Georgia Engel passed away on Friday at the age of 70. According to ABC News, her friend said the cause of death is unknown because she was a Christian Scientist.
Engel is best known for playing the lovable, naive Georgette, who was smarter than everyone thought, on The Mary Tyler Moore. From that show on, she continued to act, sing and dance on television and on the stage. In fact, her last role was One Day at a Time just last year.
Between those two shows, her big welcoming smile was seen on Mork & Mindy, Coach, Passions, The Office, Two and a Half Men and Hot In Cleveland to name a few.
Along with those roles, she had a memorable one as Brad Garrett’s sweet and innocent mother-in-law with a little bit of a naughty side to her. To me that perfectly sums up the actress, she looks so sweet and innocent, but you can tell there is just some so naughty about her.
She just had a way about her that drew you to her. Her comedic timing came naturally. I have been watching her in repeats of The Mary Tyler Moore Show on Sundance Channel, and the newbie held her own against all of those comedic legends. In fact, sometimes she was even better than all of them. There was just so much light in that little package.
Today honor the Tinkerbell of the Hell’s Angels, as Don Rickles described her as, in one of her many great roles. Remember her with a smile as big as hers because I am sure that is how she would want to be remembered.
