Doris Roberts Biography

Doris Roberts, actress

Birthdate: November 4, 1930

Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri

Sign: Scorpio

Doris May Roberts was the daughter of Larry and Ann Meltzer. After her father deserted them when she was a child, Roberts was raised by her mother and her Russian Jewish grandparents in The Bronx, New York. She took her stepfather Chester Roberts' last name.

She began her career in 1952 with a role on "Studio One." She also appeared on "The Naked City," "Ben Casey," and "The Defenders." Her film debut was in 1961's "Something Wild."

Roberts appeared in numerous films in 1970s, including the cult classic "The Honeymoon Killers" (1970), "Such Good Friends," "Little Murders," "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three," and "Ruby and Oswald."

She then received typecast roles as a mother or mother-in-law in TV and movies such as the sitcom "Angie" and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" film in 1979.

In 1996, she has gotten her most memorable role to date. She landed the role of Marie Barone on the multi award-winning series "Everybody Loves Raymond. She was nominated seven times and won four times for Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She also got another Emmy for her guest role on "St. Elsewhere" and another nomination for "Remington Steele."

In 2003, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Roberts wrote a book in 2005 with Danielle Morton titled "Are You Hungry, Dear? Life, Laughs, and Lasagna." She also received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from University of South Carolina in the same year.

Roberts was married twice. His first husband was Michael Cannata, whom she divorced in 1962. They have one son, Michael Cannata Jr., who is also her manager.

In 1963, she married writer William Goyen. He died from leukemia in 1983.