Marsha Warfield

Marsha Warfield
Born Marsha Francine Warfield
(1954-03-05) March 5, 1954
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation Stand-up comedian, actress
Years active 1977–1999
Website marshawarfield.com

Marsha Francine Warfield (born March 5, 1954) is an American actress and comedian. She grew up on Chicago's South Side,[1] graduating from Calumet High School. She is best known for her 1986–92 role of Roz Russell on the Top 10 rated NBC sitcom Night Court. Roz was the tough, no-nonsense bailiff in Judge Stone's court.[2][3] Warfield also starred in the sitcom Empty Nest as Dr. Maxine Douglas (1993–95). Before Night Court, she was a writer and performer on the short-lived Richard Pryor Show.[3]

Warfield appeared in feature films such as D.C. Cab (1983) and Mask (1985), hosted The Marsha Warfield Show for ten months (March 1990–January 1991) and has made guest appearances on many television shows, including Riptide, Family Ties, Clueless, Cheers, Living Single, In Living Color, Moesha and Star Dates. She has also done stand-up comedy including appearances on the Norm Crosby hosted The Comedy Shop television series.[4]

Personal life

In 2017, Warfield publicly came out stating, "When I told my mother I was gay, she said she knew, and had known all my life. Then, she asked me not to come out publicly while she was alive. I agreed, even though the request and her admission were hurtful in ways I couldn't put my finger on then, and probably haven't completely worked through now. But, everybody who knew me, knew I was gay. The people I didn't tell knew anyway, and tacitly agreed to pretend that the unacknowledged had been acknowledged and accepted. Like I'm sure is true for millions of other glass door closeted people. When I went to bars, which was frequently, I never tried to hide who I was. So, it was an open secret. Had I never come out publicly, many, many people would have known. It would not then have ever really been a betrayal of trust to "spill the beans." Because it wasn't a secret, it was an uncomfortably kept promise to my mother. But, it was also not the only reason I didn't come out swinging when she passed. The fear of the judgment of strangers and their holier-than-thou "shoulds" was at least as big of a burden to bear. But the "shoulds" that "should" matter don't. Nobody should have to hide their sexuality. No parent should ask their child to. There should be no shame in being gay."[5][6]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978That Thing on ABCPerformerTelevision film
1981The Marva Collins StoryLela BolandTelevision film
1982They Call Me Bruce?Inmate # 2
1983D.C. CabOphelia
1985MaskHomeroom Teacher
1985Anything for LoveCleoTelevision film
1986The Whoopee BoysOfficer White
1988Caddyshack IIRoyette Tyler
1989Who Shrunk Saturday MorningMs. BagwindTelevision film
1997Doomsday RockTelevision film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977The Richard Pryor ShowVarious3 episodes
1979Legends of the SuperheroesWoman in Phone BoothEpisode: "The Challenge"
1984RiptideMax4 episodes
1984Family TiesDoris BradshawEpisode: "Keaton and Son"
1985CheersRoxanne BrewsterEpisode: "The Belles of St. Clete's"
1986–1992Night CourtRosalind "Roz" Russell135 episodes
1993Hangin' With Mr. CooperBeverly, Mark's SisterEpisode: "Boys Don't Leave"
1993–1995Empty NestDr. Maxine Douglas50 episodes
1993The Addams FamilyMail CarrierEpisode: "Jack and Jill and the Beanstalk/Festerman Returns/Hand Delivered"
1993Saved by the Bell: The College YearsMarsha WarfieldEpisode: "A Thanksgiving Story"
1994The John Larroquette ShowDexter's SisterEpisode: "Date Night"
1996Touched by an AngelBebe MenaroEpisode: "The Quality of Mercy"
1996CybillHerselfEpisode: "An Officer and a Thespian"
1996ABC Afterschool SpecialNurseEpisode: "Me and My Hormones"
1997Dave's WorldMrs. AlexanderEpisode: "Does the Whale Have to Be White?"
1997Smart GuyMrs. Dowling2 episodes
1997Mad About YouBirth InstructorEpisode: "Dry Run"
1997Goode BehaviorEpisode: "Goode Cop, Bad Cop"
1997Living SingleAgnes Finch2 episodes
1997MoeshaTracy JacksonEpisode: "My Mom's Not an Ottoman
1998CluelessSgt. MeanyEpisode: "The Joint"
1999Love Boat: The Next WaveJudge Nancy WatsonEpisode: "Divorce, Downbeat and Distemper"
1999Veronica's ClosetShirleyEpisode: "Veronica's Sliding Doors"

References

  1. ↑ Jesse and Jill (9 February 2018). "Marsha Warfield talks early days of comedy, coming out and her South Side ties (Audio)". soundcloud.com/vocalo/. Sound Cloud. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  2. ↑ Kaufman, Joanne (15 February 1988). "Marsha Warfield Won't Be Fenced in by the Jinx of TV's Night Court". PEOPLE.com. Time Inc. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  3. 1 2 Scott, Jesse (September 21, 2016). "Back in the game: All rise for Marsha Warfield". Fredericksburg.com.
  4. ↑ AIRED: 9/29/78. "The Comedy Shop Season 1 Episode 4 Featuring: Marsha Warfield". tv.com. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  5. ↑ "Log In or Sign Up to View". www.facebook.com.
  6. ↑ Wells, Veronica (11 December 2017). "Comedian Marsha Warfield: My Mom Asked Me To Wait Until She Was Dead To Come Out, Not Mad At Patti LaBelle For "Outing" Luther". MadameNoire.com. Madame Noire. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
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