Sally Kellerman | |
|---|---|
 Kellerman in a publicity photo forThe Third Day (1965) | |
| Born | Sally Clare Kellerman (1937-06-02)June 2, 1937 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Died | February 24, 2022(2022-02-24) (aged 84) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1957–2017 |
| Known for | |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
Sally Clare Kellerman (June 2, 1937 – February 24, 2022) was an American actress whose acting career spanned 60 years. Her role asMajor Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan inRobert Altman's filmM*A*S*H (1970) earned her anAcademy Award nomination forBest Supporting Actress. AfterM*A*S*H, she appeared in a number of the director's projects, namely the filmsBrewster McCloud (1970),Welcome to L.A. (1976) (produced by Altman, directed by his protégé,Alan Rudolph),The Player (1992), andPrêt-à-Porter (1994), and the short-livedanthology TV seriesGun (1997). In addition to her work with Altman, Kellerman appeared in films such asLast of the Red Hot Lovers (1972),Back to School (1986), plus many television series such asThe Twilight Zone (1963),The Outer Limits (1963 and 1965),Star Trek (1966),Bonanza (1966, 1970),The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman (2006),90210 (2008),Chemistry (2011), andMaron (2013). She also voiced Miss Finch inSesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird (1985), which went on to become one of her most significant voice roles.[1]
At age 18, Kellerman signed a recording contract withVerve Records, but her first album (Roll with the Feelin' on theDecca label) was not recorded until 1972. A second albumSally was released in 2009.[2] Kellerman also contributed songs to the soundtracks forBrewster McCloud (1970),Lost Horizon (1973),Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins (1975), andBoris and Natasha: The Movie (1992).
Kellerman did commercial voiceover work forHidden Valley Ranch salad dressing,Mercedes-Benz, andRevlon.[3] Kellerman's animation work includedThe Mouse and His Child (1977),Happily Ever After (1990),Dinosaurs (1992),Unsupervised (2012), andThe High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange (2013). In 2013, she released her memoirRead My Lips: Stories of a Hollywood Life, describing her trials and tribulations in the entertainment business.
Kellerman[4] was born inLong Beach, California, on June 2, 1937[5] to Edith Baine (née Vaughn), a piano teacher fromPortland, Arkansas,[6]: 15 and John Helm "Jack" Kellerman, aShell Oil executive fromSt. Louis.[6]: 16 [4] She had an older sister; her younger sister died in infancy.[6]: 18 Edith was aChristian Scientist and raised her daughters in this faith.[6]: 17–21
When Kellerman was in fifth grade, the family moved from Long Beach to theSan Fernando Valley.[6]: 29 She spent her early life in then-ruralGranada Hills in a largely unpopulated area surrounded by orange and eucalyptus groves.[7] During her sophomore year of high school, the Kellermans moved from San Fernando toPark La Brea, Los Angeles, where she attendedHollywood High School. She grew to stand 5 ft10+1⁄2 in (179.1 cm). Due to her shyness, she made few friends and received poor grades (except in choir and physical education) but appeared in a school production ofMeet Me in St. Louis.[6]: 4–5
With the help of a high-school friend, Kellerman submitted a recording demo toVerve Records founder and headNorman Granz. After signing a contract with Verve, however, she was daunted by the task of becoming a recording artist and walked away.[8][6]: 14
Kellerman attendedLos Angeles City College for a year,[9][10] and enrolled inJeff Corey's acting class.[6]: 8 Within a year, she appeared in a production ofJohn Osborne'sLook Back in Anger staged by Corey and featuring classmatesShirley Knight,Jack Nicholson,Dean Stockwell, andRobert Blake.[11] Towards the end of the 1950s, Kellerman joined the newly openedActors Studio West[9][12] and debuted before the camera in the film,Reform School Girl (1957).[13] To pay Corey's instruction fees, among other employment, Kellerman worked as a waitress at the Chez Paulette coffee house[6]: 35 that film stars frequented.[14]
Kellerman made a number of television-series appearances. She was in an episode of the westernCheyenne, as well as a role as a waitress in theJohn Forsythe sitcomBachelor Father. Struggling for parts in television and films, Kellerman acted on stage. She debuted inHenrik Ibsen'sAn Enemy of the People,[6]: 55 followed by parts in aPasadena Playhouse production ofLeslie Stevens'sThe Marriage-Go-Round andMichael Shurtleff'sCall Me by My Rightful Name (1962).[6]: 63
Kellerman appeared in two episodes ofThe Outer Limits, first in 1963 in the episode "The Human Factor", and then in 1964 in the episode "The Bellero Shield" in which she played Judith Bellero, the manipulative and ruthless wife of Richard Bellero (played byMartin Landau). In between her twoOuter Limits appearances, she was a guest in an episode ofMy Three Sons. A role as Holly Mitchell, perverted mistress ofGeorge Peppard's character inThe Third Day (1965), followed. She played leading lady toDavid Niven in his television seriesThe Rogues in 1965 for an episode titled "God Bless You, G. Carter Huntington" which revolved around her striking beauty to a large degree, and appeared in a 1965Alfred Hitchcock Hour episode titled "Thou Still Unravished Bride".[citation needed]
A year later, in 1966, Kellerman played psychiatrist "Elizabeth Dehner" (who studied the long-term effects of space on a crew) in "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (S01 E03 P02), the second pilot forStar Trek, which would ultimately be broadcast as the third episode of the first season. Three months after that, Kellerman played Mag Wildwood in the original Broadway production ofBreakfast at Tiffany's, directed byJoseph Anthony and produced byDavid Merrick, which closed after four preview performances. Before the closing the musical numbers were recorded live, and she recorded three songs which appeared on the originalcast recording.[15]
Near the end of the decade, Kellerman guest-starred inThe Invaders in the episode "Labyrinth" (1968). She also had turns as the severely beaten (and only surviving) victim ofAlbert DeSalvo inThe Boston Strangler (1968), and Phyllis Brubaker (Jack Lemmon's materialistic wife) in the romantic comedyThe April Fools (1969).[16] She turned down a role inPaul Mazursky'sBob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969).[6]: 87 She played Eleanor in theHawaii Five-O episode "The Big Kahuna" (1969).[citation needed]
In a 1971Life magazine interview, Kellerman remembered her television years: "It took me eight years to get into TV — and six years to get out. Frigid women, alcoholics they gave me. I got beat up, raped, and never played comedy."[17]
Kellerman received her breakthrough role (Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan inRobert Altman'sM*A*S*H) in 1970. Her performance receivedAcademy Award andGolden Globe nominations, winning the Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) Award for Best Supporting Actress, theGolden Laurel for Best Comedy Performance (Female), and a second-placeNational Society of Film Critics (NSFC) Award for Best Supporting Actress.[18] Kellerman was featured inLife magazine.[19] She again collaborated with Altman inBrewster McCloud as Louise, guardian angel toBud Cort, and recorded "Rock-a-Bye Baby" for the film's soundtrack.[20]
Her next role was as a hostile, chain-smoking, sex-addicted woman who was trying to have an afternoon affair withAlan Arkin's character inGene Saks' film adaptation ofNeil Simon's comedyLast of the Red Hot Lovers (1972). InManhattan after the film, Kellerman declined an offer for a ten-page spread inVogue from the then editor-in-chiefGrace Mirabella.[6]: 118 When she refused the part of Linda Rogo inThe Poseidon Adventure (1972),Stella Stevens got the role.[6]: 146 Shortly afterwards she recorded her first demo withLou Adler, andRoll with the Feelin forDecca Records with producer-arranger Gene Paige.[6]: 144 After filmingLast of the Red Hot Lovers, Kellerman passed up a role in another Altman film:
I had just finished filmingLast of the Red Hot Lovers when Bob called me one day at home. "Sally, do you want to be in my picture after next?" he asked. "Only if it's a good part," I said. He hung up on me. Bob was as stubborn and arrogant as I was at the time, but the sad thing is that I cheated myself out of working with someone I loved so much, someone who made acting both fun and easy and who trusted his actors. Stars would line up to work for nothing for Bob Altman.Oh, the Altman film I turned down?Nashville. In that part I would have been able to sing. Bad choice.[6]: 146
Kellerman's next roles included a woman involved in a deadly plot in theslasher filmA Reflection of Fear (1972); an eccentric woman in theroad movieSlither oppositeJames Caan (1973), and a tormented journalist inCharles Jarrott's musicalremake ofFrank Capra'sLost Horizon (also contributing to the latter's soundtrack). Two years later, she played Mackinley Beachwood inDick Richards'Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins (1975), one of two women who kidnap driving instructor—and former United States Marine Corps gunnery sergeant—Rafferty (Alan Arkin), also singing "Honky Tonk Angels".[21]
In October 1975, Kellerman sang at the legendaryGreenwich Villagecabaret Reno Sweeney,[22][23] and performed two shows nightly at theRainbow Grill from November 25 to December 14.[24] Her next appearance was as Sybil Crane (a woman in the midst of a divorce) inThe Big Bus, a parody of disaster films, followed by a role as a lonely real estate agent in theAlan Rudolph-directed and Altman-producedWelcome to L.A. (both 1976). The next year, Kellerman appeared in a week-long run of cabaret concerts beginning at the Grand Finale club on May 2. Songs that evening included versions ofLeon Russell andBetty Everett hits.[25]
At the end of the decade, Kellerman's roles included Maureen, a veteran vaudevillian, inVerna: USO Girl (1978); Veronica Sterling, a party-addicted socialite, in the made-for-television filmShe'll Be Sweet (1978); and Lise Bockweiss—one of several wives of Pasquinel (Robert Conrad) and daughter of Herman Bockweiss (Raymond Burr)—in the 12-episode miniseriesCentennial (1978–1979). Kellerman played Kay King, the pretentious and kooky mother of a lovelorn daughter (Diane Lane), inGeorge Roy Hill'sA Little Romance (1979).
Kellerman began the decade as Mary, a divorced middle-aged suburban mother struggling to raise her rebellious daughter (Jodie Foster) inAdrian Lyne'sFoxes (1980); Martha, a six-times-married eccentric, inBill Persky'sSerial, and the silly-but-sophisticated Mrs. Liggett inJack Smight'sLoving Couples. Her later roles included Mary, a child psychiatrist in a sadomasochistic relationship with a psychology professor (Stephen Lackman) after they meet by accident (literally) in Michael Grant'sHead On, and a 1920s socialite inKirk Browning's made-for-television film adaptation ofDorothy Parker's 1929 short storyBig Blonde (both 1980). From October 3 to November 15, 1980, Kellerman starred as Julia Seton in anAhmanson Theatre production ofPhilip Barry'sHoliday (directed byRobert Allan Ackerman) withKevin Kline,Maurice Evans, andMarisa Berenson.[26]
On February 7, 1981, Kellerman hostedSaturday Night Live, appearing in four sketches ("Monologue", "The Audition", "Was I Ever Red", and "Lean Acres") and closing the show withDonna Summer's "Starting Over Again".[27] Kellerman's next performances were in made-for-television films. She played the title character's first wife, Maxine Cates, inDempsey and ahonky-tonk dance-hall proprietress inSeptember Gun. That year she also appeared in a stage production,Tom Eyen's R-rated spoof of 1940s women's prison filmsWomen Behind Bars. Kellerman played Gloria, a tough inmate who controls the other prisoners.[28]
Her next roles were aKGB-training-school warden in the made-for-television film,Secret Weapons (1985); the sadomasochistic Judge Nedra Henderson inMoving Violations (1985);Rodney Dangerfield's love interest inAlan Metter's comedyBack to School (1986);Julie Andrews' andJack Lemmon's eccentric neighbor inBlake Edwards'That's Life (1986); a porn star trying to get into heaven inMeatballs III: Summer Job (1986);Kerri Green's mother inThree for the Road (1987), and an actress inHenry Jaglom'sSomeone to Love. Late in the decade, Kellerman planned to release her second album, which would have included "It's Good to Be Bad, It's Bad to Be Good" from 1992'sBoris and Natasha: The Movie (which she produced and starred in asNatasha Fatale); however, the album never was released.[29]
In 1992, there was a fourth collaboration between Kellerman and Altman inThe Player, in which she appeared as herself. Supporting roles followed inPercy Adlon'sYounger and Younger (1993),Murder She Wrote (1993) andMirror, Mirror II: Raven Dance (1994), the sequel of theYvonne De Carlo andKaren Black horror filmMirror, Mirror. The actress appeared in another Altman film,Prêt-à-Porter (1994), as Sissy Wanamaker, editor-in-chief ofHarper's Bazaar, withTracey Ullman andLinda Hunt. During filming, Altman flew Kellerman and co-starLauren Bacall from Paris for his tribute at Lincoln Center.[30] From April 18 to May 21, 1995, Kellerman played the title role in the Maltz Jupiter Theatre production ofMame.[31] Around this time, Kellerman appeared in back-to-back plays in Boston and Edmonton. In Boston, she played Martha in theHasty Pudding Theatricals production ofWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and starred as Mary Jane Dankworth in a two-month, two-character production ofLay of the Land withMichael Hogan in Edmonton.[6]: 217 That year Kellerman planned to release her second album,Something Kool, featuring songs from the 1950s.[31]
In 1996, Kellerman played a calculating sister in an episode ofThe Naked Truth, "Sister in Sex Triangle with Gazillionaire!" A year later, she collaborated with Altman for the last time in "All the President's Women", an episode of the director's TV seriesGun. The actress then co-produced and reprised her Canadian stage role in a film version ofThe Lay of the Land.
In 1997, Kellerman was scheduled to play the title role inMrs. Scrooge: A Slightly Different Christmas Carol, a made-for-TV film version ofCharles Dickens'novella. In the film, Mrs. Scrooge is a homophobic widow whose late partner (Jacob Marley) and three other spirits awaken her to the reality ofAIDS. Although it was never released, the actress told a reporter forThe Advocate why the project was more personal than professional: "My sister’s gay—and was gay before it was popular... My sister is a very loving person. So is her girlfriend. And my daughter is an amazing woman. They’re all heroic in my book."[32]
Kellerman appeared in the 1998Columbo episode "Ashes to Ashes". On June 10, 1999, Kellerman joined actressesKathleen Turner andBeverly Peele in aPlanned Parenthood press conference supporting a proposed law introduced to theU.S. Congress.[33]
At the beginning of the century, Kellerman appeared inCanon Theatre's production ofEve Ensler'sThe Vagina Monologues withTeri Hatcher andRegina Taylor.[34]This was followed by a cabaret show atFeinstein's at the Regency, which opened withHelen Reddy's "I Am Woman". Other songs ranged fromBarbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" to "We Shall Overcome" and "America the Beautiful".[35] In March 2002, Kellerman performed in Los Angeles'What a Pair, a benefit forbreast cancer research,[36] joining singer-songwriterJulia Fordham for "Why Can't I". That year, the actress also played protagonist Judge Marcia Blackwell in the made-for-television filmVerdict in Blood. This was followed by another cabaret show, produced byHal David, at thePalmdale Playhouse. Songs includedEtta James' "Sunday Kind of Love" and "Long Way From St. Louis". An album (Body Parts) was planned, but never released.[37]
In the summer of 2004, Kellerman played host Madame ZinZanni inTeatro ZinZanni.[38][39] That year she also received theSusan B. Anthony "Failure is Impossible" Award, honoring women in the film industry who have overcome adversity, at theHigh Falls Film Festival.[40] Kellerman returned to the stage for a secondWhat a Pair concert, joining actressLauren Frost for "I'm Past My Prime".[41] The next year, she played Dolores Montoya inBlank Theatre Company's Los Angeles revival ofThe Wild Party,[42] followed by the sexually-provocative Sandy inSusan Seidelman'sBoynton Beach Club. Kellerman sangCole Porter's "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" with actress, singer and songwriterKathleen "Bird" York at her third (and final)What a Pair concert.[43] In 2006 the actress appeared as herself in the first episode of theIFC'sThe Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, "A Cult Classic".
In September 2008, Kellerman recorded a duet withRay Brown Jr. (son ofElla Fitzgerald andRay Brown), "I Thought About You", for Brown's duet CDFriends and Family.[44] In 2009, Kellerman released a jazz and blues album,Sally, her first sinceRoll with the Feelin'.Sally featured interpretations of songs byLinda Ronstadt,Kim Carnes,Aerosmith,Nina Simone,the Motels,Neil Diamond,Jackson Browne,Marvin Gaye,Dolly Parton,Jennifer Warnes, andJames Taylor.[2] That year she also played Donette, owner of a small-town diner, in the made-for-television filmThe Wishing Well.
Kellerman starred withErnest Borgnine andMickey Rooney inNight Club (2011). Her performance as a woman withAlzheimer's living in a retirement home won an Accolade Competition Award for Best Supporting Actress.[45] That year she played a recurring role as Lola (an eccentric artist) inCinemax's sexually explicit comedy-drama seriesChemistry, followed by guest appearances on theCW teen drama series90210 as Marla, an agingHollywood actress with dementia who considers assisted suicide. On July 7, 2012, Kellerman appeared withTito Ortiz,Cary Elwes, andDrake Bell in an episode of theBiography Channel'sCelebrity Ghost Stories.
On April 30, 2013, the actress released her memoir,Read My Lips: Stories of a Hollywood Life, published byWeinstein Books. In the book, she remembered a close-knit, family-oriented past Hollywood and her triumphs and tribulations as an actress during the 1960s.[46] Kellerman made promotional book-signing appearances in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Manhattan, and Jersey City.[47][48] Shortly afterward, she appeared asMarc Maron's bohemian mother in the "Dead Possum" episode of hiscomedy series.
Kellerman later received a Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) Lifetime Achievement Award at Cinema Paradiso in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ceremony, which included a montage of her work and an audience question-and-answer session, was moderated by film historianFoster Hirsch.[49] In September 2013 filmmaker Ellen Houlihan released a short filmJoan's Day Out, in which Kellerman played a grandmother who escapes from her assisted-living facility to bail her teenage granddaughter out of prison. The actress joined theLove Can Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of low income families and their children, in February 2014.[50] Kellerman made a return appearance in the second season ofMaron in the episode "Mom Situation",[51] and as part of anEpix Network documentary celebrating the life of Robert Altman on August 6, 2014.[52]
In October 2014, TVLine announced that Kellerman had been cast in the mysterious role of Constance Bingham on the daytime soap operaThe Young and the Restless[53] and was nominated for aDaytime Emmy as Best Actress in a Guest Role. In 2016, she continued her recurring role onMaron and played in five episodes of the new seriesDecker.
In 1961, Kellerman underwent abotched home abortion, and went to a hospital for the first time (due to her Christian Science upbringing).[54] The relationship that had caused her terminated pregnancy was with bit actor William Duffy.[6]: 58
In the late 1960s, she was briefly involved with actor-screenwriterLawrence Hauben. Hauben shot a documentary,Venus, about their relationship, which received a very limited theatrical release in 1971.[6][55]
After the release ofMASH, on December 17, 1970, Kellerman marriedStarsky & Hutch producer Rick Edelstein.Anjanette Comer,Joanne Linville, andLuana Anders were among her bridesmaids.[6]: 194 On March 6, 1972, Kellerman divorced Edelstein, citing irreconcilable differences.[56] "We've fought every day since we've met," she said at the time.[57]
In 1967, Kellerman's sistercame out as a lesbian and separated from her husband, Ian Charles Cargill Graham, who took full custody of the couple's daughter. After she moved to France with her partner, she did not communicate with her daughter for eight years.[32] Sally adopted her sister's daughter, and three months later, Ian Graham died inEdinburgh, Scotland.
For a time in the mid-1970s, Kellerman was involved withMark Farner of the rock groupGrand Funk Railroad. He wrote the song "Sally", from the 1976 albumBorn to Die, as an ode to their relationship.[1] She also dated screenwritersDavid Rayfiel andCharles Shyer, as well as journalistWarren Hoge, producerJon Peters, and actorEdd Byrnes.[58] In her autobiography, Kellerman made a point to note that her romance with Byrnes was never consummated.[6]: 55
On May 11, 1980, Kellerman married producerJonathan D. Krane in a private ceremony atJennifer Jones's Malibu home.[59] The couple adopted newborn twins.[60] The family relocated toJupiter, Florida in 1991.[61] After encountering financial difficulties, they sold their condo there in 2008 and moved back to Hollywood.[62]
Jonathan Krane died of a heart attack on August 1, 2016, aged 64.[63] Their adopted daughter died less than four months later.[64]
Kellerman and Krane separated twice during their 36-year marriage, first for a few months in 1994, then again during 1997–98 over Krane's public affair withNastassja Kinski.[65] As Kellerman had dated married men in the past, she forgave her husband for the affair.[6]: 216
Kellerman died fromheart failure at a care facility inWoodland Hills, Los Angeles, on February 24, 2022, at the age of 84.[66] At the time of her death, she haddementia.[67]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Reform School Girl | Marcia | |
| 1962 | Hands of a Stranger | Sue | |
| 1965 | The Third Day | Holly Mitchell | |
| 1968 | The Boston Strangler | Dianne Cluny | |
| 1969 | The April Fools | Phyllis Brubaker | |
| 1970 | M*A*S*H | Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan | |
| Brewster McCloud | Louise | ||
| 1971 | Venus | Self | Documentary |
| 1972 | Last of the Red Hot Lovers | Elaine Navazio | |
| A Reflection of Fear | Anne | ||
| 1973 | Slither | Kitty Kopetzky | |
| Lost Horizon | Sally Hughes | ||
| 1975 | Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins | Mackinley Beachwood | |
| 1976 | The Big Bus | Sybil Crane | |
| Welcome to L.A. | Ann Goode | ||
| 1977 | The Mouse and His Child | The Seal | Voice |
| 1979 | A Little Romance | Kay King | |
| 1980 | Foxes | Mary | |
| It Rained All Night the Day I Left | The Colonel | ||
| Serial | Martha | ||
| Head On | Michelle Keys | ||
| 1985 | Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird | Miss Finch | Voice |
| Moving Violations | Judge Nedra Henderson | ||
| KGB: The Secret War | Fran Simpson | ||
| 1986 | Back to School | Dr. Diane Turner | |
| That's Life! | Holly Parrish | ||
| Meatballs III: Summer Job | Roxy Dujour | ||
| 1987 | Three for the Road | Blanche | |
| Someone to Love | Edith Helm | ||
| 1988 | You Can't Hurry Love | Kelly Bones | |
| 1989 | The Secret of the Ice Cave | Dr. Valerie Ostrow | |
| All's Fair | Florence | ||
| Happily Ever After | Sunburn | Voice | |
| 1993 | Doppelganger | Sister Jan | |
| Younger and Younger | 'Zig-Zag' Lilian | ||
| 1994 | Mirror, Mirror 2: Raven Dance | Roslyn | |
| Prêt-à-Porter | Sissy Wanamaker | ||
| 1996 | It's My Party | Sara Hart | |
| 1997 | The Lay of the Land | Mary Jane Dankworth | |
| 1999 | American Virgin | Quaint | |
| 2001 | Women Of The Night | Mary | |
| 2004 | Open House | Marjorie Milford | |
| 2005 | Boynton Beach Club | Sandy | |
| 2006 | Payback | Miss Bronson | Voice; Director's Cut |
| 2008 | Delgo | Narrator | Voice |
| 2011 | Night Club | Dorothy | |
| 2013 | Joan's Day Out | Joan | Short film |
| 2014 | Reach Me | Florence 'Flo' | |
| When Bette Met Mae | Narrator | Documentary | |
| A Place for Heroes | Maureen | ||
| 2016 | His Neighbor Phil | Bernadette | |
| The Remake | Aunt Peg | ||
| Flycatcher | Thelma |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Cheyenne | Lottie Durango | Episode: "The Durango Brothers" |
| 1963–1964 | The Outer Limits | Ingrid Larkin | Episode: "The Human Factor" |
| Judith Bellero | Episode: "The Bellero Shield" | ||
| 1963 | The Twilight Zone | Office Worker | Episode: "Miniature" |
| The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet | Miss Winters | Episode: "Redecorating Dave's Office" | |
| My Three Sons | Helga Willamsen | Episode: "Steve and the Viking" | |
| 1964–1965 | 12 O'Clock High | Lieutenant Libby MacAndrews | Episodes: "The Men and the Boys" "Those Who Are About to Die" |
| 1965 | The Rogues | Elsa Huntington | Episode: "God Bless You, G. Carter Huntington" |
| The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Sally Benner | Episode: "Thou Still Unravished Bride" | |
| Seaway | Aline Svenson | Episodes: "Bonhomme Richard" | |
| 1966 | Star Trek | Dr. Elizabeth Dehner | S1:E3, "Where No Man Has Gone Before" |
| Bonanza | Kathleen Walker | Episode: "A Dollar's Worth of Trouble" | |
| That Girl | Sandy Stafford | Episode: "Break a Leg" | |
| 1967 | The Invaders | Laura Crowell | Episode: "Labyrinth" |
| 1969 | Mannix | Diana Walker | Episode: "The Solid Gold Web" |
| 1970 | Bonanza | Lotta Crabtree | Episode: "Return Engagement" |
| 1978 | She'll Be Sweet (akaMagee and the Lady) | Veronica Stirling | TV film |
| 1978–1979 | Centennial | Lise Bockweiss Pasquinnel | Miniseries |
| 1980 | Big Blonde | Hazel | TV film |
| 1981 | Saturday Night Live | Herself (host) | Episode: "Sally Kellerman/Jimmy Cliff" |
| 1982 | For Lovers Only | Emmy Pugh | TV film |
| 1983 | Dempsey | Maxine Cates | |
| September Gun | Mama Queen | ||
| 1984 | Hotel | Lauren Webb | Episode: "Lifelines" |
| 1985 | Secret Weapons | Vera Malevich | TV film |
| 1986 | Tall Tales & Legends | Lucy | Episode: "Ponce de Leon" |
| 1990 | The Ray Bradbury Theater | Clara Goodwater | Episode: "Excorcism" |
| Evening Shade | Shelley Darling | Episode: "Hooray for Wood"[68] | |
| 1991 | Victim of Beauty | Evelyn Ash | TV film |
| 1992 | Boris and Natasha: The Movie | Natasha Fatale | |
| 1993 | Murder She Wrote | Junie Cobb | Episode: “The Petrified Florist” |
| 1994 | Dream On | Tracy | Episode: "Blinded by the Cheese" |
| 1994, 1998 | Diagnosis: Murder | Irene Stanton / Adele Botsford | Episodes: "Woman Trouble" "Drill for Death" |
| 1995 | Kill Shot | Counsellor | TV film |
| 1997 | Gun | Frances | Episode: "All the President's Women" |
| 1998 | Columbo | Liz Houston | Episode: "Ashes to Ashes" |
| 1999 | Norm | Kim | Episode: "Norm vs. Denby" |
| Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony | Narrator | TV documentary | |
| 2000 | Bar Hopping | Cassandra | TV film |
| 2002 | Verdict in Blood | Judge Marcia Blackwell | |
| Trail of the Cougar | Narrator | Television Documentary | |
| 2006–2007 | The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman | Herself | Episodes: "A Cult Classic" "Yoga Brain" |
| 2009 | The Wishing Well | Donette | TV film |
| 2011 | 90210 | Marla Templeton | Episodes: "Nerdy Little Secrets" "Women on the Verge" |
| Chemistry | Lola Marquez | 12 episodes | |
| 2012 | Unsupervised | Principal Stark (voice) | 8 episodes |
| 2013 | Workaholics | Peggy | Episode: "The Worst Generation" |
| The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange | Romaine Empress / Marshmallow Queen (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| Deadtime Stories | Grandma Grussler | Episode: "Little Magic Shop of Horrors" | |
| High School USA! | Dolores Barren (voice) | 3 episodes | |
| 2013–2016 | Maron | Toni Maron | Recurring role |
| 2014 | On Cinema | Herself | Episode: "Second Oscar Special" |
| 2014–2015 | The Young and the Restless | Constance Bingham | 10 episodes Emmy nomination for Best Actress |
| 2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Hera | Episode: "Stephen Merchant Wears a Checkered Shirt and Rolled Up Jeans" |
| 2016–2017 | Decker | Janet Davidson | 7 episodes |
| 2017 | Difficult People | Joan Gentile | Episode: "The Silkwood" |
| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | M*A*S*H | KCFCC Award | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| 1971 | NSFC Award | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Award | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | ||
| Golden Laurel | Best Supporting Actress | Won | ||
| Academy Award | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | ||
| 1980 | It Rained All Night the Day I Left | Genie Award | Best Performance by a Foreign Actress | Nominated |
| 2004 | The Susan B. Anthony "Failure is Impossible" Award | Honoree (shared with actressJoan Allen and publicist Lois Smith) | Won | |
| 2011 | Night Club | Award of Excellence | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| 2013 | Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival/Cinema Paradiso | Lifetime Achievement Award[49] | Won | |
| 2015 | The Young and the Restless | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series[69] | Nominated |
Source:[70][better source needed]
