- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMarcia Karen Wallace
- Height5′ 8½″ (1.74 m)
- Born on November 1, 1942, the eldest of three born to an Iowa general storeowner, Marcia Wallace endured a troubled childhood (alcoholism, physical abuse). Performing in high school plays as a teenager, she studied at Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, where she majored in English and theatre.
Marcia initially induced laughs because of a weight problem, playing plump, self-deprecating characters in such musicals as "The Music Man". She also supplemented her very modest income at the time, substitute teaching in the Bronx. Managing to drop much of her excess weight over time, she found, to her delight, that she could still make people laugh. Finding an invaluable training ground with the improvisational comedy group, "The Fourth Wall", in 1968, she appeared with the company off-Broadway for a spell. In between times, she studied with acting guru Uta Hagen.
Marcia began to flesh out her on-camera resume at first with bit roles on such shows as "The Invaders" (as a courtroom spectator), "Bewitched" (as Darrin's secretary), "The Brady Bunch" (as a saleswoman), she earned her first on-camera break with recurring appearances on The Merv Griffin Show (1962). As a direct result, she won the best role of her career as "Carol Kester", the chatty receptionist on The Bob Newhart Show (1972) after only a year or so in Hollywood. For seven years, Marcia won tons of fans as the slightly ditsy co-worker and confidante who was always looking for that "special guy" to walk through the door.
During that time and after, she guested and added fun to many popular lightweight 70's and 80's shows of the day, including "Love, American Style," "The Love Boat," "Fantasy Island," "CHiPS," "Magnium, P.I.," "Gimme a Break," "Finder of Lost Loves," "Murder, She Wrote," "Alf," "Night Court,' "Small Wonder" and "Charles in Charge." She also decorated and perked up a few TV movies -- The Castaways on Gilligan's Island (1979), Gridlock (1980), Pray TV (1980) -- and the full length features a few films Teen Witch (1989), My Mom's a Werewolf (1989) and Ghoulies Go to College (1990). She went on the enjoy regular work in commercials for over three decades (Kraft a la Carte, Crest, Taster's Choice).
Following her TV success on the "The Newhart Show," Marcia kept visible as a recurring game show panelist on such shows as "The Match Game," "Password," "The $10,000 Pyramid" and "Hollywood Squares." On the summer stock and dinner theater circuits, Marcia found engaging work in such comedies as "Plaza Suite," "Born Yesterday," "The Prisoner of Second Avenue," "The Sunshine Boys," and "Last of the Red Hot Lovers," as well as the musicals "Gypsy" and "Promises, Promises."
In 1985, Marcia was diagnosed with breast cancer. She eventually became an activist and lecturer on breast cancer awareness, educating the public about early detection. She was also the prime caretaker for her husband, hotelier Denny Hawley, when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away in 1992. They adopted one child, Michael.
Marcia's career would gain a second career wind in voiceovers. Today's generations will recognize her Emmy-winning voice-work as Bart's teacher, "Mrs. Edna Krabappel" on the long-running animated series The Simpsons (1989). Her voice was also utilized on such animated projects as "Darkwing Duck," "Raw Toonage," "Camp Candy," "Batman: The Animated Series," "Aladdin," "Cow and Chicken," "The Angry Beavers" and Rugrats" as well as providing several voices for the animated film Monsters University (2013).
She has guest-hosted televised comedy clubs and talk shows, and was the actual co-host of a diet show on cable. Marcia remained on the lecture circuit and published her own 2004 memoir (Don't Look Back, We're Not Going That Way!) which gently and admirably laces her myriad of struggles with wit, humor and a positive outlook.
Into the millennium, she was seen as Maggie the housekeeper on the short-lived, irreverent TV series spoof That's My Bush! (2001) starring Timothy Bottoms. In 2009, she was seen as Annie Wilkes on the daytime soaper The Young and the Restless (1973). A few scattered films appeared on the horizon, including the comedies Forever for Now (2004), Big Stan (2007) and Tru Loved (2008).
Marcia's lengthy battle with illness ended on October 25, 2013, when the 70-year-old actress died of breast cancer complications (pneumonia and sepsis).- IMDb mini biography by: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net
- SpouseDennis Hawley(May 18, 1986 - June 7, 1992) (his death, 1 child)
- Children
- Her soft, somewhat hoarse-sounding voice.
- Short red hair
- Her laugh
- Speaks With Lisp
- As a tribute to her, an episode of The Simpsons (1989) made since her death showed a scene in which Bart Simpson is standing at the blackboard having just written "We'll really miss you Mrs K", a reference to her character Mrs Krabappel.
- While not listed in the main cast in The Simpsons (1989) her role as Edna Krabappel is listed as a "special guest appearance," a designation usually reserved for celebrity guest stars.
- Diagnosed with breast cancer 1985. Also caregiver to her husband, Denny, who had pancreatic cancer.
- Upon her death, she was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea in the Pacific Ocean.
- She & her husband adopted a son, Michael Hawley (born in 1988).
- On being stopped for the voice of "Edna Krabappel" on The Simpsons (1989): You'd be amazed at what you get stopped for.
- The odds of getting a series long enough to be remembered are infinitesimal. A lot of what I've done, I would not have done without Carol Kester.
- I have heard, "You're too recognizable for this part". I remember once, I desperately wanted to be on the series, Nine to Five (1982), and they just weren't going to see me because of that. Every once in a while, something would break my heart.
- [on her on- and off-screen chemistry with Bob Newhart, who played Dr. Robert Hartley]: He was incredibly easy to get along with and very supportive of the writers. Every once in a while, when there was a line he might like, I would bring my dog to work and my dog was dumb, she would only eat and yawn. So, he would get down on his hands and knees, reads the line, the dog would yawn at his face. See, I told ya! Even the dumb dog think it's funny.
- [When she learned if Bob Newhart, wanted to have kids on The Bob Newhart Show (1972)]: Bob said, 'No dogs, no kids.' He didn't want it to be Father Knows Best (1954). So Bob and Emily were DINKs - double income, no kids - which was kind of unusual then.
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