Doris Roberts was born Doris Green on November 4 1925 in St. Louis. Her father deserted her family and she grew up in The Bronx, New York. Her mother married Chester H. Roberts, with whom she operated the Z.L. Rosenfield Agency, a stenographic service. She adopted her stepfather's surname.
Doris Roberts made her television debut in an episode of Starlight Theatre in 1951. In the Fifties she guest starred on the shows Studio One, Suspense, and Look Up and Live. She made her Broadway debut in 1955 in a revival of The Time of Your Life. Later in the Fifties she appeared on Broadway in The Desk Set.
In the Sixties Doris Roberts guest starred on the TV shows Way Out, Ben Casey, Naked City, The Defenders, and The Doctors and the Nurses. She made her film debut in Something Wild in 1961. She appeared in the films Barefoot in the Park (1967), Divorce American Style (1967), No Way to Treat a Lady (1968), A Lovely Way to Die (1968), and The Honeymoon Killers (1969). She appeared on Broadway in Marathon '33, Malcolm, Under the Weather, and The Natural Look.
In the Seventies Doris Roberts played the role of Theresa Falco, the title character's mother on the short lived sitcom Angie. She had short, recurring roles on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and Soap. She guest starred on such shows as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Medical Centre, Baretta, All in the Family, The Streets of San Francisco, Family, Rhoda, Barney Miller, and Fantasy Island. She appeared in the films Little Murders (1971), A New Leaf (1971), Such Good Friends (1971), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), Blood Bath (1976), Rabbit Test (1978), Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff (1979), and The Rose (1979). On Broadway she appeared in The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild, Bad Habits, and Cheaters.
In the Eighties Doris Roberts starred as the title character's best friend and hairdresser on the short lived sitcom Maggie. She saw much more success as receptionist Mildred Krebs on the hit detective series Remington Steele. She also guest starred on such shows as Alice, St. Elsewhere, The Love Boat, Cagney & Lacey, Perfect Strangers, and Full House. She appeared in the films Ordinary Heroes (1986), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), Simple Justice (1989), and Ladies on Sweet Street (1990).
In the Nineties Doris Roberts was a regular on multiple shows. She was a regular on the sitcoms The Boys and Dream On. From 1996 to 2005 she played Marie Barone on the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. She guest starred on such shows as Empty Nest; The Family Man; Murder, She Wrote; Walker, Texas Ranger; Burke's Law; and The King of Queens (as Marie Barone). She appeared in the films Used People (1992), The Night We Never Met (1993), Taffy (1994), The Grass Harp (1995), Walking to Waldheim (1997), My Giant (1998), and A Fish in the Bathtub (1999).
In the Naughts she continued to appear on Everybody Loves Raymond. She guest starred on Touched by an Angel, Lizzie McGuire, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She appeared in the films Full Circle (2001), All Over the Guy (2001), Grandma's Boy (2006), I-See-You.Com (2006), Keeping Up with the Steins (2006), The Truth and Nothing But the Truth (2006), Play the Game (2009), Aliens in the Attic (2009), and Another Harvest Moon (2010).
In the Teens she guest starred on such shows as The Middle, Hot in Cleveland, Desperate Housewives, Major Crimes, and Melissa and Joey. She appeared in the films Margarine Wars (2012), Just Another Man's Story (2013), Zizi and Honeyboy (2015), The Manager (2015), No Deposit (2015), The Secret of Joy (2015), and JOB's Daughter (2016).
Doris Roberts was an immensely talented and very prolific actress who did much more than Everybody Loves Raymond. I remember her best from Remington Steele, where as Mildred Krebs she was as effective a detective as she was a receptionist (if not more so). She appeared in several films, many of which she gave impressive performances, even when her roles may not have been that big. She was quite good in such films as A New Leaf, The Hearbreak Kid, and Used People. She was a regular on several shows, probably due to her combination of talent and professionalism. While Doris Roberts may be best remembered for Remington Steele and Everybody Loves Raymond, she did much more.
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