Joyce Bulifant

Infobox actress
birthdate = birth date and age|1937|12|16|mf=y
birthplace = city-state|Newport News|Virginia
occupation=Film, television, stage actress
spouse=James MacArthur
Edward Mallory
William Asher

Joyce Bulifant (born December 16 1937) is an American television actress, notable for her sunny "little girl"-like Southern lilt of a voice. She was a frequent panelist on the television game show "Match Game".

Bulifant was born in Newport News, Virginia. In the 1960s, after appearing on Broadway, she guested on TV shows, appearing, in 1963, as the innocent young blonde defendant "Nancy Banks", in "Perry Mason" episode 197, "The Case of the Ice-Cold Hands". Bulifant, who has been described as "naturally funny", was the original choice for the role of Carol Brady on "The Brady Bunch", but the role ultimately went to Florence Henderson.

After losing that role, Bulifant accepted the role of Marsha Peterson in the half-hour NBC television series "The Bill Cosby Show" (1969 – 1971). From 1971 through 1977 she portrayed Marie Slaughter on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". During this time, she also played Marjorie Martin, the wife of Herbert Edelman and the aunt of Robbie Rist in the Saturday morning show "Big John, Little John".

She later had a role in the short-lived series "Flo", playing Flo's best friend, Miriam Willoughby. Bulifant also appeared in the movie "Airplane!", and as David Spade's mother on "Just Shoot Me!", in addition to guest starring roles on several TV shows, and as a guest panelist on numerous game shows. Joyce appeared on GSN Live on March 21st, 2008

Bulifant has for many years been actively involved with the child abuse prevention non-profit Childhelp, including serving as a Celebrity Ambassador [ [http://www.childhelp.org/about/celebrity-ambassadors] ] and as a Vice-President on the National Board of Directors [ [http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=justgive&ein=95-2884608] ] .

Family

Bulifant was married to actor James MacArthur (the adopted son of Charles MacArthur and Helen Hayes), actor Edward Mallory and producer William Asher (the former husband of actress Elizabeth Montgomery) Bulifant is the mother of actor and director John Mallory Asher who was born from her second marriage to Mallory and later adopted by her third husband Asher. Bulifant is also the ex-mother-in-law of actress Jenny McCarthy.

References

External links

*imdb|0119922
*ibdb|33597
*amg name|2:9449