Louise Lasser

Louise Lasser is an American actress. She is known for her portrayal of the title character on the soap opera parody Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. She was married to Woody Allen and appeared in several of his films. She was married to Woody Allen from 1966 to 1969.

Lasser was born in New York City, New York, the daughter of tax authority S. Jay Lasser (not J.K. Lasser as is often indicated). She was raised Jewish. Lasser studied political science at Brandeis University.

Lasser appeared in the Woody Allen films Take the Money and Run, Bananas, and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask), as well as being one of the voices for his spoof dubbing of a Japanese spy movie What's Up Tiger Lily? She also had a brief cameo in his 1980 film Stardust Memories. She became a household name for starring as the neurotic, unhappy housewife Mary Hartman on the outrageous soap opera parody Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman which aired five nights a week in 1976-1977. She hosted Saturday Night Live during Season 1. Lasser also wrote the telemovie Just Me and You (1978), starring in it alongside Charles Grodin. She had a recurring role as Alex's ex-wife on the hit series Taxi, and starred in the 1981-82 season of the TV series It's a Living.

In 2000, Lasser appeared on a panel with her former cast members of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman at the Museum of Television and Radio in Beverly Hills (taped for the museum archives). One recent role of note was in the 1999 film Mystery Men, in which she played the mother of Hank Azaria's character. The year before this she played Mona, the mother of the three main female characters, in Todd Solondz's film Happiness. Lasser had a role in Darren Aronofsky's film Requiem for a Dream (2000), and she co-starred with Renee Taylor in National Lampoon's Gold Diggers (2003).