Dorothy Lyman

Dorothy Lyman (born April 18, 1947) is an American television actress, director, and producer. She is most known for her work as Gwen Frame on '' Another World'', on ''All My Children'' as the original Opal Sue Gardner, as Rebecca Whitmore on '' Generations'', and on the sitcom ''Mama's Family'' as Naomi Harper.

Life and career

Lyman was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Violet E. (née Brightwell) and Hector H. Lyman, who was a stockbroker. She is Protestant. Jill Larson, who succeeded Lyman in the role of Opal on ''All My Children'', and she attended the same high school. She debuted on her first soap opera, '' A World Apart'', as flower child Julie Stark in 1971. Several years later, Dorothy appeared as Elly Jo Jamison, an evil relation of wealthy Orin Hillyer's, (1972-1973) on ''The Edge of Night'', and as architect Gwen Parrish Frame (1976–1980, 1989) on '' Another World''.

Her most notable soap opera role, though, was on ''All My Children'' as Opal Sue Gardner (1981-1983), for which she received two Emmy Awards—as Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series in 1982 and for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 1983. Lyman performed characters on other soap operas including Rebecca Whitmore (1990–1991)'' on Generations'', and Bonnie Roberts (1991–1992) on ''The Bold and the Beautiful''.

In 1983, Lyman became well known for her role as Naomi Harper on the sitcom ''Mama's Family'', a role she played for the full six seasons. In an appearance on Vicki Lawrence's talk show ''Vicki!'', Lyman noted that she continued to perform on ''All My Children'' concurrently with the beginning of ''Mama's Familys production, flying back and forth each week between New York City and Los Angeles. While the commute was brutal, she remembered it fondly, referring to that stage of her career as "All My Paychecks".

During this time, Lyman appeared in the '' Tales from the Darkside'' television series in the "In the Cards" episode (1985). She also played Ralphie's mother in Jean Shepherd's '' Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss'' from 1988, appeared in '' ALF'' as Maura Norris in the episode "Tequila" (1988), and in ''Hunter'' as Sgt. Carol James Meyers in the episode "The Pit" (1989).

When ''Mama's Family'' ended its run in 1990, Lyman went behind the camera, producing and directing 75 episodes of ''The Nanny'' (all episodes of the third and fourth seasons, and all but four episodes of the fifth), even making a special guest appearance on the Fran Drescher sitcom. Lyman also had a recurring role on '' Bob'', Bob Newhart's third series.

On the big screen, she made a cameo appearance in '' I Love Trouble'', a film starring Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts. She made another cameo appearance in the 2001 film '' Blow'' starring Johnny Depp. She was seen in the 2006 films '' World Trade Center'' and ''The Departed''.

In 2007, Lyman guest-starred in the third season of the reimagined ''Battlestar Galactica'' as Starbuck's mother. She made a guest appearance on '' Reba'', playing the titular character's mother. She appeared in ''The Blacklist'' in the season-six episode "The Pawnbrokers".

Lyman performed ''My Kitchen Wars'' in Hollywood and New York as a one-woman show based on the book by Betty Fussell.

Personal life

From 1971 to 1983, Lyman was married to director and actor John Tillinger; they have two children, including daughter Emma Tillinger Koskoff, who is an Academy Awards-nominated producer. Her son, Sebastian Tillinger, is an actor. From her second marriage to French film producer Vincent Malle, Lyman has a son.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyman, Dorothy
American film actresses
American soap opera actresses
American television actresses
American television directors
American television producers
American women television producers
American women film directors
American women television directors
Living people
Actresses from Minneapolis
Film directors from Minnesota
Daytime Emmy Award winners
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series winners
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series winners
American women film producers
Film producers from Minnesota
21st-century American women
1947 births