Louise Lasser, star of cult sitcom Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and Woody Allen comedies, dies aged 87

Louise Lasser, the acclaimed actress celebrated for her starring role in the cult 1970s sitcom "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" and her early collaborations with director Woody Allen, has died at the age of 87. The New York Times confirmed her passing, stating she died at her home in Manhattan.

Lasser achieved national recognition for her portrayal of Mary Hartman, a satirically conceived housewife in suburban Ohio. The series, which parodied daytime soap operas, garnered significant attention, landing Lasser on the covers of People and Rolling Stone magazines. Despite its relatively short run from January 1976 to July 1977, the show's five-day-a-week schedule resulted in over 300 episodes across its two seasons.

In her iconic role, Lasser's Hartman character was depicted as preoccupied with domestic minutiae, often finding herself in unsettling and bizarre situations, including unusual deaths. The show aimed to explore the complexities of suburban life through a darkly comedic lens. Lasser was also known for her four-year marriage to Woody Allen and appeared in some of his early films. Her later work included a role in the critically acclaimed film "Requiem for a Dream."