'Nanny' Star Ann Morgan Guilbert Dies at 87, Fran Drescher Pays Tribute

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The actress played Drescher's grandmother on the sitcom.

Ann Morgan Guilbert, best known for her role as the next-door neighbor on The Dick Van Dyke Show and Grandma Yetta on The Nanny, died of cancer on Tuesday in Los Angeles, California. She was 87.

Her daughter, Nora Eckstein, confirmed her death to the Associated Press.

Guilbert's most recent TV appearances included roles on Life in Pieces, Getting On and Grey's Anatomy. She also starred in the acclaimed 2010 indie film, Please Give.


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In addition to her TV and movie credits, Guilbert had made a name for herself in theater. She starred in the 2005 Broadway play, A Naked Girl on the Appian Way, as well as The Matchmaker, Arsenic and Old Lace, Waiting for Godot, Harvey and To Kill a Mockingbird.

On Wednesday morning, Guilbert's Nanny co-star, Fran Drescher paid tribute to her onscreen grandmother with a series of tweets. "I feel so sad about Annie. She was brilliant as my Grandma Yetta. Such a sweet woman too," Drescher wrote and posted along with photos of Guilbert from the '90s sitcom. "Such a great actress! I thank you Annie. Thank you for all the laughs! May you be cracking them up in heaven!"

She added: "Grandma Yetta, I love you!"


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