Ann Morgan Guilbert, Millie on ‘Dick Van Dyke Show,’ dies at 87

Ann Morgan Guilbert, beloved as the next-door neighbor on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and seen recently on CBS’ comedy “Life in Pieces,” has died.

Ann Morgan Guilbert, sometimes credited as Ann Guilbert, was an American television and film actress, who portrayed a number of roles, from the 1950s on, most notably as Millie Helper in 61 episodes of the early 1960s sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show, and later Yetta Rosenberg, Fran Fine’s doddering grandmother, in 56 episodes of the 1990s sitcom The Nanny.

Guilbert died of cancer in Los Angeles on Tuesday, her daughter Nora Eckstein said. She was 87.

Recent TV appearances included a starring role on the hospital comedy “Getting On” and a guest shot on “Grey’s Anatomy.” She was a regular as feisty Grandma Yetta on the 1990s sitcom “The Nanny,” and in the early 1960s, played Millie Helper, Laura Petrie’s gabby pal, on the acclaimed “Van Dyke” series.

She starred in Nicole Holofcener’s 2010 Sundance Film Festival selection, “Please Give.”

Guilbert began her career as a featured performer and singer in the Billy Barnes Revues of the 1950s and 1960s.

Guilbert was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Dr. Gerald Guilbert, a physician, and his wife, Cornelia. She attended Solomon Juneau High School, and after moving to San Francisco, she studied theater arts at Stanford University.

After The Dick Van Dyke Show, she made guest appearances on many other television shows, including Adam-12 (the premiere episode), as well as The Andy Griffith Show, Love, American Style, That Girl, Dragnet, Picket Fences, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

She appeared in such feature films as A Guide for the Married Man, Viva Max!, Grumpier Old Men (as the mother of Sophia Loren’s character), and Please Give, for which she received the CFA for Best Supporting Actress.

In December 2004, she appeared in the reunion of The Nanny titled The Nanny Reunion: A Nosh to Remember with Fran Drescher, Lauren Lane, Rachel Chagall and other cast members of The Nanny.

Guilbert was married to writer and producer George Eckstein from 1953 until their divorce in 1966. They had two children together, actress Hallie Todd and acting coach Nora Eckstein. Her second marriage, to Guy Raymond, lasted from 1967 until his death in 1997.

Guilbert died of cancer in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, her daughter Nora Eckstein said. She was 87.

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