Mary Kay Place (born September 23, 1947) is a prolific actress, singer, director, and screenwriter. With over 122 acting credits, she is perhaps best known for playing the part of Loretta Haggers on the television series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, which earned her an Emmy award. She also appeared in other television series including The West Wing, My So-Called Life and Big Love.
Her connection with M*A*S*H began in 1973 when she went to her friend Linda Bloodworth and suggested that they work together on a spec script for the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Although the script was rejected, it caught the eye of M*A*S*H Executive Producer Larry Gelbart who invited them to write for M*A*S*H. Their first script was for "Hot Lips and Empty Arms" in Season 2. This episode, in which Margaret Houlihan has serious second thoughts about the direction her life and career is taking, is considered a major milestone in the development of the character and remains one of Loretta Swit's favorite episodes. The script was nominated for an Emmy for Best Writing in Comedy in 1974. Although they lost, this initial success was enough to persuade Linda Bloodworth take up a career in film as a screenwriter.[1]
The Place-Bloodworth team would go on to write two more episodes, "Springtime" and "Mad Dogs and Servicemen, both in Season 3.
Place would also do a turn as Lieutenant Louise Simmons in her own episode "Springtime" where she plays an intellectual and apparently introverted nurse whom Radar takes a shine to.
References[]
External links[]
- Mary Kay Place article at Wikipedia
Mary Kay Place at the Internet Movie Database
