Marion Ross

Although most television viewers knew Marion Ross from "Happy Days" (ABC, 1974-1985), the actress had already logged some twenty years on screen before landing the role of "Mrs. C" on the popular sitcom. Prior to the series, she was frequently seen as professional types - nurses, teachers, secretaries and the like - in countless television shows and feature films. After "Happy Days" ran its course in the 1984, she returned to regular guest appearances on TV, many of which alternately paid tribute to or spoofed her status as Beloved Television Mom, as well as stints on Broadway. A frequent Emmy nominee, she took home two Q Awards for her turn as a post-WWII Jewish mom in the short-lived "Brooklyn Bridge" (CBS, 1991-93), marking Ross as one of the more talented, but underappreciated actresses working in Hollywood.