Ann Morgan Guilbert, 'The Nanny' Actress, Dead At 87

Guilbert died on Tuesday after a battle with cancer.
LOADINGERROR LOADING

Actress Ann Morgan Guilbert, known for her work on "The Nanny" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show," has died. She was 87.

Guilbert's daughter, Nora Eckstein, confirmed to the Associated Press that her mother died on Tuesday after a battle with cancer.

Throughout her lengthy career, Guilbert played a variety of roles both on television and the stage. She got her start in the late 1950s, when she appeared in a musical cabaret composed by Billy Barnes, aptly titled, "The Billy Barnes Revue." The act toured around California and eventually opened in New York as an off-Broadway production that later moved to Broadway.

Carl Reiner, who acted as a producer for the cabaret production, remembered Guilbert when he was working on "The Dick Van Dyke Show," and cast her as Millie Helper, the friend and neighbor of Mary Tyler Moore's Laura Petrie.

In the '90s, Guilbert starred as Fran Drescher's feisty Grandma Yetta on "The Nanny." After hearing the news of Guilbert's death, Drescher took to Twitter to express her love for the actress.

Guilbert also had an impressive resume of theater roles. She starred in the 2005 Broadway play "A Naked Girl on the Appian Way," as well as productions like "Waiting for Godot," "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "The Matchmaker."

In more recent years, the actress appeared in Nicole Holofcener's 2010 Sundance film, "Please Give," and on the CBS comedy "Life in Pieces." Other credits include spots on "Modern Family," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Law & Order: SVU."

Guilbert was married to actor and producer George Eckstein from 1951 until they divorced in 1966. She is survived by the couple's two daughters, Nora and Hallie Todd (known for her role as the mom on "Lizzie McGuire").

In 1967, Guilbert married actor Guy Raymond. The two were together until his death in 1997.

Before You Go

William Christopher

Entertainers We've Lost In 2016

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot