Lois De Banzie

Lois De Banzie (May 4, 1930 – April 3, 2021) was an American actress whose work spanned stage, film, and television across several decades. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, she relocated to New York in 1952 at the age of 21. Before establishing herself as a performer, De Banzie worked as a copywriter at Vogue and Time magazines and later as an editorial assistant at Henry Holt and Company. Her paternal grandfather, Edward de Banzie, was a conductor and musical director and the father of actress Brenda de Banzie. In 1956, De Banzie married artist Lamartine Le Goullon; the marriage ended in divorce within a year.

De Banzie's Broadway career extended from 1978 to 1985 and included four productions. Her appearance in Paul Osborn's Morning's at Seven, which ran for 564 performances, earned her a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play in 1980 as well as a Tony Award nomination. Her additional Broadway credits include Da, The Last of Mrs. Lincoln, and The Octette Bridge Club, in which she starred.

Beyond the stage, De Banzie maintained an active presence in film and television. Her film appearances include Tootsie, Annie, Mass Appeal, Arachnophobia, Big Business, Sister Act, Addams Family Values, and Boomers. Her television guest credits encompass a wide range of programs, among them Cheers, Family Ties, Taxi, Hill Street Blues, Matlock, Murder She Wrote, Home Improvement, Major Dad, Mama's Family, Diagnosis Murder, Bodies of Evidence, Baby Talk, Sisters, and Who's the Boss. She also appeared in multiple episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theatre. De Banzie died in Greenbrae, California on April 3, 2021, at the age of 90.