Alice Corinne Hirson (née Thorsell; March 10, 1929 – February 14, 2025) was an American actress best known for her roles on television. She began her career on stage, before roles on daytime soap operas. She was best known for her roles as Mavis Anderson in the CBS prime time soap opera Dallas and as Lois Morgan, the mother of the title character on the ABC sitcom Ellen.

Background Hirson was born Alice Corinne Thorsell in New York City on March 10, 1929, and was raised on Long Island. She graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1948.

In 1964, Hirson met actor Stephen Elliott. They were married from 1980 until Elliott's death in 2005. She was previously married to dramatist Roger O. Hirson, with whom she had two sons.Roger Hirson, Who Wrote the Book for ‘Pippin,’ Dies at 93

Hirson died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on February 14, 2025, at the age of 95.

Career Hirson began her career on off-Broadway stage, before roles in 1960s plays Traveller Without Luggage and The Investigation.

Television Hirson began her television career appearing on the classic anthology series Hallmark Hall of Fame and Starlight Theatre. From 1969 to 1970, she was a regular cast member on the CBS daytime soap opera The Edge of Night, playing the role of Stephanie Martin. She played the role of Marcia Davis on Another World and its spin-off Somerset from 1970 to 1972. From 1972 to 1976, Hirson starred as Eileen Riley Siegel on ABC's One Life to Live. She also had a recurring role on General Hospital in 1982.

After leaving daytime television, Hirson began playing supporting roles on prime time. In 1977, she appeared in made-for-television movies The Death of Richie, Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn, and Having Babies II, and the following year co-starred opposite Cicely Tyson in A Woman Called Moses. Hirson also guest-starred on Maude, The Waltons, Family, Barnaby Jones, Flamingo Road, Barney Miller, Quincy, M.E., St. Elsewhere, Hotel, and Full House. From 1982 to 1988, Hirson played the recurring role of Mavis Anderson, friend and confidante of Miss Ellie Ewing (Barbara Bel Geddes) in the CBS prime time soap opera, Dallas.

In 1992, Hirson was a regular cast member on the short-lived NBC sitcom Home Fires starring Kate Burton. From 1994 to 1998, she played the role of Lois Morgan, the mother of Ellen DeGeneres' character on the ABC comedy series, Ellen. From 1996 to 2006, she appeared in eight episodes of The WB family drama series, 7th Heaven playing Jenny Jackson, mother of Annie Camden (Catherine Hicks), whose illness and death occurred as the series began in 1996. She also had recurring roles on Murphy Brown and The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and guest-starred on Law & Order, ER, NYPD Blue, Judging Amy, Just Shoot Me!, and Cold Case.

Film Hirson made her film debut in the 1971 crime comedy The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight. In 1979, she appeared in the horror film Nightwing and played the First Lady of the United States in the comedy-drama Being There. She also appeared in Private Benjamin, Revenge of the Nerds, Mass Appeal, Blind Date, Bride of Boogedy, The Big Picture, The Glass House, and The Lost.

Filmography

Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1971The Gang That Couldn't Shoot StraightThe Mayor's Wife1979NightwingClaire Franklin1979Being ThereFirst Lady1980Private BenjaminMrs. Thornbush1984Revenge of the NerdsMrs. Lowe1984Mass AppealMrs. Hart1987Blind DateMuriel Bedford1989The Big PictureMrs. Chapman1993StepmonsterShirley2001The Glass HouseMrs. Morgan2006The LostMrs. Griffith

Television YearTitleRoleNotes1951Starlight TheatreAliceEpisode: "Miss Buell"1952Hallmark Hall of FameLucyEpisode: "Anne Bradstreet, Puritan Poetess"1968N.Y.P.D.The 2nd NurseEpisode: "Encounter on a Rooftop"1970Another WorldMarsha Davis43 episodes1972Particular MenLouisa RaynerTelevision film1972–1976One Life to LiveEileen Riley Siegel59 episodes1977The Death of RichieMrs. BlairTelevision film1977MaudeEd's WifeEpisode: "Maude's Reunion"1977Alexander: The Other Side of DawnJudge WhiteTelevision film1977Having Babies IIMimi1977The WaltonsJane Stephens2 episodes1977–1983Quincy, M.E.Various roles3 episodes1978Loose ChangeRosemaryMiniseries1978FamilyRuth GreenEpisode: "Fear of Shadows"1978Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape KidBeth DozierTelevision film1978Barnaby JonesEmily WarrenEpisode: "Nest of Scorpions"1978A Woman Called MosesMiss Rodham2 episodes1979The RopersMrs. EasthamEpisode: "The Doris Letters"1979ParisMrs. DaltonEpisode: "Friends and Enemies"1979ABC Afterschool SpecialGrace HarrisEpisode: "A Special Guest"1979Julie Farr, M.D.EmilyEpisode: "Captive"1980If Things Were DifferentKaren EvansTelevision film1980When the Whistle BlowsDottie Jenkins4 episodes1981Flamingo RoadMary TroyEpisode: "A Mother's Revenge"1981TaxiWoman CustomerEpisode: "On the Job: Part 1"1981Barney MillerDorothy St. ClairEpisode: "The Vests"1982The Rules of MarriageEva HewlittTelevision film1982General HospitalMrs. Van Gelder4 episodes1982Miss All-American BeautyMarjorie ButterfieldTelevision film1982–1988DallasMavis Anderson26 episodes1983St. ElsewhereAnne OverlandEpisode: "Release"1983SitcomBetty GooseberryTelevision film1985HotelHelen RileyEpisode: "Skeletons"1985SlickersDear ClintonTelevision film1985The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-DooVoice13 episodes1986Foley SquareMrs. DobbsEpisode: "The Star"1986CrossingsEleanor RooseveltEpisode #1.2 1986MatlockHazelEpisode: "Diary of a Perfect Murder"1986If Tomorrow ComesMrs. StanhopeEpisode #1.11986, 1987The Magical World of DisneyVarious roles2 episodes1987StarmanIda SchwartzmanEpisode: "Barriers"1987Full HouseClaire Tanner3 episodes1987, 1988Houston KnightsBeverly / John's Wife2 episodes1990Equal JusticeMrs. WilliamsEpisode: "The Price of Justice"1990Psycho IV: The BeginningMotherTelevision film1990, 1996Murphy BrownBootsie Sherwood3 episodes1991Dear JohnMrs. MorrisEpisode: "Brothers"1992Home FiresGrandma12 episodes1993Law & OrderJewelEpisode: "Right to Counsel"1993LovingDr. Lisa Helman4 episodes1994–1998EllenLois Morgan28 episodes1996–20067th HeavenJenny Jackson8 episodes1999ERMrs. AndersonEpisode: "Last Rites"2000Godzilla: The SeriesPeg Chapman (voice)Episode: "Wedding Bells Blew"2000–2002Baby BluesMrs. Johnson (voice)3 episodes2001NYPD BlueKaren ReddingEpisode: "In the Wind"2001Determination of DeathEdithTelevision film2001Judging AmyAlison LoomisEpisode: "Surprised by Gravity"2003Just Shoot Me!Helen KorshEpisode: "The Last Temptation of Elliot"2008Cold CaseJudy McShaneEpisode: "Glory Days"2008–2011The Secret Life of the American TeenagerMimsy6 episodes2010StarstruckGrandma OlsonTelevision film2011Men of a Certain AgeConnie2 episodes2019Will & GraceJustice GinsburgEpisode: "Supreme Courtship"2021Trash TruckMrs. Perry (voice)Episode: "Pranks"

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