Bess and Phyllis Lindstrom Mary Tyler Moore Show 1974

Lisa Gerritsen (born Lisa Orszag; December 21, 1957) is an American former child actress. She is most famous for her role as Bess, the independent-minded daughter of Phyllis Lindstrom on the 1970s television series ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from September 19, 1970 ...

'' and its spin-off '' Phyllis.''

Early life

Lisa Gerritsen was born Lisa Orszag in Los Angeles and is the granddaughter of child actor and screenwriter

True Eames Boardman True Eames BoardmanKiehn, David (2003). Broncho Billy and the Essanay Film Company'. Berkeley, CA: Farewell Books. p. 98. ."United States Census, 1920", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHQX-VNT : Sun Jul 14 08:07:43 ...

, and the great-granddaughter of

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

actors True Boardman and Virginia True Boardman. Her acting career began when she was eight years old. Encouraged by her mother and grandfather, she landed her first professional role in an episode of ''

The Doris Day Show ''The Doris Day Show'' is an American sitcom which was originally broadcast on CBS from September 1968 until March 1973, remaining on the air for five seasons and 128 episodes. The series is remembered for its multiple format and cast chang ...

'' in 1968.

Career

After ''The Doris Day Show'', Gerritsen had guest-star or cameo appearances in several television shows, including '' The Odd Couple,'' ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on ...

'', '' The Courtship of Eddie's Father'', '' The Virginian'', and ''

Family Affair ''Family Affair'' is an American sitcom starring Brian Keith and Sebastian Cabot that aired on CBS from September 12, 1966, to March 4, 1971. The series explored the trials of well-to-do engineer and bachelor Bill Davis (Keith) as he attempt ...

''. Gerritsen appeared in several episodes of ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'', which helped to land her first regular role as Lydia Monroe, the precocious daughter of William Windom's character, John Monroe, a Thurber-like writer and cartoonist, in the 1969 NBC comedy series ''

My World and Welcome to It ''My World ... and Welcome to It'' is an American half-hour television sitcom based on the humor and cartoons of James Thurber. It starred William Windom (actor), William Windom as John Monroe, a Thurber-like writer and cartoonist who works for ...

''. Also starring Joan Hotchkis as Ellen, Lydia's mother, the somewhat dark situation comedy was based on the cartoons and comedy of author

James Thurber James Grover Thurber (December 8, 1894 – November 2, 1961) was an American cartoonist, writer, humorist, journalist, and playwright. He was best known for his gag cartoon, cartoons and short stories, published mainly in ''The New Yorker'' an ...

, combining live-action storylines of family strife and social satire with animated cartoon characters that broke into the frame during segments featuring Monroe's daydreams and fantasies. Despite having won two Emmy awards, the show was cancelled after only one season. In 1970, Gerritsen (credited as Lisa True Gerritsen) appeared as Hannah Carson on the TV western ''The Men From Shiloh'' (the rebranded name for ''The Virginian'') in the episode "Hannah". Also that year, Gerritsen was cast as Bess Lindstrom, the quick-witted daughter of landlord Phyllis Lindstrom ( Cloris Leachman), a mother who believed in progressive parenting, on ''

''. Bess was a recurring character throughout the length of the series and Gerritsen continued playing the role in the spinoff, ''Phyllis''. In addition to television, Gerritsen performed in several movies. She made her first big-screen appearance in ''

Airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...

'', playing the role of Libby Bakersfeld. She also appeared as Linda in '' The War Between Men and Women'', starring

Jack Lemmon John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001) was an American actor. Considered proficient in both dramatic and comic roles, he was known for his anxious, middle-class everyman screen persona in comedy-drama films. He received num ...

and Barbara Harris. She left acting at the age of 20, shortly after the show ''Phyllis'' was cancelled.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gerritsen, Lisa 1957 births American child actresses American film actresses Living people 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Los Angeles American television actresses 21st-century American women