Career Anne Meara

1 career

1.1 comedy team
1.2 television, stage, film, video
1.3 writing , consulting

career
comedy team

meara met actor-comedian jerry stiller in 1953, , married in 1955, after 2 years relationship. until suggested it, had never thought of doing comedy. jerry started being comedy team, said. thought great comedy partner. joined improvisational company compass players (which later became second city), , after leaving, formed comedy team of stiller , meara. in 1961, performing in nightclubs in new york, , following year considered national phenomenon , said new york times.

their improvised comedy routines brought many of relationship foibles live audiences. skits focused on domestic themes, did nichols , may, comedy team during period. nichols , may without acid , warmth, notes author lawrence epstein. added new twist comedy act, adds, playing fact stiller jewish , meara catholic. after nichols , may broke team in 1961, stiller , meara number-one couple comedy team late 1960s. , mike nichols , elaine may not married, stiller , meara became famous married couple comedy team since burns , allen.

after years honing act, stiller , meara became regulars on ed sullivan show, 36 appearances, , other tv programs, including tonight show starring johnny carson. released first lp in 1963, presenting america’s new comedy sensation: jerry stiller , anne meara live @ hungry i, became hit. 1970, however, broke act because affecting marriage: didn t know act ended , our marriage began, complained meara in 1977. stiller agreed, fearing, have lost wife.

television, stage, film, video

during 1970s, meara , stiller wrote , performed many radio commercials blue nun wine. had recurring role on sitcom rhoda airline stewardess sally gallagher, 1 of title character s best friends. had small role mrs. curry opposite laurence olivier in boys brazil (1978). in 1975, starred in own series kate mcshane on cbs, nominated emmy award, series cancelled after 10 episodes.

meara costarred carroll o connor , martin balsam in 1980s hit sitcom archie bunker s place, continuation of influential 1970s sitcom in family. played role of veronica rooney, bar s cook, show s first 3 seasons (1979–1982). during time, acted in movie fame (1980), in played english teacher elizabeth sherwood. appeared grandmother in tv series alf in late 1980s. stiller , meara show, own 1986 tv sitcom, in stiller played deputy mayor of new york city , meara portrayed wife, television commercial actress, unsuccessful. 1999 2007, meara guest starred on king of queens (where husband played arthur spooner), first mary finnegan, veronica olchin (mother of spence, played patton oswalt). veronica , arthur married in series finale, divorced year later.

starting in october 2010, meara , husband jerry stiller began starring in yahoo! web series called stiller & meara produced red hour digital, production company owned son ben stiller.

she accepted role in off-broadway play love, loss, , wore conchata ferrell, annalynne mccord, minka kelly, , b. smith. taught technique , scene study class @ hb studio until death.

writing , consulting

in 1995, meara wrote comedy after-play, became off-broadway production. in later years, portrayed recurring roles on television shows sex , city (as mary brady) , king of queens (as veronica olchin). during 2004–05 season, appeared in episode of law & order: special victims unit.

she consulting director of j.a.p. – jewish american princesses of comedy, 2007 off-broadway production featured live stand-up routines 4 female jewish comics juxtaposed stories of legendary performers 1950s , 1960s: totie fields, jean carroll, pearl williams, betty walker, , belle barth.

in 2009, meara wrote personal life reflections in new york-focused online blog, titled mr. beller s neighborhood -- new york city stories. in it, meara recalled mother s death , childhood experiences @ catholic boarding school.