Childhood & Early Life
Marcia Ann Strassman was born on April 28, 1948, in New York City, USA. She grew up in Passaic, New Jersey, along with her siblings. She developed a passion for acting and singing at a young age and aspired to establish a career in the field of entertainment.
She started her career by working as a model at a children's department store in New Jersey. She then returned to New York City where she landed opportunities to appear in off-Broadway shows. In 1963, she became part of a musical titled ‘Best Foot Forward’ where she played the role of Ethel Hofflinger.
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Career
Marcia Strassman made her TV debut in 1964 when she was cast to play a minor role in ‘ABC’ network's situational comedy series ‘The Patty Duke Show.’ In 1967, she played Samantha Dain in an episode titled ‘The Man Who Believed’ in the popular crime drama series ‘Ironside.’
She made her film debut in 1969 when she was cast to play Kristine in Hall Bartlett-directed drama film ‘Changes.’ In 1972, she was seen in a television movie titled ‘Wednesday Night Out.’ In the same year, she also started playing Nurse Margie Cutler in ‘CBS’ network's comedy-drama series ‘M-A-S-H.' She played Cutler from 1972 to 1973, appearing in six episodes.
From 1973 to 1974, she appeared in television series, such as ‘Love Story,’ ‘Police Story,’ and ‘Marcus Welby, M.D.’ In 1975, she was cast to play Nancy in a television movie titled ‘Journey from Darkness.’
Strassman received her big breakthrough in 1975 when she was cast to play Julie Kotter in the popular situational comedy series ‘Welcome Back, Kotter.’ She became a household name in the United States as she was seen throughout the series.
Meanwhile, she also played various other television roles throughout the late-70s. In 1978, she appeared in two television series, namely ‘The Love Boat’ and ‘Fantasy Island.’ The following year, she played Sara Mason in the fantasy drama series ‘Time Express’ and then played Whitney Cox in ‘NBC’ network's drama series ‘The Rockford Files.’
After playing a couple of prominent roles in the 1980 television movies, ‘Brave New World’ and ‘Once Upon a Family,’ Strassman returned to playing film roles. In 1982, she played Maria in Jonathan Kaufer-directed sex comedy film ‘Soup for One.’ She continued playing TV roles throughout the early and mid-80s, appearing in series, such as ‘At Ease,’ ‘E/R,’ ‘Shadow Chasers,’ ‘Stingray,’ and ‘Amazing Stories.’
In 1985, she played Rose Stiller in George T. Miller-directed adventure drama film ‘The Aviator.’ In 1987, she played Rita Kamen in a TV movie titled ‘Haunted by Her Past’ and then appeared in one of the episodes of ‘ABC’ network's situational comedy series ‘I Married Dora.’
Strassman’s popularity increased when she played Diane Szalinski in the 1989 science fiction film ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.’ She would go on to reprise the role in the 1992 film ‘Honey, I Blew Up the Kid’ and then in the 1994 short film ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Audience!’
From 1989 to 1990, she played Alicia Rudd in 22 episodes of ‘Fox’ television network's crime drama series ‘Booker.’ In 1991, she played important roles in two feature films, namely ‘And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird’ and ‘Fast Getaway.’ The following year, she played Merry Chase in a television movie titled ‘Mastergate.’
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In 1995, she was seen in three television series, namely ‘Touched by an Angel,’ ‘Charlie Grace,’ and ‘Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.’ In the same year, she also played Margaret McKenna in a television movie titled ‘Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare.’ In 1996, she was cast to play Debbie Heller in a feature film titled ‘Earth Minus Zero.’
In 1997, Strassman was seen in four television series, namely ‘L.A. Heat,’ ‘Rugrats,’ ‘Baywatch,’ and ‘Tracey Takes On.’ In 2000, she played the recurring role of Martine Beznick in 13 episodes of situational comedy television series ‘Noah Knows Best.’
From 2001 to 2002, she played Meredith in eight episodes of ‘NBC’ network's drama series ‘Providence.’ In 2003, she was seen in a couple of feature films, namely ‘Power Play’ and ‘The Movie Hero.’ In the same year, she also played Nancy Sterngood in 13 episodes of a TV series titled ‘Tremors.’
Strassman played her last film role in 2005 when she portrayed Rose Tuckey in Dave Payne-directed horror film ‘Reeker.’ In 2006, she played Mackenzie in an episode titled ‘The Crying Game’ in the popular situational comedy series ‘Twenty Good Years.’ She played her final television role in 2014 when she portrayed Opal in a television film titled ‘Looking for Mr. Right.’
Other Major Works
Apart from displaying her acting skills, Marcia Strassman was also keen on exhibiting her skills as a singer. In 1967, she worked as a recording artist for a record label named ‘Uni Records.’ She released her debut single, ‘The Flower Children,’ which gained attention in places like San Diego, San Francisco, and Vancouver.
Her second single ‘The Groovy World of Jack and Jill’ did well in Denver, Colorado. However, it failed to impress music lovers elsewhere in the United States. After releasing her third single ‘Star Gazer’ in 1968, Strassman decided to shift her focus towards her acting career.
Family & Personal Life
On September 22, 1984, Marcia Strassman married a writer and director named Robert Collector. In 1987, Strassman and Collector were blessed with a daughter named Elizabeth Collector. Soon after their daughter’s birth, the couple decided to go their separate ways and their divorce was finalized in 1989.
Strassman was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2007. She succumbed to the disease on October 24, 2014, when she was 66 years old. Her mortal remains were cremated and the ashes were handed over to her daughter.
Facts About Marcia Strassman
Marcia Strassman was not only a talented actress, but also a skilled singer and recorded an album of pop songs in the 1960s.
In addition to her acting career, Marcia Strassman was passionate about animal welfare and was actively involved in various charity organizations supporting animal rights.
One of Marcia Strassman's lesser-known talents was her skill in painting and drawing, which she enjoyed as a hobby outside of her acting work.
Marcia Strassman was known for her quirky sense of humor and love for practical jokes on set, bringing laughter and light-heartedness to those around her.
Despite her success in the entertainment industry, Marcia Strassman remained humble and down-to-earth, always prioritizing her relationships with friends and colleagues over fame and fortune.
