Nancy Walker (May 10, 1922 – March 25, 1992) was an American actress and comedienne of stage, screen, and television. She was also a film and television director (most notably of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, on which she also made several guest appearances). During her five-decade long career, she may be best remembered for her long-running roles as Mildred on McMillan & Wife and Ida Morgenstern, who first appeared on several episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and later became a prominent recurring character on the spinoff series Rhoda.

Biography

Nancy Walker was married twice. She had a daughter, Miranda, with her second husband, musical theater teacher David Craig. Craig died in 1998 at the age of 75 from lung cancer. Miranda Craig was an advertising copywriter who died at 47 from undisclosed causes in 2000.

Walker was also a close personal friend of the actor Montgomery Clift. His biographer Patricia Bosworth stated the two first met in 1948, but didn't become good friends until ten years later, after Clift's infamous car accident. Bosworth adds that Walker would sustain him as his dearest friend for the rest of his life; their relationship was one of mutual support, whereas most of Clift's friends assumed he needed to be looked after, or else left alone, Walker stated that 'he needed to be needed'. She also said 'I liked his face better after the accident; his strength shone through'. Clift nicknamed friends he felt particular affection for, and he called Walker 'Nanny'.