Marjorie Gross

Marjorie Gross (April 18, 1956 – June 7, 1996) was a Canadian comedian best known for her work as a television writer and producer. She wrote for ''Seinfeld'', ''Newhart'', ''The Larry Sanders Show'', '' Get a Life'' and ''Square Pegs''.

Biography

Marjorie Gross was born April 18, 1956 in New York City, while her mother was visiting family in the city. She was raised in Toronto, Ontario. She attended school at Branksome Hall, where she was known as a class clown. She started her career in comedy doing stand-up at local clubs, later moving to New York City. At the age of 19, Gross auditioned for ''Saturday Night Live''. She didn't land a role on the show but became friends with members of the casts including Dan Akroyd and Gilda Radner.

One of only a few women stand-up comics in the 1980s, she performed at Catch a Rising Star, the Comic Strip and the Improvisation. In a 1984 ''The New York Times'' article about the challenges faced by women comics, Gross questioned the impact of higher-profile women in comedy: "Joan Rivers doesn't change the status quo much. ..'Get the ring, the husband, the coat' - for Carson that works. He says, 'Yeah, that's what women should have. Coats, rings. That sits right with me.'"

Gross began writing for television in 1981, when she joined the sitcom Square Pegs. She wrote for numerous other television shows such as ''Newhart'' and ''Alf''. Gross worked as a supervising producer on the first season of ''The Larry Sanders Show'', and wrote "Out of the Loop", the 8th episode of the season. She also served as writer and producer on '' Get a Life'' starring Chris Elliott. While writing for TV she continued to perform at stand-up clubs and appeared on ''The David Letterman Show''. She also appeared in various theatrical performances including the off-Broadway production ''The Trojan Woman'' at Club 57 and the Callboard Theater production of ''Livin Dolls'' in Los Angeles.

Gross joined Seinfeld as a writer in 1994. She wrote four episodes: "The Fusilli Jerry", " The Understudy", "The Shower Head" and "The Secretary". Bette Midler was a longtime friend: according to co-writer Carol Leifer, Midler's appearance in ''The Understudy'' was secured because of this connection after other big-name actresses declined the role. In 1996, Gross was an Emmy Award nominee for her work on Seinfeld.

Death

Gross died on June 7, 1996 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, in Los Angeles at age 40. " The Foundation", ''Seinfeld''s eighth-season premiere was dedicated to her memory.

Shortly before her death from ovarian cancer, she wrote the article "''Cancer Becomes Me''", which appeared in the print edition of the April 15, 1996 issue of ''The New Yorker''. She tried to find humor in the situation by joking that she wanted to hold on until November 1996, so that she would not have to risk being re-incarnated as Madonna's child (as Madonna was pregnant).

Gross was the first cousin of Canadian comedian and writer Spencer Rice, who described her as his hero.

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gross, Marjorie
1956 births
1996 deaths
Jewish Canadian writers
Canadian television producers
Canadian women television producers
Canadian television writers
Deaths from cancer in California
Deaths from ovarian cancer
Writers from New York City
Canadian women television writers
20th-century Canadian women writers
20th-century Canadian writers
Canadian women screenwriters
20th-century Canadian screenwriters
Canadian expatriates in the United States