Lindley Audra

American stage and screen actress, most famous for her role as the wisecracking, perpetually unfulfilled, and sexually frustrated landlady Helen Roper on the sitcom Threes Company (1977) and its spin-off The Ropers (1979). She wore a wig to maintain the character’s exaggerated hairstyle. Previously, she played manipulative Aunt Liz Matthews on the soap opera Another World (1964-1969), Meredith Baxters mother in the sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie (1972-1973) and Lee Grant’s best friend Lillian in the sitcom Fay (1975-1976). Lindley went on to garner parts in various films and TV series, including playing Phoebe Buffays grandmother on Friends, and Cybill Shepherds mother on the sitcom Cybill both in the 1990s. She initially made her career on the stage, moving to New York in 1943 in her mid-20s to work in theatre. Among her many Broadway plays during her long career were On Golden Pond, Long Days Journey into Night, and Horse Heavens. Lindley was married to Hardy Ulm, with whom she had five children, from 1943 until his death in 1970. She was then married to actor James Whitmore from 1972 to 1979. Lindley died of leukaemia on 16 October 1997 at age 79 at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less