Harriet Sansom Harris

Harriet Sansom Harris (also credited as Harriet Harris) is an American screen and stage actor born January 8, 1955, in Fort Worth, Texas. Drawn to performance early, she earned admission at 17 to New York’s Juilliard School, a formative step that set the tone for a career built on craft, precision, and fearless character work.

After graduating, Harris joined The Acting Company, a repertory ensemble launched by early Juilliard Drama Division alumni. Three years of touring and classical training were followed by extensive regional theater, which opened the door to acclaimed Broadway and Off-Broadway work. A major turning point came when she appeared as the only woman in the original cast of Paul Rudnick’s Off-Broadway hit Jeffrey, a breakthrough that expanded her visibility beyond the stage.

Television audiences came to know her best for creating the unforgettable Bebe Glazer on Frasier, a role that showcased her razor-sharp comedic edge. She also earned strong notices as Vivian Buchanan on CBS’s The 5 Mrs. Buchanans. Based in New York, Harris has continued to move fluidly between coasts and mediums.

Her film work includes Memento (Mrs. Jankis), Addams Family Values (Ellen Buckman), The One (Nurse Besson), Monster-in-Law (Therapist), Licorice Pizza (Mary Grady), Jules (Sandy), and Magazine Dreams (Patricia Waldron).