Marcia Strassman obit

Marcia Strassman, 'Welcome Back, Kotter' actress, dies at 66

She was not on the list.
Actress Marcia Strassman, known for her roles in such hits as "Welcome Back, Kotter" and "M*A*S*H," died on Friday after a long fight with breast cancer, her sister Julie Strassman confirmed. She was 66.

Along with her many TV credits, Strassman is also recognized for her roles opposite Rick Moranis in "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" and sequel "Honey I Blew Up the Kids." She was also a long-standing member on the national board of the Screen Actors Guild.

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The news of her death first broke online when her friend, director Bob Weide, tweeted about her.

Strassman's first big TV credit came in 1964, when she appeared in "The Patty Duke Show." She would go on to play Nurse Margie Culter in several episodes of "M*A*S*H."

She was best known, however, as Julie Kotter, wife to the titular school teacher on "Welcome Back, Kotter." The series ran from 1975-1979.

 Most recently, Strassman had a stint on "Third Watch" in 2004, appeared in the 2003 TV adaptation of the "Tremors" films and NBC's "Providence." Also included in her TV credits are "Booker" and "Noah Knows Best," and she did voice work for shows including "Aaaahh!!! Real Monsters."

Along with her role in the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" films, she was also in 1985 film "The Aviator" with Christopher Reeve and Rosanna Arquette.

Julie Strassman said Marcia performed in an annual event to benefit breast cancer research called Duets for years, and was active in raising money and awareness for the disease, even before she was diagnosed.

Why do they keep showing her with Gabe Kaplan? She was a respected and successful actress on her own, he was a lucky co-star.

Ron "Horshack" Palillo and Robert "Epstein" Hegyes of the original "Welcome Back, Kotter" cast died in 2012. John Sylvester White, who played Mr. Woodman on the show, died in 1988.

Strassman is survived by her daughter, costume designer Elizabeth "Lizzie" Collector, along with her sister Julie and brother Steven Strassman. Julie Strassman added that she was a beloved aunt to a nephew named Jesse and to Julie's daughter, Halley.

Filmography

Movies

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1969      Changes               Kristine                

1982      Soup for One      Maria   

1985      The Aviator         Rose Stiller         

1989      Honey, I Shrunk the Kids               Diane Szalinski  

1991      Fast Getaway     Lorraine              

1991      And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird         Sarah Carson     

1992      Honey, I Blew Up the Kid               Diane Szalinski   Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress

1993      Another Stakeout            Pam O'Hara       

1994      Honey, I Shrunk the Audience!     Diane Szalinski                Short film

1995      Cops n Roberts                 

1996      Earth Minus Zero              Debbie Heller    

2002      Gale Force           Kim Nelson        

2003      The Movie Hero                Blake's Mom     

2003      Power Play          Susan Breecher

2005      Reeker Rose Tuckey      

Television

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1964–1965          The Patty Duke Show      Adeline / Gladys / Model              3 episodes

1967      Ironside                Samantha Dain Episode: "The Man Who Believed"

1972      Wednesday Night Out                    Television movie

1972–1973          M.A.S.H.            Nurse Margie Cutler        6 episodes

1973      Love Story                           Episode: "Mirabelle's Summer"

1974      Police Story        Jacqueline           Episode: "The Ripper"

1974      Marcus Welby, M.D.                       Episode: "The Latch-Key Child"

1975      Journey from Darkness Nancy    Television movie

1975–1979          Welcome Back, Kotter    Julie Kotter         94 episodes

1976      City of Angels                     Episode: "The Losers"

1976      Brenda Starr       Kentucky Smith                 Television movie

1977      The Love Boat II                Pat McFarland   Television movie

1978      The Love Boat    Stephanie Lewis                Episode: "Last of the Stubings/Million Dollar Man/The Sisters"

1978      Fantasy Island    Kay Penny / Katherine Patrino    Episode: "The Funny Girl/Butch and Sundance"

1979      Time Express      Sara Mason         Episode: "Rodeo/Cop"

1979      The Rockford Files            Whitney Cox       2-part episode

1980      Once Upon a Family        Pam Ferguson   Television movie

1980      Brave New World             Lenina Disney    Television movie

1980      Good Time Harry              Carol Younger    7 episodes

1981      Likely Stories, Vol. 1                        Television movie

1982      Magnum, P.I.     Dr. Karen Harmon            Episode: "Heal Thyself"

1983      At Ease Olivia Taylor       Episode: "Love Sick"

1984      E/R         Dr. Eve Sheridan               2 episodes

1985      Shadow Chasers               Stella Pence        Episode: "Shadow Chasers: Part 1"

1987      Stingray                Councilwoman Sondra Decker    Episode: "Gemini"

1987      Amazing Stories                Nel Lewise          Episode: "Such Interesting Neighbors"

1987      Haunted by Her Past       Rita Kamen         Television movie

1987      I Married Dora   Nina       Episode: "A Matter of Moulding"

1988      ABC Afterschool Specials               Mary Watson     Episode: "Daddy Can't Read"

1988      CBS Summer Playhouse Elaine    Episode: "Tickets, Please"

1989      TV 101 Mrs. Myers         3 episodes

1989      Miss Teen USA 1989       Co-host               

1989–1990          Booker    Alicia Rudd      22 episodes

1992      Mastergate         Merry Chase       Television movie

1992      Civil Wars            Marcia Kellogg   Episode: "A Bus Named Desire"

1994      Phenom               Catherine            Episode: "Men Are Dogs"

1995      Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare     Margaret McKenna         Television movie

1995      Touched by an Angel      Lisa Patcherik     Episode: "Interview with an Angel"

1995      Charlie Grace     Andrea Farrell    Episode: "Bring Me the Head of Darnell Sims"

1995–1997          Aaahh!!! Real Monsters                Hairyette / Harryette / Weatherperson 5 episodes

1996      Murder, She Wrote         Terri Garman Holbert     Episode: "The Dark Side of the Door"

1996      The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play               Dr. Trish George               Television movie

1996      Highlander          Betsy Fields        Episode: "Glory Days"

1997      L.A. Heat              Martha Episode: Rap Sheet"

1997      Tracey Takes On...            Mallory Blair       Episode: "Politics"

1997      Rugrats                 Miss Appleby     Episode: "Dust Bunnies/Educating Angelica"

1997      Baywatch             Rena Jaffe, Jordan's Mother        Episode: "Out of the Blue"

1999      Odd Man Out     Wendy Flemming             Episode: "Batman Forever"

2000      Noah Knows Best             Martine Beznick                13 episodes

2001–2002          Providence         Meredith             8 episodes

2003      Tremors               Nancy Sterngood              13 episodes

2004      Third Watch       Sergeant Laura Wynn     4 episodes

2006      Twenty Good Years         Mackenzie          Episode: "The Crying Game"

2014      Looking for Mr. Right      Opal       Television movie