Marcia Ann Burrs obit

Marcia Ann Burrs Dies: Hallmark’s Mrs. Claus, Actor On ‘Young Sheldon’, ‘Mad Men’, ‘It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’ Was 85

 

She was not on the list.

Marcia Ann Burrs, a veteran character actor whose many TV appearances included stints as Mrs. Claus in two Hallmark Christmas TV-movies and, in a memorable episode of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, the long-ago high school girlfriend of Danny DeVito’s Frank Reynolds, died Sunday, March 22, in Matthews, North Carolina. She was 85.

Her death was announced by her family. Although a cause was not specified, the announcement notes that she died peacefully surrounded by family.

Although she made appearances in such feature films as Rob Reiner’s Rumor Has It… (2005) and Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring (2013), Burrs most prolifically and steadily worked as a character performer on dozens of TV shows, from 1988’s The Slap Maxwell Story through such recent fare as Young Sheldon, Angie Tribeca and Grace and Frankie (all 2017).

For fans of holiday movies, Burrs will be remembered as the wife of Santa Claus in two Hallmark television films opposite Steve Guttenberg, Crystal Bernard and, as Santa, John Wheeler: Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus (2004) and Meet the Santas (2005).

Other TV credits include appearances on Mad Men, Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, How I Met Your Mother, Bones, The King of Queens, My Name Is Earl, Monk, Frasier, That ’70s Show, Scrubs, Station 19, That’s So Raven, Moonlighting, among others.

In the 2006 fan-favorite Season 2 episode of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia “Mac Bangs Dennis’ Mom,” Burrs played Angie Spinola, the high school girlfriend of DeVito’s Frank character who agrees to a many-decades-later reunion date. To the vulgar Frank’s disappointment, Angie isn’t the wild teenager she once was.

“I think you’re too old for me,” Frank says.

“Frank, I’m two years younger than you,” Angie responds.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Frank replies, as Burrs’ expression shows a well-performed mix of confusion and annoyance.

Born November 25, 1940, in Manila, the Philippines, Burrs moved to New York City after studying drama at The College of William & Mary to launch a career in musical theater, commercials and soap operas. In New York she met and married Joseph Edward Bures (a spelling she sometimes used in her credits). Their marriage lasted more than 52 years until his death in 2020.

Burrs is survived by daughters Jennifer Martin and Diana Fuller; their husbands; two grandsons; two brothers, a sister and other extended family.

Actress

The Incredible Life of Darrell (2018)

The Incredible Life of Darrell

TV Series

Brenda

2018

1 episode

 

Station 19 (2018)

Station 19

7.1

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Inez

2018

1 episode

 

Annie Potts, Lance Barber, Zoe Perry, Raegan Revord, Montana Jordan, and Iain Armitage in Young Sheldon (2017)

Young Sheldon

7.7

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Betty

2017

1 episode

 

Mackenzie Davis in Izzy Gets the Fuck Across Town (2017)

Izzy Gets the Fuck Across Town

5.6

Hawaiian Lady

2017

 

Jere Burns, Rashida Jones, Deon Cole, Hayes MacArthur, Andree Vermeulen, and Jagger in Angie Tribeca (2016)

Angie Tribeca

7.0

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School Teacher

2017

1 episode

 

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in Grace and Frankie (2015)

Grace and Frankie

8.2

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Fiona

2017

1 episode

 

April Bowlby in Marriage of Lies (2016)

Marriage of Lies

5.0

DeeDee

2016

 

The Leisure Class (2015)

The Leisure Class

3.9

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Aunt Ida

2015

 

James Pickens Jr., Ellen Pompeo, and Chandra Wilson in Grey's Anatomy (2005)

Grey's Anatomy

7.6

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Fran

2015

1 episode

 

The Incredible Life of Darrell (2015)

The Incredible Life of Darrell

7.4

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Brenda

2015

1 episode

 

Perception (2012)

Perception

7.5

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Lady at Reception

2015

2 episodes

 

Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan, Jason Segel, Josh Radnor, and Cobie Smulders in How I Met Your Mother (2005)

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8.3

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Old Lady

2013

1 episode

 

Jennifer Stone in Deadtime Stories (2012)

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6.2

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Grandma

2013

1 episode

 

Giovanni Ribisi, Seth Green, Martin Mull, and Peter Riegert in Dads (2013)

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5.5

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2013

1 episode

 

The Bling Ring (2013)

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5.6

Grandma

2013

 

Mad Men (2007)

Mad Men

8.7

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Dorothy

2013

2 episodes

 

Zooey Deschanel, Max Greenfield, Damon Wayans Jr., Hannah Simone, Lamorne Morris, and Jake Johnson in New Girl (2011)

New Girl

7.8

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Old Woman

2013

1 episode

 

Table for Three

6.8

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Tailor

2012

 

Criminal Minds (2005)

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8.1

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Mrs. Roberts

2012

1 episode

 

Shailene Woodley and Daren Kagasoff in The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008)

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4.9

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Woman

2012

1 episode

 

Perfect Couples (2010)

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6.6

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Aunt Bobie

2011

1 episode

 

Van Nuys

Short

Patricia

2010

 

Framily (2010)

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6.3

Real estate agent

2010

 

Tyler Labine, Matthew Levy, Benjamin Stockham, and Frank Dolce in Sons of Tucson (2010)

Sons of Tucson

7.0

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Woman

2010

1 episode

 

Joanna Cassidy, Heather Bergdahl, Nicholas Downs, Joyce Guy, Bill Moseley, Michael Warren, Ryan Carnes, Jerome Elston Scott, and Micah Stuart in Anderson's Cross (2010)

Anderson's Cross

5.9

Mrs. Landry

2010

 

Zeke and Luther (2009)

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6.4

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Dingle's Mom

2010

1 episode

 

Fuel (2009)

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4.8

Dr. Hart (as Marcia Burrs)

2009

 

Hank (2009)

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4.3

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Female Customer

2009

1 episode

 

David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel in Bones (2005)

Bones

7.8

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Eleanor Turner

2009

1 episode

 

"Must see movie about love and forgiveness.  A rare find among films!" - The Dove Foundation

Reconciliation

6.3

Kelly's Grandmother

2009

 

Lesley Ann Warren and Meredith Baxter in Bound by a Secret (2009)

Bound by a Secret

6.1

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Germaine

2009

 

Rufus Sewell in Eleventh Hour (2008)

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7.2

TV Series

Bernadette Wilson

2009

1 episode

 

John C. McGinley, Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Michael Mosley, Dave Franco, Eliza Coupe, and Kerry Bishé in Scrubs (2001)

Scrubs

8.4

TV Series

Peggy

2009

1 episode

 

Saving Grace (2007)

Saving Grace

7.6

TV Series

Mrs. Will

2008

1 episode

 

Kimberly Elise and Jennifer Finnigan in Close to Home (2005)

Close to Home

6.7

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Juror #1

2007

1 episode

 

Jerry Stiller, Kevin James, and Leah Remini in The King of Queens (1998)

The King of Queens

7.4

TV Series

Mildred

2006

1 episode

 

Jason Lee, Jaime Pressly, Ethan Suplee, Eddie Steeples, and Nadine Velazquez in My Name Is Earl (2005)

My Name Is Earl

7.8

TV Series

Wise Nun

2006

1 episode

 

Brianna Brown and Sid Haig in Night of the Living Dead 3D (2006)

Night of the Living Dead 3D

3.1

Mom Zombie

2006

 

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005)

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

8.8

TV Series

Angie Spinola

2006

1 episode

 

Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Shirley MacLaine, and Mark Ruffalo in Rumor Has It... (2005)

Rumor Has It...

5.5

Pasadenan Wife

2005

 

Meet the Santas (2005)

Meet the Santas

5.7

TV Movie

Mrs. Claus

2005

 

Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Wilmer Valderrama, Topher Grace, and Laura Prepon in That '70s Show (1998)

That '70s Show

8.1

TV Series

Stew's Mom

2005

1 episode

 

Steve Guttenberg and Crystal Bernard in Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus (2004)

Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus

5.8

TV Movie

Mrs. Claus

2004

 

Golf Cart Driving School (2004)

Golf Cart Driving School

8.4

Short

Student

2004

 

Jami Gertz, Mark Addy, Renee Olstead, Taylor Ball, and Soleil Borda in Still Standing (2002)

Still Standing

7.5

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Customer

2004

1 episode

 

Tony Shalhoub in Monk (2002)

Monk

8.1

TV Series

Mrs. Dohan

2004

1 episode

 

Raven-Symoné in That's So Raven (2003)

That's So Raven

6.7

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Mrs. Beckman

2003

1 episode

 

Grounded for Life (2001)

Grounded for Life

7.5

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Lunch Lady

2003

1 episode

 

The Guardian (2001)

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7.4

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Edna Finster

2003

1 episode

 

Andrew Lawrence, Wendy Makkena, Grant Rosenmeyer, and Grant Shaud in Oliver Beene (2003)

Oliver Beene

7.3

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Old Woman

2003

1 episode

 

Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Peri Gilpin, and Jane Leeves in Frasier (1993)

Frasier

8.2

TV Series

Aunt Pearl

2002

1 episode

 

Judging Amy (1999)

Judging Amy

7.1

TV Series

2002

1 episode

 

Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham in Gilmore Girls (2000)

Gilmore Girls

8.2

TV Series

the Older Woman

2002

1 episode

 

Vicki Davis, Reagan Dale Neis, Julia Sweeney, and Fred Willard in Maybe It's Me (2001)

Maybe It's Me

7.2

TV Series

Mrs. Reynolds

2002

1 episode

 

Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

8.3

TV Series

Prof. Bellamy (uncredited)

2001

1 episode

 

Elise Neal, Ashley Monique Clark, Dee Jay Daniels, Marietta DePrima, John Henton, D.L. Hughley, and Eric Allan Kramer in The Hughleys (1998)

The Hughleys

6.2

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Shirley

2001

1 episode

 

Sean Hayes, Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, and Megan Mullally in Will & Grace (1998)

Will & Grace

7.4

TV Series

Woman

2001

1 episode

 

Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue (2000)

Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue

6.5

TV Series

Receptionist

2000

2 episodes

 

Power Rangers in 3D: Triple Force (2000)

Power Rangers in 3D: Triple Force

5.7

Video

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2000

 

Roxana Zal in Her Married Lover (1999)

Her Married Lover

5.3

Grandmother

1999

 

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1997)

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

7.9

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Aunt Ruthie (segment "Cook Out")

1999

1 episode

 

Brooke Shields, Judd Nelson, Eric Idle, Nestor Carbonell, Rob Estes, Kathy Griffin, Barbara Barrie, Currie Graham, and Sherri Shepherd in Suddenly Susan (1996)

Suddenly Susan

5.9

TV Series

Joyce the Maid

1999

1 episode

 

Joan Severance, Robert Urich, Kyle Howard, Heidi Mark, Phil Morris, and Corey Parker in Love Boat: The Next Wave (1998)

Love Boat: The Next Wave

4.6

TV Series

Mrs. Sarkin

1998

1 episode

 

Jessica Biel, Beverley Mitchell, Barry Watson, David Gallagher, Catherine Hicks, Mackenzie Rosman, and Happy in 7th Heaven (1996)

7th Heaven

5.3

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Dorothy Staley

1998

1 episode

 

Alex Borstein, Michael McDonald, Will Sasso, and Debra Wilson in Mad TV (1995)

Mad TV

7.3

TV Series

Woman

1998

1 episode

 

Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg and Heather Dubrow in Jenny (1997)

Jenny

4.4

TV Series

Minnesotan Woman

1997

1 episode

 

Molly Ringwald, Jenna Elfman, Bill Burr, Lauren Graham, and Ron Livingston in Townies (1996)

Townies

6.5

TV Series

Woman

1996

1 episode

 

Jonathan Angel, Natalia Cigliuti, Dennis Haskins, Bianca Lawson, Isaac Lidsky, Bonnie Russavage, and Robert Sutherland Telfer in Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1993)

Saved by the Bell: The New Class

4.0

TV Series

Mrs. Turner (as Marcia Burrs)

1994

1 episode

 

Freddy's Nightmares (1988)

Freddy's Nightmares

6.2

TV Series

Nurse #2 (as Marsha Burrs)

1989

1 episode

 

Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd in Moonlighting (1985)

Moonlighting

7.6

TV Series

Cooking Teacher (as Marcia Burrs)

1989

1 episode

 

Portrait of a White Marriage (1988)

Portrait of a White Marriage

4.9

TV Movie

Audience Woman #1 (as Marcia Bures)

1988

 

Mr. Belvedere (1985)

Mr. Belvedere

6.6

TV Series

Woman

1988

1 episode

 

The Slap Maxwell Story (1987)

The Slap Maxwell Story

7.7

TV Series

Mom

1988

1 episode

 

Self

Night of the Living Dead 3D - Behind the Scenes

Video

Self - Mom Zombie (uncredited)

2007