Doris Roberts

Actress


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In her two-and-a-half-hour interview, Doris Roberts (1930-2016) recalls how legendary comedian Lily Tomlin discovered her in a Broadway play and brought her to Los Angeles to perform on The Lily Tomlin Comedy Hour. Roberts shares the tale of how getting fired from Maude was a blessing in disguise and discusses her work as a regular on two hit television series in the 1980s: Angie and Remington Steele. She speaks of her guest appearance on St. Elsewhere, for which she won an Emmy award, and details the role for which she is best known, that of "Marie Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond. Roberts describes her approach to the character, her thoughts on fellow cast members, and her recollections of favorite episodes. Gary Rutkowski conducted the interview on April 26, 2005 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I can make you both cry and laugh in the same sentence. That's my talent and I'm very proud of that."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Doris Roberts on her ability to mix the comedic and the dramatic on Everybody Loves Raymond
00:54
Doris Roberts on a heartfelt fan letter she received in response to Angie
01:25
Doris Roberts on how she came to be cast on Remington Steele
04:14
Doris Roberts on meeting 9/11 first responders and finding out how much Everybody Loves Raymond meant to them
02:04
Doris Roberts on how she would like to be remembered
00:36
Doris Roberts on the Everybody Loves Raymond episode "The Wallpaper" where "Marie" and "Frank" crash a car into "Ray's" living room
01:17
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On her childhood and early influences; on studying acting at NYU, the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre, and The Actors Studio; on her professional stage debut in William Saroyan's "The Time of Your Life"
On her early roles on television, in films, and on stage; on being discovered by Lily Tomlin and moving to Los Angeles; on nearly being cast on Maude and other television appearances

Chapter 2

On her various television and film appearances in the 1970's; on Angie
On appearing on Fantasy Island and The  Love Boat; on The Diary of Anne Frank; on being cast on St. Elsewhere, her character on the show, and winning an Emmy for her role

Chapter 3

On Remington Steele; on other shows she appeared on in the 1980's: Fairytale Theater, Perfect Strangers, Full House, Dream On
On being cast on Everybody Loves Raymond; on her Everybody Loves Raymond character, "Marie Barone"; on working with Ray Romano

Chapter 4

On her working with the cast of Everybody Loves Raymond: Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, and Peter Boyle; on the series finale of Everybody Loves Raymond
On stunts performing her own stunts; on a typical work week on Everybody Loves Raymond; on working with show creator Phil Rosenthal and various directors on Everybody Loves Raymond; on the "Italy" episodes of the show

Chapter 5

On various episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond; on the cast of the show having been in New York City on 9/11; on her Emmy Award wins
On the challenges of being an older woman in Hollywood and beyond; on the legacy of Everybody Loves Raymond; on advice to aspiring actors and how she would like to be remembered

Chapter 6

On photos and objects from her career: four Emmy Awards and SAG Awards; photos with Hillary Clinton and Tony Danza; photos of Leslie Moonves and James Coco; photos of Peter Boyle
Shows

All in the Family

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Doris Roberts on appearing on All in the Family
00:53

Angie

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Doris Roberts on Angie
08:02
Doris Roberts on a heartfelt fan letter she received in response to Angie
01:25
Doris Roberts on a line she refused to say on Angie
02:15

Barney Miller

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Doris Roberts on appearing on Barney Miller
00:24

Diary of Anne Frank, The

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Doris Roberts on appearing in The Diary of Anne Frank
02:05

Dream On

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Doris Roberts on her appearance on Dream On
01:01

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Doris Roberts on being nominated for an Emmy for her role on St. Elsewhere and what her husband, William Goyen, who was very ill said about her then-recent appearance on The Love Boat
00:27
Doris Roberts on both she and James Coco winning Emmys for St. Elsewhere
01:45
Doris Roberts on her Emmy Award wins, as well as other award wins
01:15

Everybody Loves Raymond

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Doris Roberts on being cast on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:51
Doris Roberts on her character "Marie Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
06:16
Doris Roberts on the costuming of her character "Marie Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:48
Doris Roberts on her character, "Marie Barone's" relationship with Ray Romano's character, "Ray Barone," on Everybody Loves Raymond
03:26
Doris Roberts on her ability to mix the comedic and the dramatic on Everybody Loves Raymond
00:54
Doris Roberts on working with Patricia Heaton as "Debra Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:06
Doris Roberts on her creative input on Everybody Loves Raymond
02:48
Doris Roberts on her character "Marie Barone's" relationship with Patricia Heaton's character, "Debra Barone," and Peter Boyle's character "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
00:54
Doris Roberts on working with Brad Garrett as "Robert Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
02:08
Doris Roberts on her character "Marie Barone's" relationship with Peter Boyle's character, "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
02:05
Doris Roberts on the series finale of Everybody Loves Raymond
02:20
Doris Roberts on the Everybody Loves Raymond episode "The Wallpaper" where "Marie" and "Frank" crash a car into "Ray's" living room
01:17
Doris Roberts on a typical work week on Everybody Loves Raymond
04:08
Doris Roberts on Everybody Loves Raymond creator and show runner Phil Rosenthal
01:43
Doris Roberts on various directors she worked with on Everybody Loves Raymond
02:43
Doris Roberts on the "Italy" episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond and shooting in Italy
01:57
Doris Roberts on various episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
06:33
Doris Roberts on her favorite episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
00:40
Doris Roberts on meeting 9/11 first responders and finding out how much Everybody Loves Raymond meant to them
02:04
Doris Roberts on the series finale of Everybody Loves Raymond
01:50
Doris Roberts on where she imagines her Everybody Loves Raymond character "Marie Barone" will be beyond the end of the series
00:43
Doris Roberts on the legacy of Everybody Loves Raymond
01:22

Lily Tomlin Comedy Hour

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Doris Roberts on being discovered by Lily Tomlin and moving to Los Angeles to appear on The Lily Tomlin Comedy Hour
00:42

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

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Doris Roberts on playing "Dorelda Doremus" on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
01:02

Maude

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Doris Roberts on being offered a regular role on Maude and then being fired before she appeared on the show
02:44

Remington Steele

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Doris Roberts on how she came to be cast on Remington Steele
04:14
Doris Roberts on Remington Steele
12:56
Doris Roberts on her character "Mildred Krebs" on Remington Steele
01:13

Ruby and Oswald

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Doris Roberts on appearing in the television movie Ruby and Oswald
01:32

Soap

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Doris Roberts on playing "Flo Flotsky" on Soap
01:23

St. Elsewhere

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Doris Roberts on being nominated for an Emmy Award for her role on St. Elsewhere and what her husband, William Goyen, who was very ill said about her then-recent appearance on The Love Boat
00:27
Doris Roberts on St. Elsewhere
07:52
Doris Roberts on how she came to be cast as "Cora" on St. Elsewhere
01:14
Doris Roberts on doing research for her role on St. Elsewhere and how she translated that into her acting
00:49

Studio One

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Doris Roberts on appearing on an episode of Studio One
01:18
Topics

1939-40 World's Fair

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Doris Roberts on seeing television at the 1939-40 World's Fair
00:49

9/11

View Topic
Doris Roberts on the cast of Everybody Loves Raymond having been in New York City on 9/11
05:40
Doris Roberts on meeting 9/11 first responders and finding out how much Everybody Loves Raymond meant to them
02:04

Advice

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Doris Roberts on advice to aspiring actors
03:11

Classic TV series episodes

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Doris Roberts on the Everybody Loves Raymond episode "The Wallpaper" where "Marie" and "Frank" crash a car into "Ray's" living room
01:17

Comedy

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Doris Roberts on the Everybody Loves Raymond episode "The Wallpaper" where "Marie" and "Frank" crash a car into "Ray's" living room
01:17

Emmy Awards

View Topic
Doris Roberts on being nominated for an Emmy for her role on St. Elsewhere and what her husband, William Goyen, who was very ill said about her then-recent appearance on The Love Boat
00:27
Doris Roberts on both she and James Coco winning Emmys for St. Elsewhere
01:45
Doris Roberts on her Emmy wins, as well as other award wins
01:15

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
Doris Roberts on seeing television at the 1939-40 World's Fair
00:49
Doris Roberts on the cast of Everybody Loves Raymond having been in New York City on 9/11
05:40
Doris Roberts on meeting 9/11 first responders and finding out how much Everybody Loves Raymond meant to them
02:04
Doris Roberts on the challenge of being an older woman in Hollywood and beyond
04:13

Pop Culture

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Doris Roberts on the Everybody Loves Raymond episode "The Wallpaper" where "Marie" and "Frank" crash a car into "Ray's" living room
01:17

Representation on Television

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Doris Roberts on the challenge of being an older woman in Hollywood and beyond
04:13

Television Industry

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Doris Roberts on advice to aspiring actors
03:11

Women

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Doris Roberts on the challenge of being an older woman in Hollywood and beyond
04:13
Professions

Actor

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Doris Roberts on advice to aspiring actors
03:11

Actress

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Doris Roberts on the difference between acting on stage and acting on television
00:32

Performers

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Doris Roberts on the difference between acting on stage and acting on television
00:32
Doris Roberts on advice to aspiring actors
03:11
Genres

Awards Shows

View Genre
Doris Roberts on both she and James Coco winning Emmys for St. Elsewhere
01:45
Doris Roberts on her Emmy Award wins, as well as other award wins
01:15

Classic Anthology Series

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Doris Roberts on appearing on Studio One, Playhouse 9 0, and other classic anthology series
02:34

Comedy Series

View Genre
Doris Roberts on being offered a regular role on Maude and then being fired before she appeared on the show
02:44
Doris Roberts on appearing on All in the Family
00:53
Doris Roberts on playing "Dorelda Doremus" on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
01:02
Doris Roberts on playing "Flo Flotsky" on Soap
01:23
Doris Roberts on appearing on Barney Miller
00:24
Doris Roberts on Angie
08:02
Doris Roberts on her appearance on Dream On
01:01
Doris Roberts on Everybody Loves Raymond (Part 1)
11:58
Doris Roberts on Everybody Loves Raymond (Part 2)
28:38
Doris Roberts on Everybody Loves Raymond (Part 3)
14:48
Doris Roberts on Everybody Loves Raymond (Part 4)
03:55

Commercials

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Doris Roberts on appearing in Glade commercials
00:36

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

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Doris Roberts on Remington Steele
12:56

Medical Dramas

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Doris Roberts on St. Elsewhere
07:40

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

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Doris Roberts on appearing in the television movie Ruby and Oswald
01:31
Doris Roberts on appearing in The Diary of Anne Frank
01:36
People

Beatrice Arthur

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Doris Roberts on being offered a regular role on Maude and then being fired before she appeared on the show due to her similarity to Beatrice Arthur
02:44

Brad Garrett

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Doris Roberts on working with Brad Garrett as "Robert Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
02:08

Garry Marshall

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Doris Roberts on Angie  and its relationship to Garry Marshall's other shows, including Mork & Mindy
00:50

Gary Halvorson

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Doris Roberts on working with director Gary Halvorson on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:23

James Coco

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Doris Roberts on her close friendship with James Coco
01:23
Doris Roberts on both she and James Coco winning Emmys for St. Elsewhere
01:45
Doris Roberts on the relationship between her and James Coco's characters, "Cora" and "Arnie," on St. Elsewhere
00:49

James Dean

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Doris Roberts on Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, who she studied with at The Actors Studio
02:12

Jerry Zaks

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Doris Roberts on working with director Jerry Zaks on Everybody Loves Raymond
00:38

Katherine Helmond

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Doris Roberts on appearing on Soap with Katherine Helmond
00:21

Leslie Moonves

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Doris Roberts on Leslie Moonves telling her about Everybody Loves Raymond: "You're the center of it, my dear. There's no show without you" 
00:42

Lily Tomlin

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Doris Roberts on being discovered by Lily Tomlin and moving to Los Angeles to appear on The Lily Tomlin Comedy Hour
00:42

Maria Riva

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Doris Roberts on appearing on an early "live" television show with Maria Riva and Marlene Dietrich visiting the set
00:31

Marilyn Monroe

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Doris Roberts on Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, who she studied with at The Actors Studio
02:12

Marlene Dietrich

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Doris Roberts on appearing on an early "live" television show with Maria Riva and Marlene Dietrich visiting the set
00:31

Maximilian Schell

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Doris Roberts on appearing in The Diary of Anne Frank with Maximillian Schell
02:05

Monica Horan

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Doris Roberts on Monica Horan as "Amy MacDougall" on Everybody Loves Raymond
00:49

Neil Simon

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Doris Roberts on appearing in Neil Simon's play "Last of the Red Hot Lovers"
01:23

Patricia Heaton

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Doris Roberts on working with Patricia Heaton as "Debra Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:06
Doris Roberts on her character "Marie Barone's" relationship with Patricia Heaton's character, "Debra Barone," and Peter Boyle's character "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raym ond
00:54

Peter Boyle

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Doris Roberts on her character "Marie Barone's" relationship with Patricia Heaton's character, "Debra Barone," and Peter Boyle's character "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
00:54
Doris Roberts on her character "Marie Barone's" relationship with Peter Boyle's character, "Frank Barone" on Everybody Loves Raymond
02:05
Doris Roberts on Peter Boyle having a heart attack during the filming of Everybody Loves Raymond
01:16

Phil Rosenthal

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Doris Roberts on meeting Everybody Loves Raymond creator, Phil Rosenthal's, mother
00:35
Doris Roberts on Everybody Loves Raymond creator and show runner Phil Rosenthal
01:43

Ray Romano

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Doris Roberts on working with Ray Romano on Everybody Loves Raymond
01:27
Doris Roberts on her character, "Marie Barone's" relationship with Ray Romano's character, "Ray Barone," on Everybody Loves Raymond
03:26

Robin Williams

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Doris Roberts on Angie and its relationship to Garry Marshall's other shows, including Mork & Mindy
00:50

Sanford Meisner

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Doris Roberts on studying with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre
01:52

Seymour Robbie

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Doris Roberts on working with director Seymour Robbie on Remington Steele
02:42

Will Mackenzie

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Doris Roberts on working with director Will Mackenzie on Everybody Loves Raymond
00:42

William Saroyan

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Doris Roberts on her professional stage debut in "The Time of Your Life" by William Saroyan and Saroyan nearly cutting one of her three lines in the play
01:23

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