Fritzi Burr (May 31, 1924 – January 17, 2003) was an American

character actress A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to be ...

that was most notable for her roles as Miss Collins on the sitcom ''

What's Happening!! ''What's Happening!!'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on ABC from August 5, 1976, until April 28, 1979, premiering as a summer series. Due to other shows being cancelled across the network, and good ratings and reviews from ...

'' and as various comedic foils to Fred Sanford on the sitcom ''

Sanford and Son ''Sanford and Son'' is an American sitcom television series that ran on the NBC television network from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977. It was based on the British sitcom '' Steptoe and Son'', which initially aired on BBC One in the Unit ...

'' in the 1970's. She was the sister-in-law of Sanford and Son producer

Saul Turteltaub Saul Turteltaub (May 5, 1932 – April 9, 2020) was an American comedy writer and producer. He was nominated for Emmy Awards in 1964 and 1965 as part of the writing team for '' That Was the Week that Was'', and in 1968 for '' The Carol Burnett Sh ...

Biography

Burr was born Freda Berr in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

on May 31 1924 to Pauline Berr (née Devore) and David Berr. Not only parents were both Russian Jews, but their families came from the same city,

Berdichev Berdychiv ( uk, Берди́чів, ; pl, Berdyczów; yi, באַרדיטשעװ, Barditshev; russian: Берди́чев, Berdichev) is a historic city in the Zhytomyr Oblast (province) of northern Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center ...

. Even father's original last name, ''Berdichevsky,'' as it was before it was shortened to ''Berr'', is also derived from the name of their native town. Parents divorced while she was little, and her mother took her to live with her parents, Harry and Rose Devore. A few years later, Mother would remarry and have two more daughters, Shirley and Thelma, by her second husband Benjamin Steinberg. In the late 1930s the family moved from Philadelphia to

Newark, NJ Newark ( , ) is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, most populous City (New Jersey), city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat, seat of Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County and the second largest city within the New Yo ...

, where Freda spent her formative in the close proximity of New York stage scene. Eventually, her stepfather formally adopted her and from then on she would be known officially as Freda Steinberg, keeping a slightly modified ''Burr'' as the stage name. Burr performed in little theater and in skits with the vaudeville comedy team of Smith and Dale. By the late 1950s, she was working on Broadway and appeared in ''I Can Get It for You Wholesale'', the show in which

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awar ...

first gained national attention. Later, Burr replaced Kaye Medford as the mother of

Fanny Brice Fania Borach (October 29, 1891 – May 29, 1951), known professionally as Fanny Brice or Fannie Brice, was an American comedienne, illustrated song model, singer, and theater and film actress who made many stage, radio, and film appearances. ...

(played by Streisand) in '' Funny Girl'' (1968). Her Broadway credits included portraying Sylvia Goldman in ''The Family Way'' (1965). Burr worked regularly in small theaters and dinner theaters and in touring companies of such musicals as ''

Fiddler on the Roof ''Fiddler on the Roof'' is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia in or around 1905. It is based on ''Tevye and his Daughters'' (or ''Tevye the ...

'', in which she played, at different times, Yente and Tevye's long-suffering wife, Golde. Moving to Hollywood, she found steady work as a character actress in movies and on television. Burr appeared in the movies '' How Do I Love Thee?'' (1970), '' Frasier, The Senusous Lion'' (1973), ''

Chinatown A Chinatown () is an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Aust ...

'' (1974), '' The New, Original Wonder Woman'' (1975), ''

Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night ''Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night'' is a Golden Globe nominated CBS television film starring Susan Dey as an abusive mother. The film, which aired in October 1977, was written and produced by Joanna Lee and featured a supporting cast including ...

'' (1977), and ''

3 Ninjas ''3 Ninjas'' is a series of action comedy family films about the adventures of three young brothers who are trained by their Japanese grandfather in the art of Ninjutsu. Victor Wong is the only cast member to appear in all four films. Chara ...

'' (1992). Her television appearances include ''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974 to January 10, 1980, and remains in syndication. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investiga ...

'' (6 different roles in 6 episodes), ''

What's Happening! ''What's Happening!!'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on ABC from August 5, 1976, until April 28, 1979, premiering as a summer series. Due to other shows being cancelled across the network, and good ratings and reviews from ...

'' (as the high school teacher, Mrs. Collins in 7 episodes), ''

The Nanny ''The Nanny'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from November 3, 1993, to June 23, 1999, starring Fran Drescher as Fran Fine, a Jewish fashionista from Flushing, Queens, New York, who becomes the nanny of three ch ...

'', ''

Melrose Place ''Melrose Place'' is an American prime time television soap opera that aired on Fox from July 8, 1992, to May 24, 1999, for seven seasons. The show follows the lives of a group of young adults living in an apartment complex on Melrose Place, i ...

'', ''

Hunter Hunting is the human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/hide (skin), hide, ...

'', ''

The Golden Girls ''The Golden Girls'' is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris that aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning seven seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Bea Arthur, Betty Wh ...

'', ''

The Incredible Hulk The Hulk is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of '' The Incredible Hulk'' (May 1962). In his comic book a ...

'', NBC-TV's ''

'', ''

Seinfeld ''Seinfeld'' ( ) is an American television sitcom created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. It aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, over nine seasons and 180 episodes. It stars Seinfeld as a fictionalized version of himself and ...

'', ''

Friends ''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Li ...

'' and '' The Odd Couple''.

Personal life and death

Burr was married to Aaron Hyman until his death in 1995. Burr died in Fort Myers, Florida of natural causes on January 17, 2003, aged 78.

Filmography

Television

* 1967, ''N.Y.P.D.'' (1 episode) as Landlady * 1970, ''

That Girl ''That Girl'' is an American sitcom that ran on ABC from September 8, 1966 to March 19, 1971. It starred Marlo Thomas as the title character Ann Marie, an aspiring (but only sporadically employed) actress, who moves from her hometown of Brewster ...

'' (1 episode) as Laura * 1973, ''

A Touch of Grace ''A Touch of Grace'' is an American sitcom that was based on the British series ''For the Love of Ada'' starring Shirley Booth and J. Patrick O'Malley centering on a widow who moves in with her daughter and son-in-law and her romantic relationsh ...

'' (1 episode) as Mrs. Sherman * 1973, ''

The New Dick Van Dyke Show ''The New Dick Van Dyke Show'' is an American sitcom starring Dick Van Dyke that aired on CBS from 1971 to 1974. It was Van Dyke's first return to series television since ''The Dick Van Dyke Show''. Background CBS was so eager to have Dick Van ...

'' (1 episode) as Mrs. Davis * 1973 – 1974, ''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a part of ABC's Friday primetime lineup ...

'' (2 episodes) as Mabel/The Moderator * 1974 – 1975, '' The Odd Couple'' (2 episodes) as Angry Woman/Mrs. Perkins * 1974 – 1977,

(10 episodes) as various * 1975, ''

The ABC Afternoon Playbreak ''The ABC Afternoon Playbreak'' is an American television anthology series that was broadcast on ABC from 1973 to 1975. The ninety-minute dramas aired once a month and featured some of the more popular television and film stars of the 1970s ( Dia ...

'' (1 episode) as Florence Darwin * 1975, ''

Baretta ''Baretta'' is an American detective television series which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1978. The show was a revised and milder version of a 1973–1974 ABC series, '' Toma'', starring Tony Musante as chameleon-like, real-life New Jersey pol ...

'' (1 episode) as Mrs. Schwartz * 1975, ''

The Rookies ''The Rookies'' is an American police procedural series that aired on ABC from 1972 until 1976. It follows the exploits of three rookie police officers working in an unidentified city for the fictitious Southern California Police Department (SC ...

'' (1 episode) as Apartment House Manager * 1975, ''Wonder Woman'' (1 episode) as Saleslady * 1975 – 1979, ''

'' (6 episodes) as various * 1976, ''One Day at a Time'' (1 episode) as Ginny * 1976, ''

Harry O ''Harry O'', sometimes spelled ''Harry-O'', is an American Detective fiction, private detective series that aired for two seasons on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from 1974 to 1976. The series starred David Janssen, and Jerry Thorpe was exec ...

'' (1 episode) as Apartment Manager * 1976, ''

Starsky and Hutch ''Starsky & Hutch'' is an American action television series, which consisted of a 72-minute pilot movie (originally aired as a '' Movie of the Week'' entry) and 92 episodes of 50 minutes each. The show was created by William Blinn (inspired by ...

'' (1 episode) as Mrs. Haberman * 1976, '' Holmes & Yoyo'' (1 episode) as Mrs. Buchanan * 1976, '' Police Woman'' (1 episode) as Landlady * 1977, '' Sanford Arms'' (1 episode) as Secretary * 1977 – 1979, ''

'' (7 episodes) as Miss Collins * 1979'', Delta House'' (1 episode) as Gretl Kemp * 1979, ''

Detective School ''Detective School'' (a.k.a. ''Detective School – One Flight Up'') is an American television sitcom that was shown on ABC for four months in 1979, for a total of 13 episodes. The show was about an assortment of students who went to night school ...

'' (2 episodes) as Madame Duchamp * 1979, ''

'' (2 episodes) as Rose Brown/Gladys * 1979 – 1982, ''

Quincy M.E. ''Quincy, M.E.'' (also called ''Quincy'') is an American mystery medical drama television series from Universal Studios that aired on NBC from October 3, 1976, to May 11, 1983. Jack Klugman starred in the title role as a Los Angeles County medi ...

'' (3 episodes) as Dr. Finkel/Maybelle/Doreen * 1980, ''One in a Million'' (1 episode) as Nurse * 1981, '' Strike Force'' (1 episode) as Mrs. Greenstreet * 1982, ''

One of the Boys ''One of the Boys'' is the second studio album by American singer Katy Perry. It was released on June 17, 2008, by Capitol Records. She collaborated with producers Greg Wells, Dr. Luke, Dave Stewart, Max Martin, and Ted Bruner among others, on ...

'' (1 episode) as The Bank Manager * 1982, '' Maggie'' (1 episode) as Mrs. Spaulding * 1983, '' The Facts of Life'' (1 episode) as Mrs. Waldman * 1985, ''Crazy Like a Fox'' (1 episode) as Mabel * 1985, ''

Days of our Lives ''Days of Our Lives'' (also stylized as ''Days of our Lives''; simply referred to as ''Days'' or ''DOOL'') is an American television soap opera that streams on the streaming service Peacock. The soap, which aired on the American television net ...

'' (4 episodes) as Beulah Boden * 1986, ''

Divorce Court ''Divorce Court'' is an American court show that revolves around settling the disputes of couples going through divorces. The show has had four separate runs, all in first-run syndication. Since the debut of the original series in 1957, it is ...

'' (1 episode) as Marianne Walker * 1986, ''

You Again? ''You Again?'' is an American sitcom television series that aired for two seasons on NBC from February 27, 1986, to January 7, 1987. It was based on the British show ''Home to Roost''. Synopsis Jack Klugman stars as Henry Willows, a man still em ...

'' (2 episodes) as Mabel * 1987, ''

Throb ''Throb'' is an American sitcom that aired in syndication from September 6, 1986, to May 21, 1988. The series, created by Fredi Towbin, was produced by Procter & Gamble Productions in association with Taft Entertainment Television, and was dist ...

'' (1 episode) as Makler * 1988, ''

'' (1 episode) as Ruth * 1988, ''

My Sister Sam ''My Sister Sam'' is an American television sitcom starring Pam Dawber and Rebecca Schaeffer that aired on CBS from October 6, 1986, to April 12, 1988. Synopsis The sitcom follows the lives of a 29-year-old San Francisco freelance photographer ...

'' (1 episode) as Checker * 1989, ''Moonlighting'' (1 episode) as Lenora Viola * 1989, ''Chicken Soup'' (1 episode) as Lillian * 1991, ''

'' (1 episode) as Ida Green * 1991, '' Dream On'' (1 episode) as Waitress * 1992, ''Sisters'' (1 episode) as Mrs. Visconti * 1993, ''

'' (1 episode) as Mah-Jongg Lady * 1993, ''

'' (1 episode) as Woman at the Movie * 1995'', Platypus Man'' (1 episode) as Marjorie McAllister * 1995 – 1996, ''

'' (3 episodes) as Mrs. Weinberg/Woman (uncredited)/Ms. Tedlock * 1997, ''

Mad About You ''Mad About You'' is an American television sitcom starring Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt as a married couple in New York City. It initially aired on NBC from September 23, 1992, to May 24, 1999, winning numerous awards including four Golden Glob ...

'' (1 episode) as Klarik's Customer

Film

* '' How Do I Love Thee?'' (1970) as Mrs. Gromulka * ''

'' (1974) as Mulwray's Secretary * '' The New, Original Wonder Woman'' (1975) as Saleslady * ''Cover Girls'' (1977) as Seamstress #1 * ''

'' (1977) as Nancy West * ''Like Normal People'' (1979) as Mrs. Peterson * ''

The Star Chamber ''The Star Chamber'' is a 1983 American crime thriller film starring Michael Douglas, Hal Holbrook, Yaphet Kotto, Sharon Gless, James B. Sikking, and Joe Regalbuto. The film was written by Roderick Taylor and Peter Hyams and directed by Hyams ...

'' (1983) as Judge Alice McCardle (uncredited) * '' Trabbi Goes to Hollywood'' (1991) as Mrs. Peugeot * ''

'' (1992) as Babysitter

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Burr, Fritzi 1924 births 2003 deaths Actresses from Philadelphia American stage actresses American film actresses American television actresses 20th-century American comedians 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American women Comedians from Pennsylvania Comedians from Florida American people of Russian-Jewish descent Jewish American actresses