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Phyllis Somerville

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Phyllis Somerville
Somerville at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival
Born(1943-12-12)December 12, 1943
Iowa City, Iowa, U.S.
Died (aged 76)
New York City, New York, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Northern Iowa
OccupationActress
Years active1968–2020

Phyllis Jeanne Somerville (December 12, 1943 – July 16, 2020)[1] was an American stage, film, and television actress. She is best known for her roles in Little Children (2006), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Surviving Family (2012), The Big C (2010–2013), and Outsiders (2016–2017).

Personal life

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Somerville was born in Iowa City, Iowa, to Lefa Mary (née Pash; 1918–2011) and the Rev. Paul Somerville (1919-1995), who moved the family around as he preached at different churches, until settling in Traer, and eventually Cresco, Iowa. There, her mother worked as a librarian, and Phyllis attended high school, where she was involved with cheerleading, drama, and music, including playing clarinet in the All-State band. She had three brothers: Paul (clinical social worker, MBA) (1947–2005), Stephen (naval officer, forensic pathologist) and Bruce (artist). [2]

She attended Morningside College and then transferred to the University of Northern Iowa, studying theatre and graduating with a degree in English in 1966. In college, she starred in productions such as The Visit, Electra, and Macbeth. She next did graduate work performing classical roles such as Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Hilberry Theatre through Wayne State University in Detroit and later became a resident equity actress with the Arena Stage in Washington, DC. Her first paid job as an entertainer was at Buckskin Joe amusement park over summer break in college.[3][4][5]

She lived in New York City, where she died in 2020, aged 76, of natural causes.[6][7]

Theatre

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Somerville made her Broadway debut as Wilma in the 1974 musical Over Here!, which was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical. The following year, she performed in the off-Broadway musical The Journey of Snow White as the Witch. She appeared in the 1978 Broadway production of Once in a Lifetime. In 1983, she was the understudy for Kathy Bates in the Broadway production of Marsha Norman's 'night, Mother, and later toured in the role opposite Mercedes McCambridge. In 1984, she originated the role of Glory in Norman's next play, Traveler in the Dark, at the American Repertory Theater.

In 1990, she originated the role of Joyce in The Sum of Us by David Stevens. In 2001, she originated the role of Hannah in the off-Broadway musical The Spitfire Grill, a role played in the 1996 film by Ellen Burstyn. In 2009, she performed in the musical Happiness at the Lincoln Center Theatre. She has appeared in other productions off-Broadway, as well as in regional theatre, including many roles with the Hartford Stage Company. She was a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company. In 2014, she appeared off-Broadway in an experimental all-female production of I Remember Mama, alongside Rita Gardner, Heather MacRae, and Barbara Barrie.[8][1]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1981 Arthur Saleslady
1992 Leap of Faith Dolores
1997 Trouble on the Corner Crazy Woman
1998 Montana Waitress
The Impostors Woman at Bar with Pills
Just One Time Scratchy-voiced Woman
Curtain Call Gladys
Better Living Nellie
1999 Simply Irresistible Ruth
Bringing Out the Dead Mrs. Burke
2001 The Sleepy Time Gal Rebecca's Adoptive Mother
2002 Swimfan Aunt Gretchen Christopher
2005 Just Like the Son Judge
2006 Little Children May MacGorvey
2007 Broken English Psychic
Lucky You Pawnbroker
2008 The Brooklyn Heist Connie
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Grandma Fuller
2009 The Mighty Macs Sister Sister
2011 One Fall Mrs. Barrows
A Bird of the Air Ivy Campbell
2012 Forgetting the Girl Ruby
Surviving Family Mary Giaconne
2013 Stoker Mrs. McGarrick
The Double Mrs. James
2015 Stuff Ginger
2016 Detours Annie Delaney
2017 Our Souls at Night Ruth
2018 Diane Ina
2019 Poms Helen

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1990 Law & Order Ms. Maltese Episode: "Subterranean Homeboy Blues"
1991 Law & Order Kristen Cameron Episode: "Heaven"
1992 Loving Mrs. Swan Episode #1.2201
1994 As the World Turns Alice 1 episode
1995 New York News Edith Schemer Episode: "The Using Game"
1995–1996 NYPD Blue Dorothy Russell 2 episodes
1998 One Life to Live Charlotte Stonecliff Episode #1.7668
Guiding Light Mrs. Beasley Unknown episodes
Sex and the City Gertrude Morgan Episode: "The Power of Female Sex"
Homicide: Life on the Street Faye Ann Ralston Episode: "Brotherly Love"
2000 The Sopranos Brenda Episode: "Big Girls Don't Cry"
2001 Third Watch Fran Episode: "A Hero's Rest"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mrs. Moss Episode: "Victims"
2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Mrs. McLeish Episode: "The Third Horseman"
2003 Chappelle's Show Old Lady #2 Episode: "O'Dweeds & Trading Spouses"
2004 As the World Turns Annabelle Fettle 1 episode
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Louise Politano Episode: "The Saint"
2007 Kidnapped Annie Phillips 3 episodes
2008 Life on Mars Mrs. Raimes Episode: "Out Here in the Fields"
2010 CSI: Miami Louise Russo Episode: "In the Wind"
2010–2013 The Big C Marlene 19 episodes
2011 Fringe Alice Merchant Episode: "6B"
2013 House of Cards Russo's Mother Episode: "Chapter 8"
Unforgettable Ruth Episode: "Memory Kings"
Elementary Miriam Berg Episode: "The Marchioness"
2014 Taxi Brooklyn Sasha Lowenthal Episode: "Brooklyn Heights"
The Blacklist Skye Kincaid Episode: "The Mombasa Cartel"
2015 Blue Bloods Beth Del Rio Episode: "Occupational Hazards"
The Night Shift Marilyn Capshaw Episode: "Eyes Look Your Last"
Daredevil Mrs. Vistain 2 episodes
The Good Wife Louise Nolfi Episode: "The Deconstruction"
2016 Impastor Ester Strumble Episode: "Guardian Angel"
2016–2017 Outsiders Lady Ray 13 episodes
2017 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Meemaw Episode: "Kimmy Steps on a Crack!"
2018 Castle Rock Leanne Chambers Episode: "Severance"
Madam Secretary Gloria Paley Episode: "Requiem"
2021 Mare of Easttown Betty Carroll Posthumous release

Podcasts

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Year Title Role Notes
2016 Homecoming Ellen Bergman 3 Episodes

Awards and nominations

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Year Award / Festival Category Work Result
2006 Awards Circuit Community Awards Best Cast Ensemble Little Children Nominated
2009 Gold Derby Awards Best Ensemble Cast The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
2012 Indie Gathering International Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Surviving Family Nominated
Golden Door Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Won
2016 Long Island International Film Expo Best Supporting Actress Stuff Won

References

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  1. ^ a b "Phyllis Somerville Dies: 'The Big C', Broadway's 'To Kill A Mockingbird' Actress Was 76". www.msn.com.
  2. ^ Profile, iagenweb.org; accessed May 30, 2014.
  3. ^ Lefa Pash Somerville obituary, iowajones.org; accessed May 28, 2014.
  4. ^ Profile Archived 2014-05-29 at the Wayback Machine, unialum.org; accessed May 28, 2014.
  5. ^ Phyllis Somerville interview with AARP, aarp.org; accessed May 28, 2014.
  6. ^ Profile, wcfcourier.com; accessed May 28, 2014.
  7. ^ Profile, historicimages.com; accessed May 28, 2014.
  8. ^ Profile, abouttheartists.com; accessed May 24, 2014.
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