Joyce Bulifant

Early years

Bulifant was born in Newport News, Virginia. She attended high school, the Solebury School in New Hope, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1955 in the same class as her first husband, James MacArthur; the two began dating in their senior year.

Stage

Bulifant's Broadway credits include The Paisley Convertible (1966) and Tall Story (1958).

Television

After appearing on Broadway, Bulifant appeared in numerous television programs.

Regular cast

One of Bulifant's earliest roles on television was as a dancer on Arthur Murray's Dance Party (1950-1960). She also played Timmie Barnes in Too Young to Go Steady (1959),^:1096 Mary Gentry in Tom, Dick and Mary (1964-1965),^:1092 Marie Slaughter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977),^:662 Peggy Wilson on Love Thy Neighbor (1973),^:631 Lois on It's a Man's World (1962-1963),^:515 Marsha Patterson on The Bill Cosby Show (1969–71),^:106 Marjorie Martin on Big John, Little John (1976-1977),^:102 and Alice Wurlitzer on The Bad News Bears (1979-1980)^:69. She was heard as the voice of Queen Vanda on the syndicated cartoon series Sport Billy (1982).^:1006

Guest appearances

Bulifant was seen on Channing, Empire, and The Virginian. She played an intended murder victim in a 1961 episode ("An Attractive Family") of Thriller. She played innocent defendant "Nancy Banks" in the Perry Mason 1963 episode "The Case of the Ice-Cold Hands", the second of her two appearances on that show.

In 1963, she appeared in an episode of The Real McCoys. She later had a role as Miriam Willoughby on Flo, appeared in the movie Airplane!, and as the mother of David Spade's character on Just Shoot Me!, as well as guest roles and as a guest panelist on game shows.

The Brady Bunch

Bulifant, who has been described as "naturally funny", was the original choice for the role of Carol Brady on ABC's The Brady Bunch, but the part ultimately went to Florence Henderson.

Recognition

Bulifant received a Theatre World Award for 1961-1962 for her performance in Take Her, She's Mine. In 2014, she and her husband Roger Perry were honored with a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California.

Personal life

Bulifant has been married five times. She married James MacArthur (November 2, 1958, until 1967; divorced) and had two children with him – Mary MacArthur and Charles MacArthur. Bulifant next married Edward Mallory (September 19, 1969 – 1974; divorced) and had one child with him, John Mallory Asher. She then married William Asher (August 28, 1976 – 1993; divorced) and Asher adopted her son John which gave him the last name of Asher. Bulifant has a grandson, Evan Joseph Asher, from John's marriage to Jenny McCarthy. In 2000 Bulifant next married Glade Bruce Hansen. The couple divorced in 2001.

She then married Roger Perry (2002 until the present) after he divorced his wife of many years, JoAnne Worley . Bulifant has for many years been actively involved with the child abuse prevention non-profit Childhelp, including serving as a Celebrity Ambassador and as a Vice-President on the National Board of Directors.