Cynthia Harris
About
Biography
Filmography
Notes
Harris is the co-director of a NYC theater company, TACT (The Actor's Company Theater), which produces five shows a year for the New York Historical Society.
Biography
Stage-trained supporting actor Cynthia Harris has lent her reddish-brown hair and green eyes to a variety of projects in the theater and for the screen. She made her NYC debut with The Premise, an acclaimed improvisational group, and spent eight years as a resident member of the OBIE-winning Open Theater's avant-garde ensemble, performing in such memorable works as "America Hurrah" (which led to her first film work as Mary Desti in "Isadora" 1968) and the "The Serpent." On Broadway, she has appeared in "Natural Affection," "Company" and "Bad Habits," among others. On TV, her performance as Wallis Simpson in the miniseries "Edward and Mrs Simpson" (Thames TV and PBS, 1978) earned her a BAFTA nomination as Best Actress. Harris was a regular on two short-lived series, "Sirota's Court" (NBC, 1976-77) and "Husbands, Wives and Lovers" (CBS, 1978) before playing the recurring part of a secretary turned law student during the first season (1986-87) of NBC's "L.A. Law." While many may recall the actress as 'Mrs. B' in a series of TV and radio commercials for Bradlee's department stores, she is perhaps best remembered as Sylvia Buchman, the sometimes overbearing mother to Paul (Paul Reiser) on the NBC sitcom "Mad About You." After four seasons (1993-97) as a recurring character, the role was upgraded to regular as of the 1997-98 season.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Editing (Feature Film)
Casting (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Film Production - Main (Special)
Misc. Crew (Special)
Life Events
1961
NYC acting debut, "The Premise"
1963
Broadway debut, William Inge's "Natural Affection"
1966
Performed in the Open Theatre's NYC production of "America Hurrah"
1968
First feature film, "Isadora"; played Mary Desti, the mother of writer-director Preston Sturges
1968
Reprised "America Hurrah" for London debut
1971
Appeared on Broadway in the landmark Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical "Company"
1974
Returned to Broadway in Terrence McNally's "Bad Habits"
1975
Had recurring role on the ABC sitcom "On the Rocks"
1978
Was a regular on short-lived CBS series, "Husbands, Wives and Lovers"
1978
Received BAFTA nomination as Best Actress for her performance as Wallis Warfield Simpson in the miniseries "Edward and Mrs. Simpson"; aired in the USA on PBS' "Masterpiece Theatre"
1979
Portrayed Bobby Spriner, one of Tom Conti's sexual conquests, in "Reuben, Reuben"
1983
Co-produced theatrical workshop production of "Honky Tonk Nights"
1987
Portrayed a babysitter in "Three Men and A Baby"
1993
Joined cast of NBC's "Mad About You", playing recurring character of Sylvia Buchman, Paul's mother; made series regular as of the 1997-1998 season
Family
Bibliography
Notes
Harris is the co-director of a NYC theater company, TACT (The Actor's Company Theater), which produces five shows a year for the New York Historical Society.
