- Dorothy Lyman
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Dorothy Lyman Born April 18, 1947
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.Occupation Actress, director, producer Years active 1971–present Spouse Vincent Malle (1987-2001) (divorced)
John Tillinger (1971-1983) (divorced)Dorothy Lyman (born April 18, 1947) is an American television actress, director and producer. She is most commonly known for her work as architect Gwen Parrish Frame in Another World (1976–1980,1989) and in All My Children as Opal Sue Gardner, and on the syndicated sitcom Mama's Family, as Naomi Harper.
Lyman was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Violet E. (née Brightwell) and Hector H. Lyman, who was a stockbroker.[1] She first appeared on her first soap opera A World Apart as Julie Stark in 1971. Several years later, Dorothy appeared as the evil Elly Jo Jamison on The Edge of Night. Lyman played Ralphie's mother in Jean Shepherd's Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss from 1988. She appeared in the Tales from the Darkside television series in the 'In the Cards' episode (1985), in ALF as Maura Norris in the episode 'Tequila' (1988), Generations as Rebecca Whitmore (1990–1991), and in The Bold and the Beautiful as Bonnie Roberts (1991–1992).
However, her most notable soap opera role has been on All My Children as Opal Sue Gardner, for which she received two Emmy Awards -- as Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series in 1982 and for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 1983. Lyman attended high school with Jill Larson, the actress who would eventually succeed her in the role of Opal Gardner.
In an appearance on Vicki Lawrence's talk show Vicki!, Lyman noted that she continued to perform on All My Children concurrently with the beginning of Mama's Family's production, flying back and forth each week between New York and Los Angeles. While the commute was brutal, she remembered it fondly, referring to that stage of her career as "All My Paychecks."
When Mama's Family ended its run, Lyman went behind the camera, producing and directing a total of 75 episodes of The Nanny (all episodes of the third and fourth seasons, and all but four episodes of the fifth), even making a special guest appearance on the Fran Drescher sitcom. After Mama's Family ended in 1990, Lyman had a recurring role on Bob, Bob Newhart's third series. She also made a cameo appearance in I Love Trouble, a film starring Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts.
In 2007, Lyman guest-starred in the third season of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica as Starbuck's mother. Lyman is currently living in New York City after spending time in California. In California, she made a guest appearance on the TV sitcom Reba, playing Reba Hart's mother. She is only 8 years older than Reba McEntire who plays Reba.[2]
References
External links
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Elizabeth Hubbard, The Doctors (1974) · Susan Flannery, Days of our Lives (1975) · Helen Gallagher, Ryan's Hope (1976) · Helen Gallagher, Ryan's Hope (1977) · Laurie Heineman, Another World (1978) · Irene Dailey, Another World (1979) · Judith Light, One Life to Live (1980) · Judith Light, One Life to Live (1981) · Robin Strasser, One Life to Live (1982) · Dorothy Lyman, All My Children (1983)
Complete list: (1974–1983) · (1984–1993) · (1994–2003) · (2004–2013)
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Suzanne Rogers, Days of our Lives (1979) · Francesca James, All My Children (1980) · Jane Elliot, General Hospital (1981) · Dorothy Lyman, All My Children (1982) · Louise Shaffer, Ryan's Hope (1983) · Judi Evans, Guiding Light (1984) · Beth Maitland, The Young and the Restless (1985) · Leann Hunley, Days of our Lives (1986) · Kathleen Noone, All My Children (1987) · Ellen Wheeler, All My Children (1988) · Nancy Lee Grahn, Santa Barbara; Debbi Morgan, All My Children (1989)
Complete list: (1979–1989) · (1990–1999) · (2000–2009) · (2010–2019)
Categories:- 1947 births
- Actors from Minnesota
- American film actors
- American film directors
- American film producers
- American soap opera actors
- American television actors
- American television directors
- American television producers
- Daytime Emmy Award winners
- Female film directors
- Female television directors
- Living people
- People from Minneapolis, Minnesota
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