Cynthia Harris

Cynthia Lee Harris (August 9, 1934 – October 3, 2021) was an American actress whose career spanned film, television, and stage. Born in New York City to Saul Harris, a haberdasher, and his wife Deborah, she had two brothers, one of whom died before her. Her interest in performing began at age 12, when she started studying theater. She went on to earn a degree in theater and literature from Smith College in 1955.

Following her graduation, Harris joined the Adams Memorial Theatre in Williamstown, where she performed across five summer seasons between 1955 and 1959. She subsequently trained with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio and also studied with George Morrison.

Harris made her Broadway debut in 1963 as an understudy in the drama Natural Affection, launching a Broadway career that continued through 1974. Her additional Broadway credits include Any Wednesday, The Best Laid Plans, Dunelawn, and Company, the 1971 Stephen Sondheim and George Furth musical.

On television, Harris appeared in series and films including Archie Bunker's Place and All My Children. Her portrayal of Wallis Simpson in the 1978 television series Edward & Mrs. Simpson earned her a BAFTA Award nomination in 1979. She played Sylvia Buchman, described as a comic yenta mom, across five seasons of the sitcom Mad About You, a role she returned to in the show's 2019 limited series revival. For nearly two decades she also appeared as Mrs. B. in television advertisements for the department store chain Bradlees.

In 1993, Harris co-founded the Off-Broadway company The Actors Company Theatre and served as one of its co-artistic directors. During her tenure with the organization she appeared in numerous productions, including Home, Bedroom Farce, and Lost in Yonkers, portraying close to four dozen characters in total. In 2013, she played Adriana in the Primary Stages production of The Tribute Artist.

Harris died in New York City on October 3, 2021, at the age of 87. She had lived with Type 1 diabetes for much of her life and was survived by her partner, Nathan Silverstein, her brother, and extended family.