Nancy Walker, 69, an actress who was best known to television viewers as Rhoda's mother and for advertising "quicker picker-upper" paper towels, died of cancer March 25 at her home in Los Angeles.
Her most recent work was a starring role in Fox Broadcasting Co.'s "True Colors" comedy, in which she played a Jewish mother whose daughter is married to a black man. Family friend Frank Liberman said Miss Walker had just completed the season's final episode.
Miss Walker's other television roles included Mildred the housekeeper on "McMillan and Wife," for which she received Emmy nominations in 1973, 1974 and 1975. In 1970 she briefly appeared as another housekeeper on "Family Affair."
Her talents were far more varied than playing loud-mouthed housekeepers and mothers-in-law. She was one of few women ever to direct and act on Broadway and in television.
In 1956, she made her Broadway directing debut with "UTBU," starring Thelma Ritter and Tony Randall. Beginning in the 1970s, she directed episodes of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Rhoda" and "Alice."
She appeared in the feature films "Stand Up and Be Counted" (1972), "Forty Carats" (1973) and "Murder by Death" (1976).
Born in Philadelphia to vaudeville parents, Miss Walker was a New York stage actress for the first 30 years of her career. She debuted at 19 in "Best Foot Forward," which led to comic roles in musicals including "On the Town," "Look Ma, I'm Dancing" and "Do Re Mi."
She moved to Los Angeles in 1970, where her work turned to television and film roles.
In 1976, after successful runs with "Rhoda" and "McMillan and Wife," Miss Walker had two flops in one season -- the short-lived "The Nancy Walker Show" and "Blansky's Beauties."
Survivors include her husband of 40 years, vocal coach and writer David Craig; a daughter, Miranda Craig, and a sister, Betty Lou Barto.
