Maryedith Burrell
Introduction '''Maryedith Ann Burrell''' (née '''Smith'''; born May 20, 1952) is an American actress, comedian, film and television producer, writer and documentarian best known for starring roles on the television series ''Fridays'', ''Throb'', Ron Howard's ''Parenthood'', and ''The Jackie Thomas Show'' as well as recurring roles in the television series ''Seinfeld'' and ''Home Improvement''.
Early life Maryedith Burrell was born '''Maryedith Ann Smith''' and raised in Gilroy, California. After attending Santa Catalina School on scholarship, she headed to UC Santa Cruz, working and studying simultaneously with American Conservatory Theater and The San Francisco Mime Troupe. While attending college, Burrell workshopped with The Royal Shakespeare Company and director Peter Brook, as well as Teatro Campensino with Louis Valdez. After two terms at UCSC, she transferred to UCLA and as a student in its Theatre Arts Program received the Hugh O'Brian acting award. The acting award judges included Academy Award winner Jack Lemmon, who became an early mentor.Roles on television shows such as ''Days of Our Lives'', ''M*A*S*H'' and ''Remington Steele'' soon followed.
Early acting and writing After attending college, Burrell worked as a publicist for the new Westwood Playhouse, now known as Geffen Playhouse, where she met actors Jason Robards, Shelley Winters, and Lee Grant who encouraged her to pursue an acting career. She soon began performing with the Los Angeles-based improv troupe The Groundlings. She went on to work with The Second City, The Comedy Store Players, Sills And Company, Off The Wall, and The War Babies. At The War Babies, Ann Marcus, producer of Norman Lear's ''Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman'', invited Burrell to write for ''The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts''. This kicked off a number of writing jobs.
''Fridays'' In 1979, the producers of ''Fridays'' saw Burrell in an HBO presentation of The War Babies at The Roxy Theatre and tapped her for the new American Broadcasting Company late-night comedy show. She became a member of the ensemble, which included Larry David, Michael Richards, and Melanie Chartoff. Her characterizations of the deadly serious Friday Focus Reporter and Battle Boy's chain-smoking mother were standouts.
Post ''Fridays'' Shelley Duvall, a former guest host on ''Fridays'', hired Burrell to write five episodes for her new series, ''Faerie Tale Theatre''. The award-winning show was unique at the time for its cross-pollination of star talent from stage, television, and film. Burrell worked with directors Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Peter Medak, and Tim Burton as well as actors Susan Sarandon, Lee Remick, Carrie Fisher, Klaus Kinski, and Burgess Meredith.A former colleague from the Groundlings, working for NBC, was impressed with Burrell's ''Faerie Tale Theatre'' work and tapped her to write a special Christmas film for the network: an adaptation of ''The Little Match Girl'', starring William Daniels. This launched a career writing films and mini-series for every major television network in America as well as several in Europe. Credits include: ''Mr. St. Nick'', ''The Great Mom Swap'', ''UFO Cafe'', ''Mabel and the Bootleg King'', ''The Last Vampire'', ''Janus Highway'', and ''Dominion'' for TNT.Burrell pursued dual careers as a performer and screenwriter. After ''Fridays'', Burrell went on to star in the television series ''Throb'', Ron Howard's ''Parenthood'', ''The Jackie Thomas Show'', and appeared in recurring roles on ''Seinfeld'' and ''Home Improvement''. She guest-starred on television shows including ''Murder, She Wrote'', ''Chicago Hope'' and ''The Tonight Show''. Burrell acted in several television films, including ''White Hot: The Mysterious Death of Thelma Todd'' with Loni Anderson and ''Those She Left Behind'' with Gary Cole. She also acted in feature films including ''Samantha'' with Martha Plimpton, ''Ready To Rumble'' with Oliver Platt, and ''Kiss Me Goodbye'' with Sally Field and Jeff Bridges.As a documentarian, she has produced for National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and TLC, among other networks. In 2018, Burrell worked as creative consultant on an independent film, ''Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins'', about author and activist Molly Ivins.An overall deal with Disney led Burrell to work as a script doctor for both feature films and television, which she continues to do. Her feature work includes ''Dominion'' for Paramount, ''The Dating Project'' for Universal, and ''Emily Post'' for Sony.
Filmography (actress)  Year Title Role Notes 1979 ''Barnaby Jones'' Nurse 1 Episode 1979 ''Dallas'' Nurse Barker 1 Episode 1980 ''Taxi'' Hatcheck Girl 1 Episode 1980 ''Wholly Moses'' Villager Film 1980 ''Fridays'' Ensemble Cast Member 54 episodes 1982 ''Filthy Rich'' Wanda Dean  1 Episode 1982 ''Kiss Me Goodbye'' Mrs. Newman Film 1983 ''Trapper John, M.D.'' Mary Lamagra 1 Episode 1984 ''Last of the Great Survivors'' Vie TV movie 1984 ''Faerie Tale Theatre'' Beggar Woman  1 Episode 1984 ''Paper Dolls'' Polly Loftus 1 Episode 1984 ''Newhart'' Attorney Arleen 1 Episode 1985 ''Family Ties'' Young May 1 Episode 1983–1986 ''Simon & Simon'' Mary Johnson, Mary DeAngelo 2 episodes 1984–1986 ''Remington Steele'' Frances Piper 2 episodes 1986 ''Big Trouble'' Gail Film 1986  ''Say Yes'' Gladys Film 1986 ''River's Edge''  Film 1987 ''Little Match Girl'' Rita TV movie 1986–1988 ''Throb'' Meredith 48 episodes 1988 ''Annie McGuire''  1 Episode 1989 ''Those She Left Behind'' Ann Hobson  TV movie 1991 ''Eve of Destruction'' Dawn Perlin Film 1991 ''White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd'' Patsy Kelly TV movie 1990–1991 ''Parenthood'' Helen Buckman 12 episodes 1991 ''Bad Attitudes'' Katyana TV movie 1992 ''Samantha'' Charlotte Otto / Mrs. Samantha Film 1992–1993 ''The Jackie Thomas Show'' Nancy Mincher 18 episodes 1992–1993 ''Seinfeld'' Maryedith / Mother 2 episodes 1994 ''Camp Nowhere'' Gwen Nowicki Film 1996  ''Murder, She Wrote'' Nattie Holt 1 Episode 1996 ''Duckman''  1 Episode 1996 ''Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'' Veronica Stewart 1 Episode 1996–1997 ''Home Improvement'' Tracy 2 episodes 1998 ''Chicago Hope'' Dr. Louise Ginsberg 1 Episode 1998 ''Mike Hammer, Private Eye'' Calvin's Neighbor 1 Episode 2000 ''Ready to Rumble'' Nun #1 Film
Filmography (writer)  1985 ''From Here To Maternity'' TV Short 1986 ''Popples''  TV movie (teleplay) 1984-1987 ''Faerie Tale Theatre'' TV series (5 episodes) 1987 ''The Little Match Girl'' TV movie 1991 ''In The Nick of Time'' TV movie 1992 ''Hot Chocolate'' TV movie  1995 ''The Great Mom Swap'' TV movie 2001 ''Second Honeymoon'' TV movie 2002 ''Mr. St. Nick'' TV movie
Publishing and teaching Burrell moved to Asheville, North Carolina, earned a Master of Liberal Arts degree at the University of North Carolina Asheville, and lectures in schools, seminars, and film festivals around the country. She is an adjunct professor at Western Carolina University.As an author and journalist, Burrell has contributed to ''Rolling Stone'', ''The Los Angeles Times'', ''The San Francisco Chronicle'', ''The Great Smokies Review'', and other publications. Her essay, ''An Affair to Forget,'' is included in the anthology ''What Was I Thinking? 58 Bad Boyfriend Stories''(St. Martin’s Press).
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