# Doris Grau

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Doris_Grau
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Doris_Grau.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Grau
> Source revision: 1354464372
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

American actress (1924-1995)

Doris Grau Born (1924-10-12)October 12, 1924 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Died December 30, 1995(1995-12-30) (aged 71) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Occupations Actress script supervisor

**Doris Grau** (October 12, 1924 – December 30, 1995) was an American actress and [script supervisor](/source/Script_supervisor) from [Brooklyn](/source/Brooklyn). After moving to [Hollywood](/source/Hollywood%2C_Los_Angeles) in 1940, she began her career supervising film and television scripts. She continued to do this until the 1990s and worked on films such as *[Point Blank](/source/Point_Blank_(1967_film))* and *[King Kong](/source/King_Kong_(1976_film))* and television shows such as *[Cheers](/source/Cheers)* and *[The Tracey Ullman Show](/source/The_Tracey_Ullman_Show)*. Grau did some acting in her later years, playing live-action and animated roles. On the sitcom *[The Simpsons](/source/The_Simpsons)*, she worked as a script supervisor and provided the voice of [Lunchlady Doris](/source/List_of_recurring_The_Simpsons_characters#Lunchlady_Doris) and other minor characters.

## Early life

Grau was born on October 12, 1924, in [Brooklyn, New York](/source/Brooklyn%2C_New_York). She moved to the [Hollywood](/source/Hollywood%2C_Los_Angeles) district in [Los Angeles, California](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California), as a teenager in 1940.[1][2] There she was soon hired as a [script supervisor](/source/Script_supervisor) for the production company [Columbia Pictures](/source/Columbia_Pictures).[1][2]

## Career

Grau supervised the script of the 1967 [crime film](/source/Crime_film) *[Point Blank](/source/Point_Blank_(1967_film))*, which revolves around a man named Walker (played by [Lee Marvin](/source/Lee_Marvin)) who sets out to find his friend who betrayed him during a robbery that they performed together and left with all the money for himself.[3] Grau was also the script supervisor of the 1976 remake of *[King Kong](/source/King_Kong_(1976_film))*.[4] She then supervised the scripts of the films *[The Champ](/source/The_Champ_(1979_film))* (1979), *[The Frisco Kid](/source/The_Frisco_Kid)* (1979), *[The Hunter](/source/The_Hunter_(1980_film))* (1980), *[The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper](/source/The_Pursuit_of_D._B._Cooper)* (1981), *[Caveman](/source/Caveman_(film))* (1981), *[Clue](/source/Clue_(film))* (1985), *[Marie](/source/Marie_(1985_film))* (1985), and *[No Way Out](/source/No_Way_Out_(1987_film))* (1987).[5] In the 1980s, she also supervised scripts of the television show *Coward of the County* (1982) and the television films *[The Shadow Riders](/source/The_Shadow_Riders_(film))* (1983), *Missing Children: A Mother's Story* (1983), *[Kenny Rogers as The Gambler: The Adventure Continues](/source/Kenny_Rogers_as_The_Gambler%3A_The_Adventure_Continues)* (1984), *Velvet* (1984), and *[My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn](/source/My_Wicked%2C_Wicked_Ways)* (1985).[5]

In 1986, Grau played a role in the television series *All Is Forgiven*.[5] Between 1986 and 1987, she played the character Corinne in a few episodes of the sitcom *[Cheers](/source/Cheers)*,[1] a show on which she had previously worked as script supervisor during seasons one and four.[6] Grau worked as a script supervisor on [Fox Broadcasting Company](/source/Fox_Broadcasting_Company)'s *[The Tracey Ullman Show](/source/The_Tracey_Ullman_Show)* (1987–1990), a variety show that featured among many things the first appearance of the fictional animated [Simpson family](/source/Simpson_family).[7] This family was later given their own animated series on Fox, called *[The Simpsons](/source/The_Simpsons)*, in 1989. Grau worked on that show as a script supervisor as well.[7] Grau also voiced some characters in *The Simpsons*. She is best known for lending her voice to [Lunchlady Doris](/source/Lunchlady_Doris), who speaks with a "gruff voice" according to *[The Journal Gazette](/source/The_Journal_Gazette)* editor Dean Robinson.[8] This character appeared on the show with Grau's voice between 1991 and 1997. Grau also worked as an actress on the animated series *[The Critic](/source/The_Critic_(TV_series))* that was created by writers of *The Simpsons* in 1994. She voiced the [chain-smoking](/source/Chain-smoking) character [Doris Grossman](/source/List_of_The_Critic_characters#Doris_Grossman), who is the make-up artist for the main character of the show.[9][10]

In 1992, Grau appeared in the supporting role of Hattie Rifkin in the film *[The Distinguished Gentleman](/source/The_Distinguished_Gentleman)*.[11] According to Philip Wuntch, film critic for *[The Dallas Morning News](/source/The_Dallas_Morning_News)*, Grau "has only a few lines as a senior citizen with old-time political savvy, but she makes every vocal inflection count."[12] *[The Patriot-News](/source/The_Patriot-News)*'s Sharon Johnson called her "a delight as the feisty senior citizens' lobbyist who first recognizes Johnson as a winner."[13]

Grau worked as a script supervisor on the sitcom *[Good Advice](/source/Good_Advice_(TV_series))* in 1993, and played characters in the sitcoms *[Phenom](/source/Phenom_(TV_series))* and *[The George Carlin Show](/source/The_George_Carlin_Show)* in 1994.[5] One of her last film appearances was a minor role in the 1995 film *[Babe](/source/Babe_(film))*, which is about a pig who wants to be a sheepdog.[1] She also appeared as the character Rose in the 1995 film *[Coldblooded](/source/Coldblooded_(film))* that tells the story of a member of the Mob who is promoted to [hitman](/source/Hitman) against his will.[14]

## Death

On December 30, 1995, aged 71, Grau died from [respiratory failure](/source/Respiratory_failure) at a hospital in Hollywood.[1] "[Team Homer](/source/Team_Homer)", an episode of the [seventh season](/source/The_Simpsons_season_7) of *The Simpsons* that aired on January 7, 1996, was dedicated to her memory.[8] Because some episodes of *The Simpsons* are produced long before they air, Grau's last appearance on the show was in the season 9 episode "[Lisa's Sax](/source/Lisa's_Sax)" (an episode originally produced for season 7) that aired on October 19, 1997. Her character, Lunchlady Doris on *The Simpsons* was retired out of respect (similar to the retirement of [Phil Hartman](/source/Phil_Hartman)'s characters). However, the character returned to the show after a decade-long absence in 2006 (voiced by [Tress MacNeille](/source/Tress_MacNeille) and renamed Lunchlady Dora.)[15]

## Filmography

### Film

Year Title Role Notes 1992 The Distinguished Gentleman Hattie Rifkin 1995 Coldblooded Rose 1995 Babe Country Woman (voice) Final role

### Television

Year Title Role Notes 1986-1987 Cheers Corinne 3 episodes 1988-1990 DuckTales Additional Voices (voice) 15 episodes 1991-1997 The Simpsons Lunchlady Doris, Various (voice) 22 episodes 1994 The George Carlin Show Mom Episode: "George Loses His Thermos" 1994-1995 The Critic Doris Grossman (voice) 23 episodes 1994 Phenom Mrs. Mackie Episode: "It's a Wonderful Mid-Life Crisis" 1994 Monty Elsa Episode: "Eggheads"

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Lentz_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Lentz_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Lentz_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Lentz_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Lentz_1-4) Lentz, Harris M. (1996). *Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 1995*. [McFarland & Co.](/source/McFarland_%26_Co.) p. 74. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7864-0253-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7864-0253-3).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DB_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DB_2-1) "Voice of 'Simpson' character dies". *[Daily Breeze](/source/Daily_Breeze)*. January 8, 1996. p. B2.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-films1971_3-0)** [*The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Feature Films, 1961-1970*](https://books.google.com/books?id=s1k1RsGvFwwC&q=%22Doris+Grau%22&pg=PA855). [University of California Press](/source/University_of_California_Press). 1971. pp. 855–856. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-520-20970-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-520-20970-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Morton_4-0)** Morton, Ray (2005). [*King Kong: The History of a Movie Icon from Fay Wray to Peter Jackson*](https://books.google.com/books?id=UPXbsJLVgCcC&q=%22Doris+Grau%22&pg=PT158). [Hal Leonard Corporation](/source/Hal_Leonard_Corporation). p. 145. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-55783-669-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-55783-669-4).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NYT_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NYT_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NYT_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-NYT_5-3) ["Doris Grau - Filmography"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121105000957/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/28294/Doris-Grau/filmography). Movies & TV Dept. *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. 2012. Archived from [the original](https://movies.nytimes.com/person/28294/Doris-Grau/filmography) on November 5, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bjorklund_6-0)** Bjorklund, Dennis A. (1997). [*Toasting Cheers*](https://books.google.com/books?id=hKbxOW2ONGEC&q=%22Doris+Grau%22&pg=PA304). Praetorian Publishing. pp. 262, 304. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-89950-962-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-89950-962-4).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cuprisin_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cuprisin_7-1) Cuprisin, Tim (January 9, 1996). "'Gold rush' victory - Packers score big ratings for WITI Nielsen ratings show that much of the region was tuned in". *[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel](/source/Milwaukee_Journal_Sentinel)*. p. 3.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Robinson_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Robinson_8-1) Robinson, Dean (January 8, 1996). "TBS premieres 'Survivors of the Holocaust'". *[The Journal Gazette](/source/The_Journal_Gazette)*. p. 4D.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Willistein_9-0)** Willistein, Paul (August 14, 1994). "'The Critic' moves to Fox". *[The Morning Call](/source/The_Morning_Call)*. p. T01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Richmond, Ray](/source/Ray_Richmond) (March 5, 1995). "Television - Jones tall in the saddle with 'Good Old Boys'". *[Daily News of Los Angeles](/source/Daily_News_of_Los_Angeles)*. p. L38.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Cameron-Wilson_11-0)** Cameron-Wilson, James (1993). [*Film Review*](https://books.google.com/books?id=iQgqAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Doris+Grau%22). [St. Martin's Press](/source/St._Martin's_Press). p. 36.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Wuntch_12-0)** Wuntch, Philip (December 4, 1992). "The Distinguished Gentleman - Not quite distinguished, but quite likable". *[The Dallas Morning News](/source/The_Dallas_Morning_News)*. p. 1C.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Johnson_13-0)** Johnson, Sharon (December 4, 1992). "The Distinguished Gentleman". *[The Patriot-News](/source/The_Patriot-News)*. p. C1.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Craddock_14-0)** Craddock, Jim (2005). [*Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever*](https://books.google.com/books?id=hRnQWgtuSKAC&q=%22Doris+Grau%22). Thomson/Gale. p. 184. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7876-7470-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7876-7470-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** "[The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer](/source/The_Mook%2C_the_Chef%2C_the_Wife_and_Her_Homer)". [*The Simpsons*](/source/The_Simpsons). Season 18. Episode 01. September 10, 2006.

## External links

- [Doris Grau](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0336064/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

Authority control databases: People Deutsche Synchronkartei

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Doris Grau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Grau) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Grau?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.