ANN Morgan Guilbert, best known for her role as Mrs. Yetta on the 90s sitcom The Nanny, has died at the age of 87.
Guilbert died of cancer in Los Angeles on Tuesday, her daughter Nora Eckstein said.
Her former Nanny co-star Fran Drescher tweeted today: “A wonderful actress! Thank you Annie. Thank you for all the laughs! May you laugh in heaven!”
Guilbert also played the next-door neighbor on The Dick Van Dyke Show and more recently starred in the hospital comedy Getting On and guest-starred on Grey’s Anatomy.
But the role she will be best remembered for is Yetta Rosenberg on The Nanny, which aired from 1993 to 1999.
Here are some fun facts about the hit sitcom:
How it came to be: Fran Drescher was on a plane from France to the United States when she noticed the head of CBS television was also on the flight.
She had always wanted to star in her own show, so she spent a few minutes in the plane’s bathroom cheering herself up before introducing herself to the television executive. Drescher charmed him, and he agreed to meet with her later to discuss some ideas. A year later, The Nanny was released.
Age difference: The actress who played Yetta (Ann Morgan Guilbert) was actually only five years older than the actress who played Fran’s mother, Sylvia (played by Renée Taylor).
Accent: According to IMDB, fans of the show in the UK often write to complain about Charles Shaughnessy’s (who plays Mr Sheffield) British accent. They suggest that he learn the accent of Daniel Davis (who plays the butler Niles). These complaints are a slap in the face to Shaughnessy, as he was actually born in London, while Davis was born in Arkansas.
Grace Sheffield hates the show: Madeline Zima (who plays Grace Sheffield) didn’t enjoy her six years on The Nanny. “It wasn’t a fun experience,” Zima told The TV. “They treated me like a prop rather than a person.”
Friends instead of actors: Several characters on The Nanny were played or named after Fran Drescher’s friends and family. In real life, just like in the show, Fran’s parents are called Sylvia and Morty, and her sister is called Nadine. Her real-life father has appeared in the show multiple times, both playing Fine’s father Morty and Uncle Stanley.
Dog: Remember CC’s dog Chester? There was a running joke in the show that Chester hated CC and kept running away. However, the Pomeranian loved Fran Fine, which is no surprise since Chester is actually Drescher’s dog in real life.
CC: In the final episode of the show, it was revealed that CC’s real name is Chastity Claire.
