Marcia Wallace

Marcia Wallace – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Learn about Marcia Wallace (November 1, 1942 – October 25, 2013), the American actress and comedian best known as Carol Kester on The Bob Newhart Show and the voice of Edna Krabappel on The Simpsons. Explore her biography, career achievements, personal struggles, and inspiring quotes.

Introduction

Marcia Karen Wallace was a dynamic American actress, comedian, and voice artist whose career spanned over five decades. The Bob Newhart Show and for voicing the iconic — and sardonic — schoolteacher Edna Krabappel in The Simpsons. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for her work as Edna.

Early Life and Education

Marcia Wallace was born on November 1, 1942, in Creston, Iowa, the eldest of three children. Wallace Sundries, where Marcia and her siblings sometimes helped.

During her youth, she endured a troubled family environment involving alcoholism and physical abuse.

After graduating from Creston High School in 1960, she received a full scholarship to Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, where she majored in English and theatre. Brigadoon and The Music Man.

Career & Turning Points

Early Struggles & Moves to New York

On the very day she graduated college, Wallace moved to New York City with just $148 in her pocket.

She also worked with an improvisational group called The Fourth Wall, performing off-Broadway. 100 pounds, which changed both her appearance and acting opportunities.

Frequent appearances on The Merv Griffin Show (over 75 times) brought her recognition. The Bob Newhart Show, creating the role of Carol Kester specifically for her.

Breakthrough: The Bob Newhart Show

From 1972 to 1978, Wallace played Carol Kester (later Bondurant), the witty and sometimes sarcastic receptionist to Bob Newhart’s character, Dr. Robert Hartley.

After The Bob Newhart Show ended, Wallace continued to appear on many game shows (e.g., Match Game, Hollywood Squares, Password Plus, The $25,000 Pyramid). Bewitched, The Brady Bunch, ALF, Murder, She Wrote, Magnum, P.I., Full House, among others.

The Simpsons & Voice Acting

In 1989, Wallace joined The Simpsons voice cast as Edna Krabappel, the chain-smoking, disillusioned yet memorable fourth-grade teacher in Springfield. Primetime Emmy Award in 1992 for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance (for the episode “Bart the Lover”).

On film, Wallace appeared in titles like Teen Witch, My Mom’s a Werewolf, Ghoulies III, Big Stan, Tru Loved, and lent her voice in Monsters University.

On stage, she performed in productions such as An Almost Perfect Person, The Odd Couple (female version), Same Time, Next Year, Born Yesterday, Steel Magnolias, and others.

Personal Life, Challenges & Advocacy

Wallace married Dennis Hawley, a hotelier, in 1986 in a Buddhist ceremony. Michael “Mikey” Hawley.

Before marriage, Wallace was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1985. She survived and then became a vocal advocate for cancer awareness, early detection, and support for patients. Gilda Radner Courage Award in 2007.

She also revealed struggles with bulimia, a nervous breakdown, and mental health challenges in her personal life, particularly in her autobiography Don't Look Back, We're Not Going That Way (2004).

Illness, Death & Legacy

Marcia Wallace passed away on October 25, 2013, in Los Angeles from pneumonia and sepsis, with breast cancer listed as a significant contributing condition on her death certificate. 70 years old at the time. cremated following a private funeral service.

On The Simpsons, the show paid tribute: her character Edna Krabappel was retired, and the chalkboard gag in an episode read, “We’ll really miss you Mrs. K”.

Famous Quotes & Personal Reflections

Here are several quotes attributed to Marcia Wallace, reflecting her wit, insight, and lived experience:

• “I’m in awe of people out there who deal with Alzheimer’s, because they have to deal with death 10 times over, year after year.”

• “I don’t know what religious people do. I kind of wished I’d been a Christian with the blind faith that God is doing the right thing. As a Buddhist, you feel like you have more control over the situation, and that you can change your karma.”

• “I think illness is a family journey, no matter what the outcome.”

These reflections highlight her contemplative side, especially her grappling with mortality, faith, and suffering.

Lessons & Insights

1. Humor as survival and connection
   Wallace used comedy not just to entertain but to engage, heal, and connect, even amidst personal pain and struggle.

2. Reinvention and resilience
   From early hardships, weight struggles, and career setbacks, she continuously reinvented herself—on stage, television, and voice acting.

3. Advocacy born from experience
   Her journey with breast cancer transformed into advocacy; she didn’t remain a private survivor but chose to help others by speaking out.

4. Legacy through characters
   Through Carol and Edna, she left indelible marks: Carol’s dry wit and Edna’s weary sarcasm remain beloved parts of television history.

5. Authenticity in vulnerability
   Her openness about mental health, loss, and struggle made her more human and relatable, not less.

Conclusion

Marcia Wallace’s life was a tapestry of laughter, perseverance, creativity, and compassion. She navigated the pressures of Hollywood, personal tragedy, and the challenges of health with courage and authenticity. From her bright red hair and unmistakable laugh to her unforgettable voicing of Mrs. Krabappel, she remains a cherished icon in American comedy and animation.