Harriet Sansom Harris (born January 8, 1955)[1] is an American actress known for her theater performances and for her portrayals of Bebe Glazer on Frasier and Felicia Tilman on Desperate Housewives.
In addition to television and theater, she has made various film appearances, including Memento, Addams Family Values, Nurse Betty, and Phantom Thread.
[2] At age 17, she was accepted at the Juilliard School's Drama Division (1973–77, Group 6)[3] where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
During this time, she performed in productions of Shakespeare's King Lear and Romeo and Juliet, Antigone, and Mother Courage and Her Children.
[citation needed] Harris worked extensively on and Off-Broadway, including a 1989 performance at Second Stage Theatre in What a Man Weighs.
That same year, she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her portrayal in the Off-Broadway play Bella, Belle of Byelorussia.
She won both a Drama Desk and Tony Award in 2002 as a Featured Actress in a Musical for playing the role of Mrs. Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie.
In summer 2006, she appeared as Vera Charles in the Kennedy Center's production of Mame opposite Christine Baranski in the title role.
In summer 2007, she appeared on Broadway in the revival of the John Van Druten comedy Old Acquaintance as Mildred Watson Drake with Margaret Colin at the American Airlines Theatre.
In 2007, Harris returned to Broadway and joined the cast of the musical Cry-Baby, based on the John Waters film of the same name.
[8] Harris played Martha Huber's sister Felicia Tilman on the ABC drama series Desperate Housewives in 2004.