Marcia Wallace, the star of "The Bob Newhart Show" and "The Simpsons," died Friday, according to several media reports. She was 70 and had reportedly been in ill health, although the cause of her condition was not specified.
Wallace's blazing red hair and bubbly delivery were tailor-made for the role of the straight-laced Newhart's daffy receptionist on the hit CBS show. The part was reportedly written specifically for her at the behest of CBS founder Bill Paley.
She would remain with "The Bob Newhart Show" for its six-season run before seguewaying into guest appearances on shows like "ALF" and "Murphy Brown," and becoming a regular presence on game shows such as :The 25,000 Pyramid" and "Hollywood Squares."
She would also build a second career as a voice-over actress, giving life to Edna Krabappel, Bart Simpson's cynical fourth grade teacher on "The Simpsons." The role earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 1992.
