--- name: "Louise Lasser" canonical: "https://film.one/person/louise-lasser" fi1m_id: "louise-lasser" imdb_id: "nm0489837" tmdb_id: 9565 wikidata_id: "Q273532" roles: ["Actor"] born: "11 April 1939" died: "6 July 2026" reviewed_on_fi1m: 3 average_fi1m_score: 79 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-09-17T17:57:59.682274+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Louise Lasser ## Identity Louise Lasser - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/louise-lasser - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** louise-lasser - **IMDb ID:** nm0489837 - **TMDB ID:** 9565 - **Wikidata ID:** Q273532 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Lasser, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273532, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0489837/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/9565 Actor. Born 11 April 1939 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 6 July 2026. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 11 April 1939, New York City, New York, USA - **Died:** 6 July 2026 - **Active:** 1982–2000 - **Also known as:** لوئیز لاسر - **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 3 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 78 (1), 1990s 78 (1), 2000s 80 (1) - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 3, Comedy 1, Crime 1 - **Screen time:** 4 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $10m across 2 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Lasser, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273532, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0489837/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/9565 ## Streaming the US now - **Peacock:** [*Requiem for a Dream*](https://film.one/film/requiem-for-a-dream.md) (80) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Louise Lasser > Louise Lasser's deadpan makes bewilderment funny without treating the person as a fool. We rate her gift for keeping sympathy alive in uncomfortable comedy, even when a small supporting part gives her little room. In *Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman* (1976–77), Louise Lasser's pigtail-wearing housewife looks frazzled, and her deadpan makes the distress funny. There is room to feel sorry for her, too. We value that restraint: she gives us time to notice the woman having a hard time instead of insisting that we find her endearing. Her early film comedies with Woody Allen include *Take the Money and Run* (1969) and a leading part as Nancy in *Bananas* (1971). The television lead gave her room to sustain that bewildered manner across a daily soap satire. Afterwards, guest television appearances and film supporting roles became the pattern. Those smaller parts give us a narrower view of an actor who had carried a programme herself. Todd Solondz's *Happiness* (1998), with Lasser as Mona Jordan, makes good use of her aptitude for eccentric family roles. Her contribution is one reason to value the cast, though Dylan Baker's restraint gives the film its force. We laughed and then felt uncomfortable, because Solondz keeps returning to people's humiliation after the comedy has caught us off guard. Lasser's dry delivery helps make her a persuasive choice for this company, where being funny offers nobody much protection. The film's slow pace and repeated humiliations do become wearing; we recommend it with that reservation, rather than claiming the cast can cure it. In Darren Aronofsky's *Requiem for a Dream* (2000), her role as Ada is a small but memorable supporting contribution. Ellen Burstyn supplies the most painful moments, while the relentless cutting can crowd out the people whose suffering makes the film worth facing. That is a limitation worth noting when an actor's appeal depends on how much we can notice in a quiet delivery. We recommend the film, but it offers only a brief encounter with what Lasser does. For Lasser, begin with *Happiness*, with fair warning that Solondz is reluctant to let anyone off lightly. ## Biography Louise Lasser was an American actress born in New York City on 11 April 1939. She died in Manhattan on 6 July 2026. She began her screen career in early films by Woody Allen, to whom she was married from 1966 to 1970, appearing in *Take the Money and Run* (1969), *Bananas* (1971) and *Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask* (1972). She achieved wider recognition as the title character in the satirical soap opera *Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman* (1976–1977). Later credits include *Stardust Memories* (1980), *Happiness* (1998) as Mona Jordan, *Mystery Men* (1999), *Requiem for a Dream* (2000) and *Frankenhooker* (1990). *Sources: nytimes.com, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (3) - *Requiem for a Dream* (2000), Fi1m 80, as Ada — [page](https://film.one/film/requiem-for-a-dream.md) - *Happiness* (1998), Fi1m 78, as Mona Jordan — [page](https://film.one/film/happiness.md) - *St. Elsewhere* (1982), Fi1m 78, as Aunt Charise — [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md) ## Complete filmography (51) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Funny Pages* (2022), as Linda (Pharmacy Lady) - *Driving Me Crazy* (2012), as Shelly Petterson - *Legends* (2006), series, as Mary (archive footage) (uncredited) - *National Lampoon's Gold Diggers* (2003), as Doris - *Wolves of Wall Street* (2002), as Landlady - *Queenie in Love* (2001), as Martha - *Club Land* (2001), as Frieda Barber - *Requiem for a Dream* (2000), as Ada — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/requiem-for-a-dream.md) - *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Convention Attendee (uncredited) - *Fast Food Fast Women* (2000), as Emily - *Mystery Men* (1999), as Violet - *Happiness* (1998), as Mona Jordan — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/happiness.md) - *Layin' Low* (1996), as Mrs. Muckler - *Sudden Manhattan* (1996), as Dominga - *The Night We Never Met* (1993), as Mrs. Winkley - *Frankenhooker* (1990), as Jeffrey's Mother - *Modern Love* (1990), as Greg's Mom - *Rude Awakening* (1989), as Ronnie Summers - *Sing* (1989), as Rosie - *Surrender* (1987), as Joyce - *Nightmare at Shadow Woods* (1987), as Maddy - *The Perils of P.K* (1986), Actor - *Crimewave* (1985), as Helene Trend - *Bedrooms* (1984), as Betty / Loretta - *St. Elsewhere* (1982), series, as Aunt Charise — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md) - *For Ladies Only* (1981), as Beth Doyle - *It's a Living* (1980), series, as Maggie McBurney - *Stardust Memories* (1980), as Sandy Secretary - *In God We Tru$t* (1980), as Mary - *Simon* (1980), as Doris (voice) (uncredited) - *Taxi* (1978), series, as Phyllis Bornstein Consuelos, Phyllis Reiger — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/taxi.md) - *Just Me and You* (1978), as Jane Alofsin · Writer - *Laverne & Shirley* (1976), series, Actor - *Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman* (1976), series, as Mary Hartman - *Moe and Joe* (1974), Actor - *Isn't It Shocking?* (1973), as Blanche - *Coffee, Tea or Me?* (1973), as Susan Edmonds - *The Lie* (1973), as Karen - *Slither* (1973), as Mary Fenaka - *The Bob Newhart Show* (1972), series, as Mrs. Radford - *Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask* (1972), as Gina - *Men of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger Story* (1971), as Wallinger's Girlfriend - *Such Good Friends* (1971), as Marcy - *Bananas* (1971), as Nancy - *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* (1970), series, as Anne Adams — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mary-tyler-moore-show.md) - *McCloud* (1970), series, Actor - *Love, American Style* (1969), series, Actor - *Medical Center* (1969), series, Actor - *Take the Money and Run* (1969), as Kay Lewis - *What's Up, Tiger Lily?* (1966), as Vocal Assist (voice) · Writer - *What's New Pussycat?* (1965), as Masseuse ## Gallery - ![Greg Mullavey and Louise Lasser in 1976 press photo for Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman](https://film.one/media/person/87751/gallery-d39117e4de6e.jpg) Greg Mullavey and Louise Lasser in 1976 press photo for Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Greg_Mullavey_and_Louise_Lasser.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Louise Lasser](https://film.one/media/person/87751/gallery-10f9e3d126b1.jpg) Louise Lasser — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Louise_Lasser_Mary_Hartman_1976.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Publicity still for Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, circa 1976](https://film.one/media/person/87751/gallery-401589672ecd.jpg) Publicity still for Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, circa 1976 — Tandem Productions, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Louise_Lasser_and_Greg_Mullavey_-_Mary_Hartman%2C_Mary_Hartman_still.jpg/1280px-Louise_Lasser_and_Greg_Mullavey_-_Mary_Hartman%2C_Mary_Hartman_still.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Louise Lasser](https://film.one/media/person/87751/gallery-b22303be54db.jpg) Louise Lasser — Image via TMDB - ![Louise Lasser](https://film.one/media/person/87751/gallery-11a09463de08.jpg) Louise Lasser — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/louise-lasser