Nancy Lou Marchand (June 19, 1928 – June 18, 2000) was an American actress. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, she attended what would later be called Carnegie Mellon University. She subsequently studied at the Actor’s Studio in New York City.
Marchand was a prolific stage actress, performing in both contemporary and classical drama. She twice one the Obie Award, a prestigious award in New York’s Off-Broadway theatre, for Jean Genet’s The Balcony and A.R. Gurney’s The Cocktail Hour.
She had a long onscreen career, including starring opposite Rod Steiger in the original television play presentation of Paddy Chayefsky’s Marty. In the late 1970s she gained new fame as publisher Margaret Jones Pynchon on Lou Grant. She would go onto success with the comedy film The Naked Gun and a renewed prominence as a dramatic actress with her role on The Sopranos. Sadly she died after filming two seasons on the latter show, forcing creator David Chase to permanently write her out.
Marchand was married to Paul Sparer, the actor who provided the opening voice-over to Tales from the Darkside, and the couple had three children.
Works with Nancy Marchand:
Film
- 1957 The Bachelor Party: Mrs. Julie Samson
- 1963 Ladybug Ladybug: Mrs. Andrews
- 1969 Me Natalie: Edna Miller
- 1970 Tell Me That You Love Me Junie Moon: Nurse Oxford
- 1971 The Hospital: Mrs. Christie
- 1972 Look Homeward Angel: Madame Elizabeth (Made-for-TV Movie)
- 1977 Soldiers Home: Mrs. Krebs (TV Movie)
- 1984 The Bostonians: Mrs. Burrage
- 1987 From The Hip: Roberta Winnaker
- 1988 The Naked Gun: Mayor Lillian Barkley
- 1991 Regarding Henry: Headmistress (Uncredited Role)
- 1992 Brain Donors: Lillian Oglethorpe
- 1995 Jefferson In Paris: Madame Abbesse
- 1995 Reckless 1995: Grandmother
- 1995 Sabrina (1995): Maude Larrabee
- 1996 Dear God: Judge Kits Van Heynigan
Television
- 1958 Shirley Temples Storybook: Queen (1 episode)
- 1959 RCMP: Gerta Boyd (1 episode)
- 1960 The Law And Mr Jones: Dorothy (1 episode)
- 1961-64 The Defenders (1961): Mrs. Crile/Rhoda Banter (2 episodes)
- 1962 Naked City: Esther Kindall (1 episode)
- 1968 NYPD: Mrs. Windsor (1 episode)
- 1971 Love of Life: Vinnie Phillips (1 episode)
- 1972-76 Another World: Irene Kimbalt/Therese Lamonte
- 1975 Hallmark Hall of Fame: Auntie (1 episode)
- 1975 Beacon Hill: Mary Lassiter
- 1976 The Adams Chronicles: Mrs. Smith
- 1977 Lovers And Friends: Edith Cushing (1 episode)
- 1977-82 Lou Grant: Margaret Jones Pynchon
- 1984 Cheers: Hester Crane (1 episode)
- 1986 Spenser For Hire: Emily Garden (1 episode)
- 1986 North And South: Book 2, Love & War: Dorothea Dix
- 1990-92 Coach: Merlene Watkins (2 episodes)
- 1992 Law & Order: Mrs. Barbara Ryder (1 episode)
- 1992 Night Court: Louise Cahill (2 episodes)
- 1993 Crossroads 1992: Aunt Dorothy (1 episode)
- 1994 Homicide: Life on the Street: Lorraine Freeman (1 episode)
- 1999-2001 The Sopranos: Livia Soprano
Stage
- 1951 The Taming of the Shrew: Hostess
- 1953 Love's Labour's Lost: Princess of France
- 1953 The Merchant of Venice: Nerissa
- 1956-57 The Good Person of Szechwan: Mrs. Mi Tzu
- 1959 Much Ado About Nothing: Ursula
- 1960 The Balcony: Irma
- 1967 After The Rain: Gertrude Forbes-Cooper
- 1968-70 Forty Carats: Mrs. Latham
- 1975-76 The Glass Menagerie: The Mother
- 1987 Elektra: Klytemnestra
- 1988 The Cocktail Hour: Ann
- 1996 The Importance of Being Earnest: Lady Bracknell
