Valerie Harper: Rhoda Fay Morgenstern
It seems appropriate to say that Valerie Harper was, for four seasons, the comedic backbone of the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Mary Richards was Mary Richards, Ted was a schlub, Lou was sweet 'n sour. Rhoda Morgenstern was funny.
When she showed up in Hollywood to audition for the part of Mary Richards' neighbor in early 1970, Valerie Harper barely had two screen credits to her name. She was born in Suffern, NY on 22 August, 1940. She attended Hunter College and the New York School for Social Research, and began her career on the stage as a member of the Corps de Ballet. She simultaneously studied acting formally in New York, and got her grounding as a theatrical actress. Before her MTMS days, she appeared in a number of theatrical productions, which included Ovid's Metamorphosis. MTMS established her as a comic actress, and to this day she remains sought after for such roles.
Mary Richards and Rhoda Morgenstern represent one of the great symbiotic pairs in TV history. Harper brought her mix of Bronxian brusque and wonderfully spicy comedy to the Show. Indeed, a first season scene in Mary's apartment was incomplete without a Rhoda drop-in or a brief spar between Rhoda and Phyllis. Very few actresses of the day could beat Valerie Harper for comedic timing.
Feeling that her best work on MTMS had been accomplished, the producers decided that Valerie Harper should have her own show. She spun off onto Rhoda in the fall of 1974. Rhoda never approached MTMS in terms of comedic status, but gives a nice glimpse into the swinging singles scene. Two notable post-Rhoda TV ventures include Norman Lear's I Love Liberty with Judd Hirsch and the TV documentary Child Abuse- Innocence on Trial, which she hosted.
Ms. Harper's awards include Emmys for MTMS in 1971, 1972, and 1973 for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, and in 1975 an Emmy for Rhoda. She also received a 1975 Golden Globe Award. In 1975, she was awarded the Harvard University Hasty Pudding Theatricals Woman of the Year, and in 1987 the Women in Film Crystal Award.
In 1986, Miller/Boyett Productions decided to start a new series for Valerie Harper, called Valerie (the title was later changed to Valerie's Family). She played Valerie Hogan, mother of three boys played by Jason Bateman, Danny Ponce, and Jeremy Licht. At some point after the first season of the show, she was fired by NBC, and her character was pronounced deceased. Sandy Duncan resumed the role of mother to the three boys, and the series was re-named The Hogan Family. Some time later, the court decreed the firing wrongful, and Valerie collected 1.4 million dollars.
She was married to character actor Richard Schaal from 1964-78, and in 1987 married Tony Cacciotti; they have an adopted daughter named Christina. Valerie and Mary Tyler Moore have remained close friends since that fateful audition day. Mary: "I sometimes don't even call when we're in the same city, but the connection is solid. [Valerie] has stood by me at graveside on four occasions."
Today, Ms. Harper devotes time to an organization devoted to ending world famine, in collaboration with Dennis Weaver and other notable screen veterans. Her film work in the 90's included the short-lived series Office (1995), and City (1990). She appeared on the Perry Mason Movie "The Case of the Fatal Fashion" in 1991, and in 1992 guested on "Melrose Place". In the fall of 1999, she and Mary Tyler Moore reunited for production of the TV movie Mary and Rhoda. Her recent work (2004-2005) has consisted of occasional guest spots on TV series' such as "Committed" and "Less than Perfect" and appearances at the TV Land Awards Special and "CBS at 75," hosted by Mary Tyler Moore.
We'll always know her as Rhoda Morgenstern...the window dresser with the polkadot scarf, with a heart as big as the oceans (except when it comes to Phyllis!).
Here's a link to Valerie Harper.com.
 Valerie Harper on "Rhoda" |
Valerie Harper on "City", 1990. |
 "Rosie O'Donnell", January 2000 |
Valerie on "Mary and Rhoda", 2000 |
Last updated: Wednesday, 11/15/06, , GMT Standard Time
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