Marilyn Sokol

Marilyn Sokol
Born
Marilyn Roberta Sokol

(1944-02-22) February 22, 1944 (age 80)
Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.
OccupationActress
AwardsObie Award, Bistro Award

Marilyn Roberta Sokol (born February 22, 1944) is an American actress, musician, comedian, and producer, perhaps best known for her roles as Lulu Brecht in Can't Stop the Music (1980)[1] and as Ma Otter in Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977).[2] She has received an Emmy Award, Obie Award, and a Bistro Award.[3]

Biography

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She lives in New York City and has appeared in film, television as well as in theatre on Broadway, off-Broadway and regional theatres.

Sokol was born February 22, 1944, in the Bronx, New York City, and attended Calvin Coolidge High School in Washington, D.C., and New York University. She began her professional career in 1966 as a belly dancer in the national production of Man of La Mancha. She won an Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress in 1972 for her performance in a Chelsea Theater Center production of The Beggar's Opera.[4][5] In 1977, she voiced Ma Otter in Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. In 1980, she was nominated for Worst Supporting Actress at the 1st Golden Raspberry Awards for her role in Can't Stop the Music.[6] She has worked as a comedian, singer, and cabaret performer.[7][8] In 2012-2013, she starred in the off-Broadway production Old Jews Telling Jokes.[9][10] She has taught as a distinguished lecturer in the theatre program at Lehman College.[11] She also portrayed Agnes Vertrulli on the web series Submissions Only in 2014.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1971 The Hospital Lady Lib. Uncredited
1976 The Front Sandy
1977 The Goodbye Girl Linda
1978 Foul Play Stella
1979 Something Short of Paradise Ruthie Miller
1980 The Last Married Couple in America Alice Squib
1980 Can't Stop the Music Lulu Brecht
1988 Crocodile Dundee II Doris
1989 Family Business Marie
1994 Men Lie Porno Witness
1995 The Basketball Diaries Chanting Woman
1999 Man on the Moon Madame
2002 Big Apple Ms. Callahan
2005 The Producers Bag Lady
2008 Lucky Days Cherie
2011 Musical Chairs Mrs. Greenbaum
2011 Wounded Warrior Grandma Grace Short
2015 Unplugging Aunt Vera Aunt Vera Short
2015 Sam Mrs. Goldfarb
2019 Almost Love Peggy

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1972-1992 Sesame Street Various Muppets Recurring role
1977 Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas Ma Otter Voice, TV movie
1977 Barney Miller Dr. Lorraine Dooley "Sex Surrogate"
1977 All That Glitters Farrah Abuban
1980 Scalpels Dr. Betty Hacker TV movie
1982 Sesame Street Camp Director Aunt May On camera appearance, 5 episodes
1986 Joe Bash Betty "Joe's First Partner"
1991 Law & Order Marilee Katz "His Hour Upon the Stage"
1996 Law & Order Mrs. Levine "Encore"
1996 All My Children
1999 Sex and the City Dr. Velma Rubin "The Awful Truth"
2000 Between the Lions The Strange Old Woman "Sausage Nose"
2011 Are We There Yet? Old Woman "The Salsa Episode"
2014 Submissions Only Agnes Vetrulli Main role
2015 Difficult People Older Woman "Pilot"

Notable theater productions

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  • Year Boston Won the Pennant (1969)
  • The Great God Brown, Cybel, Dec. 10, 1972 - Jan. 13, 1973
  • Don Juan, Matherine, Dec. 11, 1972 - Jan. 13, 1973
  • Elephant Steps (1974) (in the role of Ragtime Lady, her performance of "Watch Me Put My Right Foot Through the Door" has been captured on the cast album)
  • Welcome to the Club, Arlene Metzler, Apr. 13 - 22, 1989
  • Guilt Without Sex (one woman show, 1991)[12]
  • Conversations with My Father, Hannah de Blinde, Mar. 22, 1992 - Mar. 14, 1993
  • Shlemiel the First (1994-1997)
  • Angel Levine (1995)
  • Sam and Itkeh (1997)
  • If Memory Serves (1999)
  • Closet Chronicles (2003)
  • In the Wings (2005)
  • Old Jews Telling Jokes (2012)

References

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  1. ^ Maslin, Janet (June 20, 1980). "'CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC'". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Full Resume - Marilyn Sokol". Marilyn Sokol Official Website. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  3. ^ Van Benthuysen, Gretchen (February 29, 2000). "Death becomes Paper Mill cast". Asbury Park Press. Gannett. p. 43. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  4. ^ Ellen Stern, "Suddenly It's Sokol", New York, October 24, 1977.
  5. ^ Audrey Berman, "17th Annual 'Obies'", The Village Voice, May 11, 1972.
  6. ^ "Razzie Worst Supporting Actress nominees". www.listal.com. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  7. ^ Stephen Holden, "Cabaret: Marilyn Sokol Sings", The New York Times, February 4, 1984.
  8. ^ Stephen Holden, "Cabaret: Marilyn Sokol", The New York Times, September 10, 1987.
  9. ^ Zinoman, Jason (May 20, 2012). "Such a Tradition of Humor, and This Is Only a Revue?". The New York Times.
  10. ^ Neal Conan, "'Old Jews' Take Jokes To The Stage", Talk of the Nation, June 14, 2012.
  11. ^ "Professor Sokol Praised for Role in 'Love Divided By/Times Three'", Lehman College, October 21, 2010.
  12. ^ Stephen Holden, "Review/Cabaret; Marilyn Sokol's Way With Guilt", February 7, 1991.
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Preceded by
None
Performer of Betty Lou
1974 - 1975
Succeeded by