Selma Diamond
Biography
Selma Diamond was a Canadian and American comedienne and actress who wrote for radio and television. Born in Canada and raised in Brooklyn, New York, she contributed humorous essays and comic drawings to The New Yorker before turning to radio. Her first radio writing credit came in 1943 for Blue Ribbon Town with Groucho Marx, which turned into a 65-week stint. She wrote for many radio programs and later for television, including Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour, the latter earning her an Emmy nomination. She also wrote for Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall and Milton Berle. From the 1960s into the 1970s she appeared frequently on talk shows hosted by Jack Paar and Johnny Carson. Her film roles included Bang the Drum Slowly (1973), My Favorite Year (1982), and All of Me (1984). Her role as Selma Hacker on Night Court, which she played in 1984 and 1985, earned her a second Emmy nomination.
64years old at death
- Born Quebec
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 11 years1973 to 1984
Every film, newest first
- 1984All of MeIMDb rating 6.7
- 1983LovesickIMDb rating 5.2
- 1982My Favorite YearIMDb rating 7.3
- 1973Bang the Drum SlowlyIMDb rating 6.7
Genres
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First role
Diamond's first radio writing credit came in 1943 on Blue Ribbon Town with Groucho Marx, and that one credit led to a 65-week run with his show and a lasting friendship with him.
First role
Diamond made her acting debut in a summer touring production of Bye, Bye Birdie, after years of writing for radio and television.
Big break
Carl Reiner said Diamond was the person he pictured when he created the character Sally Rogers for The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Beyond film
Diamond released a comedy album in 1960 titled Selma Diamond Talks...and Talks and Talks and Talks..., based on her humorous conversational style.
Selma Diamond movies on Netflix
Worked with
Selma Diamond shares two films with Basil Hoffman, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Basil Hoffman's page
Anne De Salvo's page
Robert De Niro's page
Wallace Shawn's page
Steve Martin's page
Cameron Mitchell's page
All films by Carl Reiner
All films by Richard Benjamin
John D. HancockDirector, 1 film, 1973
All films by John D. Hancock
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.