Summary

It was one of the define series of the 1980s , but some lover inquire who died fromMama ’s Family . Devised as a spinoff of the recurring sketch " The Family " onThe Carol Burnett Show , Mama ’s Familyfurther search the world of " Mama " Harper ( Vicki Lawrence ) and her wacky kinfolk . foot up right where the character left off from their sketch origins , Mama ’s Familyintroduced more of the Harper clan and even insure the return of cast members fromThe Carol Burnett Show . Mama ’s Familyhad an impressive six - time of year discharge and was an even bigger hit in syndication .

Lawrence , the sketch ’s original champion , was on hand for all six time of year of the sitcom ’s runnel , and she was the glue that held the plaster cast together . ThoughMama ’s Familyended up canceled after two seasons , it found popularity in syndication and finish up revived for four more seasons . As is normally the case withthe most rewatchable situation comedy , Mama ’s Familyfeatured a mix of full - clock time cast members and one - off guest principal who avail to zest up each installment . In the last , the mischance of the Harper folk kept viewers tune up in for more .

Three season ofMama ’s Familyare usable to teem on PlutoTV , but the full series is usable to buy from Amazon , AppleTV , Vudu , and GooglePlay .

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Vicki Lawrence

Born On March 26, 1949

The titular " Mama " of the show ’s claim , Vicki Lawrence , reprise her role fromThe Carol Burnett Showas the sassy and wisecrack Thelma " Mama " Harper . Lawrence ’s big break came as a member ofTheCarol Burnett Show , and her year as a part of the shape ofMama ’s Familywas an extension of the earliest show ’s popularity . She also occasionally bet alongside another character reference — Eunice Higgins ( Carol Burnett ) — on the show . Lawrence recapitulate Mama on stage forVicki Lawrence & Mama : A Two - Woman Show .

AfterMama ’s Family , Lawrence made sporadic guest appearances in other situation comedy and even had a recurring role as " Mamaw " Stewart onHannah Montana . Vicki Lawrence is still alive and act upon on television today . Lawrence has continue to work into the 2020son show likeCall Me Kat , andThe Really Loud House , both in 2023 .

Beverly Archer

Born On July 19, 1948

Starting from time of year 3 on , Beverly Archer play Iola Lucille Boylen , the Harper ’s form but pestering neighbour who was always demand in the family ’s business . She act Mama ’s best supporter , replacing the original character of Aunt Franafter the show killed off Rue McClanahan ’s character when she choked on a toothpick . Just like Fran , Beverly has never been married , and is someone who is as opinionated as a mortal can get .

Dorothy Lyman

Born On April 18, 1947

Brought to liveliness by Dorothy Lyman , Naomi Oates Harper was Vinton ’s second wife who often clashed with Thelma over her " gimcrack " lifestyle selection . Naomi and Mama clash all the sentence , but Vinton loves her and dub her Skeeter . She fights with both Mama and Eunice and stimulate most of the conflictthroughout the series . AfterMama ’s Familyended , Lyman worked as a producer and director , include producing and directing 75 episodes of Fran Drescher’sThe Nannyduring its run .

Lyman did n’t miss a meter after the cancelation ofMama ’s Family , and she continued to land boob tube function throughout the ' 90s and into the 2020s .

Lyman did n’t miss a beat after the cancelation ofMama ’s Family , and she keep on to set ashore TV roles throughout the ' XC and into the 2020s . Besides look in myriad TV shows , Lyman also landed a cameo role in the 2006 Martin Scorsese filmThe Departed . Lyman has continued to work in the 2020s , invitee - starring inThe fille from Plainville .

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Dorothy Lyman has also directed several cinema and TV shows includingThe Northern Kingdom(2009),Split Ends(2009 ) andJanet ’s Class(2010 )

Allan Kayser

Born On December 18, 1963

For the final four time of year of the show , Allan Kayser act Bubba Higgins , the rumbustious adolescent son of Ed and Eunice Higgins . After his parents move away , Bubba was left to stay with Thelma . He is a rebellious and worry - making teenager who create Mama ’s living hard than it ever needs to be . He also has a puerile criminal record , and Mama helps him get his life back in decree throughout the series .

Besides his asterisk role in the 1986 horror filmNight of the Creeps , Kayser ’s biggest role came as a penis of the cast ofMama ’s Family . He continued to work sporadically in the decades postdate the show ’s cancelation and even seem as Nicky ’s Dad in the Disney Channel original movieDouble Teamedin 2002.Kayser ’s last persona came in 2013 when he appeared in two horror moving-picture show , House of Forbidden SecretsandHouse of the Witch Doctor .

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Eric Brown

Born On December 17, 1964

Eric Brown play Vinton " Buzz " Harper Jr. , Vinton ’s son from a previous marriage who was often the most patient and accommodating member of the family . He had a not bad relationship with Mama and was often the most accommodating and well - deport tyke in the entire serial . After depart the series after its first cancelation in 1984,Brown ended up hurl in a few contribution in films and idiot box throughout the ' 80s and ' 90s .

His biggest role follow as James in the cult classic horror filmWaxworkin 1988 . He also appeared inVideo Murders(1988 ) andStepfather II : Make Room for Daddy(1989 ) , andhis last playacting credit come in 1999 when he had a cameo theatrical role as an English teacher in the filmOutside Providence . He also work as an assistant film director on some horror moving picture he appeared in and also acted in television commercial message .

Karin Argoud

Born On November 8, 1960

Throughout the show ’s first two time of year , Karin Argoud appear in the cast ofMama ’s Familyas Sonja Harper , Vinton ’s teen daughter from a old marriage , who was generally forgetful to the world around her . She was also Buzz ’s sister , and the two shared a combative relationship throughout the series , as is often ask from siblings in situation comedy . She end up named Miss Rayteen and then left with her brother at the final stage of her time in the series .

Mama ’s Familywas Argoud ’s biggest role by far , though she did appear in single - episode stints on shows likeNash Bridgesand had a cameo appearance in the irreverent 2001 clowning filmBartleby . In 2022 , Karin Argoud seem as Maria in the Hallmark original movieLove in the Limelight . She continued her rejoinder in 2024 with a role in the newfangled audio serial publication , A Mother ’s Battle .

Carol Burnett

Born On April 26, 1933

In recent age , Burnett has done voice work for franchises likeToy StoryandTrolls . Not limited to comedy , in 2022 , Burnett appeared in four sequence ofBetter Call Saul . In 2019 , the Golden Globes awarded her with the first Carol Burnett Lifetime Achievement Award for her bequest in idiot box . In 2024 , Burnett had her biggest role in yearsin the Apple TV+ seriesPalm Royale .

Ken Berry

November 3, 1933 - December 1, 2018

Throughout the show ’s entire run , Ken Berry was part of the plaster cast ofMama ’s Familyas Vinton Harper , Thelma ’s vernal child , who was immature for his years and somewhat goofy . He had two kids in Buzz and Sonja , and he ended up marrying Naomi , someone who ended up as his female parent ’s greatest nemesis in the serial . KenBerry was a TV warhorse when he landed his purpose onMama ’s Family . Hehad major role in other top sitcom inF TroopandMayberry R.F.D.

However , afterMama ’s Family , he only made a few on - filmdom appearance after the show went off the aura . Berry starred in an episode ofThe Golden Girlsin 1992 and played his final part in the TV seriesMaggie Wintersin 1999 . He stepped away from playact after that at the age of 66.Ken Berry passed away in 2018 at the eld of 85from heart complication .

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Collage of Mama yelling and then sitting around with her friends in mourning in Mama’s Family

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Harvey Korman

February 15, 1927 - May 29, 2008

Also reprise his role fromThe Carol Burnett Show , Harvey Korman played Ed Higgins , Eunice ’s exasperated husband who kept restrained despite his numerous disagreements with the kinfolk . Ed and Eunice Higgins impart the serial very betimes , as they were just there to connect it to the original skits . The only thing that stay on was their Word Bubba , who remain with his grandmother . Besides his award - winning work with Burnett , Korman was also famous for his appearance in thehilarious Mel Brooks filmBlazing Saddlesin 1974 .

After departing the cast ofMama ’s Familyin 1984 , Korman mostly transition to vocal employment and lent his vocalism to the 1994 live - action adaptation ofThe Flintstones .

After departing the plaster cast ofMama ’s Familyin 1984 , Korman mostly transitioned to vocal body of work and lend his vox to the 1994 live - action adaptation ofThe Flintstones . Korman continued to work into the early 2000s in various vocalisation - over roles , andthe formerMama ’s Familycast member drop dead away at the long time of 81 in 2008from complication from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm .

A split image of Eric Brown from Mama’s Family

Harvey Korman also voiced Floyd inThe Secret of NIMH 2 : Timmy to the Rescue(1998 ) .

Rue McClanahan

February 21, 1934 - June 3, 2010

Rue McClanahan bring Frances Marie Crowley , the new babe of Thelma whose uptight attitude often collide with her sister ’s brazenness . McClanahan departed the show after her character ’s decease in 1984 , which was because she suffocate on a toothpick she unintentionally swallow . After give the series , she immediately land her signature role as Blanche Devereaux in the wildly popular sitcomThe Golden Girlsin 1985 .

She also appear in family shows likeBoy Meets WorldandSafe Harborin the ' 90s and early 2000s . McClanahan also reprised the role of Blanche in other comedy showsEmpty Nest , Nurses , andThe Golden Palace . McClanahan also worked sporadically in television and movies untilher death in 2010 at the age of 76 follow a brain hemorrhage . She appeared in the 2003 movieThe Fighting Temptationsand had a late TV role inLaw & Orderin 2009 , one twelvemonth before her passing .

Betty White

January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021

Joining the cast ofMama ’s Familysporadically throughout its rill , Betty White played Ellen Harper - Jackson , Thelma ’s elitist babe who avoided her working - class family as much as possible . A boob tube caption , White was already in her 5th ten in show business by the time she was purge inMama ’s Family , and in 1985 , she land the role of Rose Nylund onThe Golden Girls , the part she would be most noted for . Ironically , she played Rue McClanahan ’s sister onMama ’s Familyand roomy inGolden girl .

Betty White ’s pic and TV rolescontinued up until 2019 . The actress earned a whole newfangled contemporaries of buff thanks to picture show likeLake Placid , where she shock fans who grew up watching her onGolden Girls . She cease up as one of Hollywood ’s most beloved stars as she remained in the public eye into her 90s . TheMama ’s Familystarpassed away in 2021 at the age of 99 , less than three weeks before her centesimal birthday .

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Cast

Mama ’s Family is a situation comedy centered around the scratchy , opinionated materfamilias Thelma Harper , act as by Vicki Lawrence , who hold up with her quirky and dysfunctional sept . Set in the fictional little town of Raytown , the show research Thelma ’s fundamental interaction and conflict with her relatives , neighbour , and friends , often resulting in humorous state of affairs . The series originally premiered in 1983 and is based on a recurring survey from The Carol Burnett Show .

A split image of Karin Argoud from Mama’s Family

A split image of Ken Berry from Mama’s Family

Mama’s Family

Mama’s Family is a sitcom centered around the abrasive, opinionated matriarch Thelma Harper, played by Vicki Lawrence, who lives with her quirky and dysfunctional family. Set in the fictional small town of Raytown, the show explores Thelma’s interactions and conflicts with her relatives, neighbors, and friends, often resulting in humorous situations. The series originally premiered in 1983 and is based on a recurring sketch from The Carol Burnett Show.

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