraine Newman on Saturday Night Live). She co-starred with Mark Blankfield (to whom she was married until 1987), Jack Burns, Maryedith Burrell, Melanie Chartoff, Larry David, Rich Hall, Bruce Mahler, and Michael Richards. The show lasted three seasons, ending in 1982.
AfterMASH edit
Producers of the TV show caught her six-month performance in the stage comedy "Women Behind Bars" and liked the character she was playing. She was playing an assistant to the prison matron. It was similar to the Alma Cox character they were creating for the TV show. She started the TV show as an occasionally recurring character but after only four episodes she quickly graduated to a regular cast member because of the popularity of Alma Cox. After the first 13 episodes she appeared in every episode.[4] She appeared with David Ackroyd, Rosalind Chao, William Christopher, Patrick Cranshaw, Jamie Farr, Peter Michael Goetz, Harry Morgan, Anne Pitoniak, and Jay O. Sanders. The show completed its run in 1985.[citation needed]
Death edit
Kemp died at her home in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles on July 4, 2020, following a struggle with brain cancer and complications from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles. She was 76 years old.[5]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Broadway on Showtime | 1 Episode | |
| 1980 | Fridays | Ensemble Cast Member | 54 episodes |
| 1982 | Remington Steele | Madeline Vickers | 1 Episode |
| 1983 | AfterMASH | Alma Cox | 22 episodes |
| 1984 | Surf II | Bob's Mother | Film |
| 1984-85 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Mama Bear / Nadine Wolf | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | Welcome To 18 | Miss Reba | Film |
| 1986 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | 1 Episode | |
| 1986 | Designing Women | Mrs. Boeving | 1 Episode |
| 1987 | Webster | Mrs. Dundorf | 1 Episode |
| 1987 | Perfect Strangers | Claire Hayden | 1 Episode |
| 1988 | South of Reno | Brenda | Film |
| 1988 | 227 | Amy Jo | 1 Episode |
| 1989 | Swimsuit | TV movie | |
| 1989 | Gross Anatomy | Aunt Rose | Film |
| 1989 | The Golden Girls | Maddy | 1 Episode |
| 1990 | Rich Men, Single Women | Mrs. King | TV movie |
| 1990 | Coach | Wife | 1 Episode |
| 1990 | The New Lassie | Grace | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | The Wonder Years | Sales Lady | 1 Episode |
| 1993 | Hexed | Ms. Strickland | Film |
| 1993 | A Dangerous Woman | Female Caterer | Film |
| 1993 | Grace Under Fire | Nancy | 1 Episode |
| 1994 | Clifford | Woman On Plane | Film |
| 1994 | When a Man Loves a Woman | AA Woman #3 | Film |
| 1996 | Chicago Hope | Mary Byrd | 1 Episode |
| 1997 | ER | Temp Nurse #1 | 1 Episode |
| 1997 | The Pretender | Mrs. Simpkins | 1 Episode |
| 2000 | Martial Law | Myra Collins | 1 Episode |
| 2003 | Miracles | Miriam | 1 Episode |
References edit
- ^ The Telegraph 1983 Google News, accessed 10-Aug-2013
- ^ Los Angeles Herald Examiner 1978 Archived 2013-11-11 at the Wayback Machine Low Moan Spectacular, accessed 11-Aug-2013
- ^ Profile, Houston Chronicle, accessed August 11, 2013.
- ^ The Telegraph 1983 Google News, accessed 10-Aug-2013
- ^ Brandis Kemp Dies: Actress For ABC's 'Fridays' And 'AfterMASH' Was 76 Deadline Hollywood, July 9, 2020
External links edit
- Brandis Kemp at IMDb