Years active 1963-present Name Cynthia Harris | Role Film actress Ex-spouse Eugene V. Wolsk | |
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Occupation Film, stage and TV actress Nominations Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Movies and TV shows Similar People Leila Kenzle, Louis Zorich, John Pankow, Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt | ||
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Cynthia Harris (born August 9, 1934) is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her role as Sylvia Buchman, Jamie Buchman's overbearing mother-in-law on Mad About You.
Contents
Life and career
Harris has appeared in many television series and TV movies, such as Archie Bunker's Place, All My Children, and in the classic drama, Edward and Mrs. Simpson as the Duchess of Windsor. For almost two decades, she played "Mrs. B." in television advertisements for the now-defunct department store chain Bradlees.
She made her Broadway debut in 1963. In 1971, she appeared on Broadway in the Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical, Company. She is a founding member and co-artistic director of The Actor's Company Theatre. In 1978, she received a BAFTA nomination for her performance as "Wallis Simpson" in Edward & Mrs. Simpson (1978).
Harris is also one of the co-artistic directors for the Off-Broadway company The Actors Company Theatre. She has appeared in numerous plays with them, including Home, Bedroom Farce and Lost in Yonkers. In 2013, Harris appeared as Adriana in the Primary Stages production of The Tribute Artist.
Filmography
Actress
1993
Mad About You (TV Series) as
Sylvia Buchman
- Anderson Cooper and Other Fantasies (2019) - Sylvia Buchman
- Monkeys, Lies and Withholding (2019) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Final Frontier (1999) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Final Frontier (1999) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Dirty Little Secret (1999) - Sylvia Buchman
- Paved with Good Intentions (1999) - Sylvia Buchman
- Stealing Burt's Car (1999) - Sylvia Buchman
- Separate Beds (1999) - Sylvia Buchman
- Murray at the Dog Show (1999) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- Millennium Bug (1999) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- Uncle Phil Goes Back to High School (1999) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- Virtual Reality II (1999) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- Valentine's Day (1999) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- The Honeymoon (1999) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- Win a Free Car (1999) - Sylvia Buchman
- Farmer Buchman (1999) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- The Buried Fight (1998) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- The Thanksgiving Show (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- Weekend in L.A. (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Silent Show (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- There's a Puma in the Kitchen (1998) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- Tragedy Plus Time (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- A Pain in the Neck (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- Season Opener (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Finale (1998) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- Nat & Arley (1998) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- Paul Slips in the Shower (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- Mother's Day (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- Fire at Riff's (1998) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- The Baby Video (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Caper (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Coin of Destiny (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- The 2nd Mrs. Buchman (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- Back to Work (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- Cheating on Sheila (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- Separate Planes (1998) - Sylvia Buchman
- Good Old Reliable Nathan (1998) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- Breastfeeding (1998) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- The Conversation (1997) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- The New Friend (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- Le Sex Show (1997) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- The Magic Pants (1997) - Sylvia Buchman (credit only)
- Moody Blues (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- Uncle Phil and the Coupons (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- Speed Baby (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- Letters to Mabel (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- Coming Home (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Birth: Part 2 (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Birth: Part 1 (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Feud (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- Guardianhood (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- Dry Run (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- Her Houseboy Coco (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- Citizen Buchman (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Penis (1997) - Sylvia Buchman
- Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge (1996) - Sylvia Buchman
- Outbreak (1996) - Sylvia Buchman
- Therapy (1996) - Sylvia Buchman
- Dr. Wonderful (1996) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Finale: Part 3 (1996) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Finale: Part 2 (1996) - Sylvia Buchman
- Get Back (1996) - Sylvia Buchman
- Ovulation Day (1996) - Sylvia Buchman
- The Good, the Bad and the Not-So-Appealing (1995) - Sylvia Buchman
- Mad About You: Part 2 (1995) - Sylvia Buchman
- Mad About You: Part 1 (1995) - Sylvia Buchman
- Giblets for Murray (1994) - Sylvia Buchman
- Legacy (1994) - Sylvia Buchman
- Home (1994) - Sylvia Buchman
- Escape from New York (1994) - Sylvia Buchman
- With This Ring (1994) - Sylvia Buchman
- Same Time Next Week (1994) - Sylvia Buchman
- Bedfellows (1993) - Sylvia Buchman
2013
Grand Theft Auto V (Video Game) as
The Local Population (voice)
2007
I Do & I Don't as
Emily Murphy
2004
Rescue Me (TV Series) as
Mike's Mom / Mike's Mother
- Tuesday (2007) - Mike's Mom
- Balls (2005) - Mike's Mom
- Mom (2004) - Mike's Mother
2004
Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman (TV Movie) as
Amelia
2000
The Geena Davis Show (TV Series) as
Joyce Cochran
- How the Mom Stole Christmas (2000) - Joyce Cochran
2000
Trial by Media (TV Movie) as
Charlotte 'Chubby' Hughes
1999
Now and Again (TV Series) as
Ms. Masters
- One for the Money (1999) - Ms. Masters
1999
Passion's Way (TV Movie) as
Adelaide
1998
Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story (TV Movie) as
Kathleen
1997
The Secret of Anastasia (Video) as
Voice
1991
Law & Order (TV Series) as
Defense Attorney Professor Adele Diamond / Gifford
- Passion (1997) - Defense Attorney Professor Adele Diamond
- Discord (1993) - Defense Attorney Professor Adele Diamond
- Out of Control (1991) - Gifford
1996
Harrison: Cry of the City (TV Movie) as
Helen Lovett
1990
Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) as
Lauren Delagre / Phyllis Thurlow
- Fatal Paradise (1994) - Lauren Delagre
- Hannigan's Wake (1990) - Phyllis Thurlow
1992
The Distinguished Gentleman as
Vera Johnson
1991
Mannequin: On the Move as
Mom / Queen
1989
Ann Jillian (TV Series) as
Sheila Hufnagel
- A Housewarming (1990) - Sheila Hufnagel
- The Anniversary (1990) - Sheila Hufnagel
- It's a Mall World After All (1990) - Sheila Hufnagel
- Since I Don't Have You (1989) - Sheila Hufnagel
- Love: 15 (1989) - Sheila Hufnagel
- Interrupted Melody (1989)
- California Dreaming (1989) - Sheila Hufnagel
1990
Room for Romance (TV Series)
- A Midsummer Night's Reality (1990)
1989
Kate & Allie (TV Series) as
Laurel Jordan
- Wanted: One Husband (1989) - Laurel Jordan
1989
American Playhouse (TV Series) as
Elinor Leopold
- Ask Me Again (1989) - Elinor Leopold
1988
Pancho Barnes (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Lowe
1987
Three Men and a Baby as
Mrs. Hathaway
1987
Everything's Relative (TV Series) as
Gwen Spaulding
- The Post Graduate (1987) - Gwen Spaulding
1987
The Women's Club as
Women's Club Lady
1986
L.A. Law (TV Series) as
Iris Hubbard
- Pigmalion (1987) - Iris Hubbard
- Oy Vey! Wilderness! (1987) - Iris Hubbard
- December Bribe (1987) - Iris Hubbard
- Sidney, the Dead-Nosed Reindeer (1986) - Iris Hubbard
- Slum Enchanted Evening (1986) - Iris Hubbard
- The Princess and the Wiener King (1986) - Iris Hubbard
- Pilot (1986) - Iris Hubbard
1987
A Special Friendship (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Van Lew
1987
The Equalizer (TV Series) as
Judge Paula G. Walsh
- Carnal Persuasion (1987) - Judge Paula G. Walsh
1985
Izzy & Moe (TV Movie) as
Dallas Carter
1983
Reuben, Reuben as
Bobby Springer
1983
Allison Sydney Harrison (TV Movie) as
Clarisse Spencer
1983
The Powers of Matthew Star (TV Series) as
Mrs. Eliot
- Starr Knight (1983) - Mrs. Eliot
1982
Tempest as
Cynthia
1982
Nurse (TV Series) as
Barbara Scholfield
- Impressions (1982) - Barbara Scholfield
1982
Quincy M.E. (TV Series) as
Louise Asten
- The Unquiet Grave (1982) - Louise Asten
- The Flight of the Nightingale (1982) - Louise Asten
1981
The Princess and the Cabbie (TV Movie) as
Barbara Cunningham
1981
Archie Bunker's Place (TV Series) as
Marcie Phillips
- Goodbye, Murray (1981) - Marcie Phillips
- Death of a Saint (1981) - Marcie Phillips
1981
Benson (TV Series) as
Peggy Rhodes
- The Governor's House Call (1981) - Peggy Rhodes
1981
Knots Landing (TV Series) as
Jana Kilman
- Man of the Hour (1981) - Jana Kilman
1980
Hart to Hart (TV Series) as
Amanda
- Night Horrors (1980) - Amanda
1980
Doctor Franken (TV Movie) as
Anita Franken
1979
Three's Company (TV Series) as
Mrs. Layton
- Jack Moves Out (1979) - Mrs. Layton
1978
Edward & Mrs. Simpson (TV Mini Series) as
Wallis Warfield Simpson
- The Abdication (1978) - Wallis Warfield Simpson
- Proposals (1978) - Wallis Warfield Simpson
- The Decision (1978) - Wallis Warfield Simpson
- The Divorce (1978) - Wallis Warfield Simpson
- The New King (1978) - Wallis Warfield Simpson
- Venus at the Prow (1978) - Wallis Warfield Simpson
- The Little Prince (1978) - Wallis Warfield Simpson
1978
Husbands, Wives & Lovers (TV Series) as
Paula Zuckerman
- Six Characters Flunk a Sex Quiz and Go Somewhere to Do Something About It (1978) - Paula Zuckerman
- Women Write Stories and the Men Buy a Horse (1978) - Paula Zuckerman
- Predictions Come True (1978) - Paula Zuckerman
- Murray Gets Sacked and Paula Gets Hired (1978) - Paula Zuckerman
- Dixon and Courtney Adopt (1978) - Paula Zuckerman
- The Women Strike (1978) - Paula Zuckerman
- Everybody Is Looking for a Little Action (1978) - Paula Zuckerman
- Ron Is Accused (1978) - Paula Zuckerman
- Ron Moves in and Helene Steps Out (1978) - Paula Zuckerman
- Ron and Helene Separate (1978) - Paula Zuckerman
1978
Breaking Up (TV Movie) as
Edie
1976
Sirota's Court (TV Series) as
Maureen O'Conner / Court Clerk Maureen O'Conner
- The Vacation (1977) - Maureen O'Conner
- The Old Friend (1977) - Maureen O'Conner
- Snake and the Old People (1977) - Maureen O'Conner
- The Alien (1977) - Maureen O'Conner
- The Split-Up (1977) - Maureen O'Conner
- Pilot (1977) - Maureen O'Conner
- D.A. - D.O.A. (1977) - Maureen O'Conner
- The Judge (1977) - Maureen O'Conner
- The Hooker (1977) - Maureen O'Conner
- Court Fear (1976) - Maureen O'Conner
- The Election (1976) - Maureen O'Conner
- Sirota's Car (1976) - Maureen O'Conner
- The Reporter (1976) - Court Clerk Maureen O'Conner
1977
Husbands and Wives (TV Movie) as
Paula Zuckerman
1976
Your Place or Mine? (TV Movie)
1976
On the Rocks (TV Series) as
Wilbur's Secretary
- The Desperate Hours (1976) - Wilbur's Secretary
1975
Kojak (TV Series) as
Helen Fielding
- I Want to Report a Dream (1975) - Helen Fielding
1975
The Bob Newhart Show (TV Series) as
Diane Nugent
- Bob Hits the Ceiling (1975) - Diane Nugent
1973
Coffee, Tea or Me? (TV Movie) as
Stewardess number one
1973
I Could Never Have Sex with Any Man Who Has So Little Regard for My Husband as
Laura
1972
Young Dr. Kildare (TV Series) as
Florence
- The Three of Us (1972) - Florence
1972
Up the Sandbox as
Stella
1971
Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me as
Beth
1970
All My Children (TV Series) as
Patricia Hale (1994)
1968
Isadora as
Mary
Thanks
2021
This Is Jessica (Documentary) (special thanks)
Self
2018
Top of the Box (TV Mini Series documentary) as
Self / Wallis Simpson
- 1978 (2018) - Self / Wallis Simpson
2008
The Story of the Costume Drama (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- The Greatest Stories Ever Told (2008) - Self
1996
The Geraldo Rivera Show (TV Series) as
Self
- TV Moms (1996) - Self
Archive Footage
1995
Mad About You (TV Series) as
Sylvia Buchman
- The Test (1995) - Sylvia Buchman (uncredited)
1982
Three's Company (TV Series) as
Mrs. Layton
- The Best of Three's Company: Part 1 (1982) - Mrs. Layton
References
Cynthia Harris Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA