Nancy Marchand's mother, a pianist, sent her shy daughter to acting
classes in hopes of breaking her out of her shell. As a student at
Carnegie Tech (Carnegie Mellon University), she studied the works of
William Shakespeare and the
other great playwrights and, upon graduation, set off for New York City.
She received acclaim in the part of the tavern hostess in Shakespeare's
"The Taming of the Shrew" at the City Center in 1951. Her list of
theater works include "The Cocktail Hour" and "The Balcony" (an Obie for both), "White Lies and Black Comedy" (Tony nominations for
both), "The Octette Bridge Club" and "Morning's at Seven". She worked
at many of the great theaters in the United States, including the
Brattle Theatre, Long Wharf, Lincoln Center Repertory Company and the
Goodman Theatre. During her illustrious theater career, she
won the role of Mrs. Pynchon in the TV series
Lou Grant (1977) with
Ed
Asner, for which she won four Emmys. Her last
accolade was her role as Livia Soprano in HBO's
The Sopranos (1999), for which
she won a Golden Globe.
The Sopranos(1999)as Livia Soprano
Dear God(1996)as Judge Kits Van Heynigan
Sabrina(1995)as Maude Larrabee
Reckless(1995)as Grandmother
Jefferson in Paris(1995)as Madame Abbesse
The 42nd Annual New York Emmy Awards(1999)as Self - Presenter
NY TV: By the People Who Made It - Part I & II(1998)as Self
The 48th Annual Tony Awards(1994)as Self - Nominee
Working in the Theatre(1976)as Self
Grandpa, Will You Run with Me?(1983)as Self - Sketch Performer
Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos(2024)as Self
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple(2024)as Self - Actor
CBS News Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley(1979)as Self
Rock Center with Brian Williams(2011)as Livia Soprano (segment: High Anxiety)
The Sopranos: A Sitdown(2007)as Livia Soprano
