Selma Diamond | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1920-08-05)August 5, 1920 |
| Died | May 13, 1985(1985-05-13) (aged 64) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1943–1985 |
Selma Diamond (August 5, 1920 – May 13, 1985) was a Canadian-born American comedian, actress, and radio and television writer, known for her high-range, raspy voice and her portrayal of Selma Hacker on the first two seasons of theNBC television comedy seriesNight Court. Diamond was also the main inspiration for the character of Sally Rogers on the seriesThe Dick Van Dyke Show.[1]
Diamond was born on August 5, 1920,[2] inLondon,Ontario, Canada,[3] to a tailor and his wife. Diamond's grandmother was asuffragette.[4] When Diamond was a young girl, they moved toBrooklyn, New York.[5]
Diamond attended high school in Brooklyn[6] and graduated fromNew York University.[6]
Diamond published cartoons and humor essays inThe New Yorker.[7] Later, she moved to the West Coast and hired an agent. She worked in radio and, eventually, television. Her first radio writing credit was in 1943 onBlue Ribbon Town withGroucho Marx.[8] That initial credit turned into a 65-week tenure with Marx's show and a longer friendship with him.[6] She also wrote for theCamel Caravan withJimmy Durante andGarry Moore,[9]The Drene Show withRudy Vallee,[10]Duffy's Tavern,[11] andTheKenny Baker Show.[12]
Diamond wrote for the radio version ofThe Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet for 20 weeks.[13] She left that show in 1950 and became one of the staff hired by comedy writerGoodman Ace (who had previously hired her for some work onDanny Kaye's 1940s radio show) forThe Big Show (1950–1952), the 90-minute weekly program hosted by actressTallulah Bankhead. In 1951-1952, Diamond collaborated with cartoonistGill Fox, writing for his "Jeanie" comic strip that ran daily in theNew York Herald Tribune.[14]
Diamond moved to television as one of the writers forSid Caesar andImogene Coca'sYour Show of Shows. While writing for another Caesar vehicle,Caesar's Hour, Diamond earned anEmmy nomination. She also worked for Ace once again, writing forPerry Como'sKraft Music Hall television series.[1] In 1961, Diamond said about being the only female in a group of five writers for the Como show: "They feel handicapped, not me." At another time, she said, "It's like being Red China. I'm there. They just don't recognize me."[15]Carl Reiner said that he had Diamond in mind when he created Sally Rogers as a character inThe Dick Van Dyke Show.[3]
In 1953, she wrote for Milton Berle's TV show.[6] In 1960, she released a comedy album based on her humorous conversational style,Selma Diamond Talks...and Talks and Talks and Talks... (Carleton LPX 5001). In 1970, she wrote the bookNose Jobs for Peace, published by Prentice-Hall (ISBN 9780136238270).[16]
By the 1960s and 1970s, Diamond was familiar as a frequent guest onTheJack Paar Show[15] andThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and she made numerous film appearances, including Stanley Kramer's comedyIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (as the unseen telephone voice ofSpencer Tracy's wife, Ginger Culpepper),Bang the Drum Slowly (as hotel switchboard operator Tootsie), andAll of Me (as Margo). In 1982, she appeared inMy Favorite Year with a memorable small role as wardrobe mistress forKing Kaiser's Comedy Calvalcade, a fictional show which clearly echoed the time and venue of her work for Sid Caesar. She was also a semi-regular for four seasons of theTed Knight comedy seriesToo Close For Comfort.
In addition to her writing, Diamond performed as an actress, making her debut in a summer touring version ofBye, Bye Birdie.[17] Her other work in summer stock productions includedCome Blow Your Horn andBarefoot in the Park.[16] On television, she portrayed Selma Hacker onNight Court in 1984 and 1985 for which she received her second Emmy nomination.[18][19]
Diamond died oflung cancer on May 13, 1985, atCedars-Sinai Medical Center inLos Angeles, aged 64, with no known family members.[3]
She was buried inHillside Memorial Park inCulver City, Los Angeles County, California.[20]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World | Ginger Culpeper | Voice |
| 1973 | Bang The Drum Slowly | Tootsie | |
| 1982 | My Favorite Year | Lil | |
| 1983 | Lovesick | Harriet Singer, M.D. | |
| Twilight Zone: The Movie | Mrs. Weinstein | Segment: "Kick the Can" | |
| 1984 | All of Me | Margo |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Jackie Gleason: American Scene Magazine | American Scene Magazine Reporter | Episode: "#1.17" |
| 1972 | Arnie | Selma | Episode: "Wilson Tastes Like a Good Candidate Should" |
| McMillan & Wife | Gas Station Attendant | Episode: "An Elementary Case of Murder" | |
| Magic Carpet | Mrs. Vogel | Television Film | |
| 1977 | The Edge of Night | Mrs. Yoast | Unknown Episodes |
| 1978 | Flying High | Woman in beauty salon | Episode: "Swan Song for an Ugly Duckling" |
| 1980 - 1984 | Too Close for Comfort | Mildred Rafkin | 08 Episodes |
| 1983 | Archie Bunker's Place | Mrs. Isaacson | Episode: "Three Women" |
| The Other Woman | Aunt Jeanette | Television Film | |
| Nine to Five | Selma | Episode: "The Phantom" | |
| Trapper John, M.D. | Martha | Episode: "What a Difference a Day Makes" | |
| 1984 | The Ratings Game | Francine's Mother | Television Film (voice only) |
| 1984 - 1985 | Night Court | Bailiff Selma Hacker / Selma Hacker | 36 Episodes |
| 1985 | The Jetsons | Di Di | Episode: "Elroy in Wonderland" (voice) |
| 1989 | Night Court | Bailiff Selma Hacker | Archive Footage / Episode: "Clip Show: Part 1" |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
