Ann Morgan Guilbert Explained

Ann Morgan Guilbert
Birth Date:16 October 1928
Birth Place:Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Death Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other Names:Ann Guilbert
Years Active:1952–2016
Height:5 ft 1 in
Spouse:
    Children:2, including Hallie Todd
    Occupation:Actress, comedian

    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.

    Life and career

    Guilbert was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota,[2] the daughter of 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; , 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 with Fran Drescher and other cast members of The Nanny.[6]

    Personal life

    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

    Guilbert died of 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

    Film

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    1962Two for the SeesawMolly
    1963Ella Trask
    1964One Man's WayMrs. Grayle
    1967A Guide for the Married ManTechnical Advisor (Charlie's Wife)
    1968How Sweet It Is!Bibi
    1969Viva Max!Edna Miller
    1995Grumpier Old MenFrancesca 'Mama' Ragetti
    1998Sour GrapesMrs. Drier
    2010Please GiveAndra

    Television

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    1961My Three SonsVerna FosterSeason 1 Episode 28: "Unite or Sink"
    1961–1966Millie HelperRecurring role (61 episodes)
    1962You're Only Young OnceConnie FletcherTV film
    1963The Alfred Hitchcock HourThe Pet Shop ProprietressSeason 2 Episode 11: "How to Get Rid of Your Wife"
    1966Hey, LandlordMrs. HendersonSeason 1 Episode 1: "Pursuit of a Dream"
    1966Hey, LandlordMrs. HendersonSeason 1 Episode 11: "Divorce, Bachelor Style"
    1967Good Morning WorldHarriet HatfieldSeason 1 Episode 3: "You vs. Me"
    1967EllaSeason 8 Episode 13: "Aunt Bee's Cousin"
    1967Dragnet 1967Marnie Prout Season 2 Episode 5: "The Big Neighbor"
    1968Adam-12Ruth ElkinsSeason 1 Episode 1: "Log 1: The Impossible Mission"
    1969I Dream of JeannieThelma CrawfordSeason 4 Episode 21: "Jeannie for the Defense"
    1969Room 222Mrs. GarrettSeason 1 Episode 10: "Fathers and Sons"
    1970Dragnet 1967Bessie McDermottSeason 4 Episode 14: "Burglary: Helpful Woman"
    1970Love, American StyleSeason 2 Episode 7 (Segment: "Love and the Decision")
    1971Martha GrimesTV film
    1971NoraSupporting role (10 episodes)
    1971Mrs. BrunerSeason 2 Episode 4: "The Undergraduate"
    1971Love, American StyleMrs. ManfriedSeason 3 Episode 11 (Segment: "Love and the Tuba")
    1972Second ChanceCharleneTV film
    1972Emergency!Woman in Trouble Season 1 Pilot Episode: "The Wedsworth-Townsend Act"
    1972Emergency!Tilly Meers / CoraSeason 2 Episode 9: "Women"
    1973ChaseMae MonroeEpisode: "Pilot"
    1974Emergency!CoraSeason 4 Episode 6: "Surprise"
    1975The WitchSeason 1 Episode 8: "Which Witch Is Which?"
    1975On the RocksMrs. PalikSeason 1 Episode 8: "Dear John"
    1976MaudeMathildaSeason 4 Episode 16: "Walter's Stigma"
    1976Amelia EarhartEsther BiddlesTV miniseries
    1981Barney MillerMs. SwallockSeason 8 Episode 5: "Stress Analyzer"
    1989CheersMarge ThornhillSeason 7 Episode 20: "Call Me, Irresponsible"
    1989NewhartAunt BessSeason 7 Episode 20: "Georgie and Bess"
    1990Murder, She WroteHarriet De VolSeason 6 Episode 17: "Murder: According to Maggie"
    1990–91Theresa FanelliMain role (19 episodes)
    1991BlossomElizabethSeason 2 Episode 11: "You Can't Go Home"
    1991SeinfeldEvelynSeason 3 Episode 3: "The Pen"
    1991, 1993Empty NestMama ToddSeason 4 Episode 8: "Windy"
    1992–1994Picket FencesMyriam WambaughRecurring role (Seasons 1–3) (5 episodes)
    1993Empty NestMama ToddSeason 6 Episode 4: "Mama Todd, the Sequel"
    1993Home ImprovementWilson's MotherSeason 2 Episode 23: "To Build or Not to Build"
    1993–1999Yetta RosenbergRecurring role (56 episodes)
    1996SeinfeldEvelynSeason 7 Episode 14: "The Cadillac"
    2004Millie HelperTV film
    2005Curb Your EnthusiasmLenoreSeason 5 Episode 4: "Kamikaze Bingo"
    2007State of MindFaye FleischmanSeason 1 Episode 4: "Passion Fishing"
    2007Church ladySeason 9 Episode 1: “Alternate”
    2012Happily DivorcedMyrnaSeason 2 Episode 4: "The Burial Plotz"
    2012Friend MeMrs. NesbittSeason 1 Episode 8: "Evan Is Now Friends with Vrementashen"
    2012Before We Made ItLilyTV film
    2013Modern FamilyGramsSeason 5 Episode 8: "ClosetCon '13"
    2013–2015Getting OnBirdy LambRecurring role (15 episodes)
    2014ChefTV film
    2015Grey's AnatomyGabby MargraffSeason 12 Episode 4: "Old Time Rock and Roll"
    2016Life in PiecesGigiSeason 1 Episode 15: "Soccer Gigi TV Mikey"
    2016Life in PiecesGigiSeason 1 Episode 22: "CryTunes Divorce Tablet Ring"
    2016Life in PiecesGigiSeason 2 Episode 3: "Eyebrow Anonymous Trapped Gem" (uncredited)

    Stage

    Notes
    1959Billy Barnes Revueperformer[11] Broadway debut
    2000Touch the Namesperformer[12]
    2002Play YourselfSelma[13]
    2005Sadie[14]

    Notes and References

    1. News: Willens. Michele. They've Come a Long Way. December 24, 2015. Los Angeles Times. May 26, 1996.
    2. Minnesota Historical Society Birth Registry:
      Birth Certificate Index: 1928-41859 (surname misspelled as "Guilberd")
    3. News: Ann Morgan Guilbert. June 15, 2016. Turner Classic Movies.
    4. Web site: Grumpier Old Men actress buried at Henderson. Schmierbach. Edie. The Free Press (Mankato). December 22, 2018. "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. News: Guild. Leo. Milwaukee's Nosy TV Neighbor. December 24, 2015. The Milwaukee Journal. January 30, 1966. December 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151224230747/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19660130&id=2QIqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xicEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5895,5192050&hl=en. dead.
    6. News: Lifetime Television's 'The Nanny Reunion: a Nosh to Remember' Averages 3.6 Million Viewers. June 16, 2016. PR Newswire. December 7, 2004.
    7. News: Ann Morgan Guilbert, Millie on 'Dick Van Dyke Show,' Dies at 87. June 15, 2016. The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. 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. News: Ann Morgan Guilbert, Neighbor on 'Dick Van Dyke Show,' Dies at 87 . July 24, 2021 . The New York Times . Associated Press . June 15, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210314190505/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/16/arts/television/ann-morgan-guilbert-known-for-the-dick-van-dyke-show-dies-at-87.html . March 14, 2021.
    10. https://fox6now.com/2016/06/18/tv-actress-ann-morgan-guilbert-dead-at-87/ "TV actress Ann Morgan Guilbert dead at 87"
    11. Web site: The Broadway League. Billy Barnes Revue – Broadway Musical – Original IBDB. 2021-01-15. www.ibdb.com. en.
    12. Web site: Jones. Chris. 2000-06-05. Touch the Names. 2021-01-15. Variety. en-US.
    13. Web site: Isherwood. Charles. 2002-07-11. Play Yourself. 2021-01-15. Variety. en-US.
    14. Web site: The Broadway League. A Naked Girl on the Appian Way – Broadway Play – Original IBDB. 2021-01-15. www.ibdb.com. en.