# Georgia Engel has died **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620 "2019-04-16T13:53:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/1 "2019-04-16T13:53:02Z")
[Story](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/15/obituaries/georgia-engel-dead.html?action=click&module=News&pgtype=Homepage). Ted Baxter’s love and she of the breathy voice and confused air on Mary Tyler Moore. She was apparently a Christian Scientist, so never saw doctors, so the cause of death at age 70 is unknown at this point. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/2 "2019-04-16T13:59:57Z")
Loved her as Georgette on _MTM,_ and also as Amy’s mom on _Everybody Loves Raymond._ RIP. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/3 "2019-04-16T14:19:33Z")
The episode of \*\*\*MTM \*\*\*where she performed “Steam Heat” was on CHCH last week. The show was \*\*so \*\*much better when it focused on the supporting characters instead of Mary’s love life. RIP, Georgia. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/4 "2019-04-16T14:22:50Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Loved her as Georgette on _MTM,_ and also as Amy’s mom on _Everybody Loves Raymond._ RIP. Oh, gosh, yes. The few eps with her and Fred Willard as the parents are some of my favorites, especially the one where they find out she secretly smokes. “You know I love you with all my heart Hank, but I think if I didn’t have my cigarettes… I’d have to fight you!” said in her one of a kind voice. RIP, sweet Georgia. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/5 "2019-04-16T14:37:48Z")
She also made a couple of appearances on _Mork & Mindy_. She married Exidor and just as quickly divorced him. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/6 "2019-04-16T14:39:01Z")
Oh, damn. She had the ditzy-but-sweet thing down cold. I thought she was wonderful in _Mary Tyler Moore_, but I most remember her for the scatterbrained Mrs. Tottendale in _[The Drowsy Chaperone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8Pu98ViG_4)_. She originated the role on Broadway; I saw her in a touring version of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/7 "2019-04-16T16:18:23Z")
Damn, she was only 23 when she was cast on MTM. She must have either been terrified that those veterans would chew her up and spit her out, or else the most supremely confident human in history! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/8 "2019-04-16T16:32:21Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Damn, she was only 23 when she was cast on MTM. She must have either been terrified that those veterans would chew her up and spit her out, or else the most supremely confident human in history! She’d been in the theater prior to MTM, so I don’t think she was too cowed by them. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/9 "2019-04-16T18:55:40Z")
She sure looked older than 23 on MTM. I was surprised to hear she was only 70 years old. I could make a snarky comment about Christian Science, but as an ex-JW, I have no room to talk. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/10 "2019-04-16T18:58:28Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > She sure looked older than 23 on MTM. I was surprised to hear she was only 70 years old. Concur with bells on. RIP, Georgia. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/11 "2019-04-16T19:26:48Z")
I remember her as Les Nesman’s groupie/girlfriend on _WKRP in Cincinatti_. I agree with others that I am surprised she was only 70. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/12 "2019-04-16T19:37:09Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > I remember her as Les Nesman’s groupie/girlfriend on _WKRP in Cincinatti_. My bad, I looked it up, and it turns out [that wasn’t her](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0130223/), I could have sworn it was Georgia. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/13 "2019-04-16T22:14:08Z")
I knew Betty White was still living, but I had no idea that Lou, Murray, Rhoda and Phyllis were above ground. I have a vague memory of Ed Asner passing away many years ago, which obviously didn’t happen. ETA: Holy shit, look at Ed Asner’s imdb page: [Edward Asner - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000799/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/14 "2019-04-16T22:50:40Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I have a vague memory of Ed Asner passing away many years ago, which obviously didn’t happen… Or did it, in your timeline? Maybe we can add The Asner Effect to [Mandela’s](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=postreply&t=872240)… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/15 "2019-04-16T23:42:12Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I knew Betty White was still living, but I had no idea that Lou, Murray, Rhoda and Phyllis were above ground. I have a vague memory of Ed Asner passing away many years ago, which obviously didn’t happen. > > ETA: Holy shit, look at Ed Asner’s imdb page: [Edward Asner - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000799/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) She and Betty White were best friends, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/16 "2019-04-16T23:50:25Z")
She had what I think was the funniest line in the history of the MTM show. Minutes before her wedding, Mary pulled her aside to confirm she was sure about marrying Ted Baxter. Georgette answered in the affirmative. “Then, you do love him?”, asked Mary. “Oh yes”, nodded Georgette. _“Somebody has to”_ ---
**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/17 "2019-04-17T01:56:11Z")
Georgia very kindly gave me an endorsement for my book on TV comedy, since it talks about Mary Tyler Moore and Everybody Loves Raymond. She’ll definitely be missed. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/18 "2019-04-17T02:21:26Z")
I was also surprised she was only 70. I assumed she was at least Mary’s contemporary. Georgia was only 4 months older than I am. RIP, Georgia. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/19 "2019-04-17T14:06:51Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I knew Betty White was still living, but I had no idea that Lou, Murray, Rhoda and Phyllis were above ground. I have a vague memory of Ed Asner passing away many years ago, which obviously didn’t happen. Murray and Rhoda are the ones that surprise me. I haven’t seen Gavin in anything since the 80s, and last I heard Valerie Harper has been battling cancer for at least a decade, with people saying she was in her final days as far back as 2016. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-engel-has-died/832620/20 "2019-04-18T16:44:48Z")
We are currently watching _Mork & Mindy_ as our nightly retro sitcom. She appeared on it twice as Ambrosia Malspar. Think Georgette and Ted were an odd pair? Try Ambrosia and Exidor.