Stapleton 's film career , though limited , brought her immediate success , with her debut in '' Lonelyhearts '' ( 1958 ) earning a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress . She appeared in the 1963 film version of '' Bye Bye Birdie '' , in the role of Mama Mae Peterson , with Dick Van Dyke , Janet Leigh , Paul Lynde and Ann-Margret . Stapleton played the role of Dick Van Dyke 's mother , even though she was only five months and 22 days older than Van Dyke . She was nominated again for an Oscar for '' Airport '' ( 1970 ) and Woody Allen 's '' Interiors '' ( 1978 ) . She won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for '' Reds '' ( 1981 ) , directed by Warren Beatty , in which she portrayed the Lithuanian-born anarchist , Emma Goldman . In her acceptance speech , she stated " I would like to thank everyone I 've ever met in my entire life . " Stapleton won a 1968 Emmy Award for her performance in '' Among the Paths of Eden '' . She was nominated for the television version of '' All the King 's Men '' ( 1959 ) , '' Queen of the Stardust Ballroom '' ( 1975 ) , and '' The Gathering '' ( 1977 ) . Her later appearances included '' Johnny Dangerously '' ( 1984 ) , '' Cocoon '' ( 1985 ) and its sequel '' Cocoon : The Return '' ( 1988 )
Among the Paths of Eden
20th Primetime Emmy Awards
Maureen Stapleton