Phyllis Lindstrom


Phyllis Lindstrom is a fictional character portrayed by Cloris Leachman on Mary Tyler Moore Show">The Mary Tyler Moore Show">Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off series Phyllis.

''The Mary Tyler Moore Show''

Phyllis Lindstrom is Mary Richards' snobbish, self-absorbed and interfering friend and downstairs neighbor. She married dermatologist Dr. Lars Lindstrom in 1955; Phyllis frequently mentions and quotes Lars, but he is never seen on the show. The Lindstroms manage the large Minneapolis rental property where they live with Mary and upstairs neighbor Rhoda Morgenstern. Mary develops a close relationship with the Lindstroms' daughter List of minor characters on The Mary [Tyler Moore Show|Bess].
Rhoda and Phyllis maintain an adversarial but talkative relationship. In the series' first episode, Phyllis actively prevents Rhoda from claiming a newly vacated apartment so Mary can move in instead.
In season four opener "List of The [Mary Tyler Moore Show episodes|The Lars Affair]", Phyllis clashes with the man-hungry hostess of WJM's Happy Homemaker show, Sue Ann Nivens, following Sue Ann's affair with Lars. Phyllis and Sue Ann meet again in the episode "Phyllis Whips Inflation", Leachman's penultimate Mary Tyler Moore appearance. Colleagues attempt to prevent the pair from running into each other at the station; when they do, self-centered Phyllis plaintively asks Sue Ann if any jobs are available on her show.
Phyllis appears in one sixty minute episode "Rhoda's Wedding" of the Mary Tyler Moore Show spinoff Rhoda. In the episode, Phyllis asks for the opportunity to participate in Rhoda's wedding and is appointed the responsibility to pick up Rhoda and drive her to the ceremony. Phyllis forgets to do so, forcing Rhoda to take the subway, running through the streets of New York in her wedding dress and veil.
Phyllis later returned to Mary Tyler Moore for "The Last Show", the program's March 19, 1977 series finale. This is the character's only reappearance subsequent to the launch of the spinoff.

''Phyllis''

In 1975, Leachman left The Mary Tyler Moore Show to star in spin-off series Phyllis, in which Phyllis and Bess relocate to Phyllis' hometown, San Francisco, following the death of Lars.
They move in with Lars' mother Audrey and Audrey's new husband, Judge Jonathan Dexter. Phyllis' major nemesis is Jonathan's sharp-tongued mother, Sally, an irritable, impatient woman known as "Mother Dexter". Mother Dexter gets along well with Bess.
Mary Tyler Moore appears as Mary Richards in two Phyllis episodes, once in the first season and then again in the second.
In the first season, Phyllis is employed at Erskine Photography Studio. In the second and final season, the series was retooled and Phyllis works as an administrative assistant for a city supervisor.