Mabel Ida Albertson was born on July 24, 1901, in Haverhill, Massachusetts, to Flora and Leopold Albertson, who were Russian-born Jewish immigrants. Her younger brother was actor Jack Albertson. Albertson's mother, a stock actress, supported the family by working in a shoe factory. Albertson graduated from the New England School of Speech and Expression. Albertson traced her show business career back to age 13, when she was paid $5 per performance to play piano behind palm trees for a reader. She later moved to California and became involved with the Pasadena Playhouse. She "moved directly into professional stage work in stock, vaudeville, and night clubs, appearing with Jimmy Durante."
Television
Albertson was best known for her role as Phyllis Stephens, Darrin's neurotic, interfering mother, on the televisionsitcomBewitched, who invariably ended her stays at the Stephens' home by saying to her husband, "Frank, take me home. I have a sick headache." During 1972-1973, she played Mabel, the mother-in-law of Paul Lynde on The Paul Lynde Show. She appeared in at least one episode of the courtroom drama series Perry Mason: as Carrie Wilson in the season 6, 1962 episode entitled "The Case of the Hateful Hero". Albertson also guest-starred as the mother of Marilyn Munster's would-be suitor in the first broadcast episode of The Munsters, "Munster Masquerade". Albertson played the mother of Barbara Whiting Smith and Margaret Whiting in Those Whiting Girls. She also played Susannah's mother in Accidental Family, Alice's mother in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Donald Hollinger's mother on That Girl, Irene Brady in The Tom Ewell Show, Howard Sprague's mother on The Andy Griffith Show, Miss Ramsey on Hazel, Mrs. White on The Lucy Show episode "Lucy and the Missing Stamp", Eileen Ruby, Harry Ruby's wife, in Make Room For Daddy episode "Danny Goes On USO Tour", Dick Van Dyke's mother on The New Dick Van Dyke Show, and Ethel Kendricks on the Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Anyone Who Hates Kids and Dogs", Gertrude Mills on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. Rawhide S2 E24 as Kalla, Gypsy Queen. In 1966 she played Madam Adella in the Bonanza episode "A Dollar's Worth of Trouble".
Radio
Albertson was heard on Dress Rehearsal, Joe Rines' Dress Rehearsal, and the Phil Baker Show. She was also a writer for radio programs.
Film
A memorable early film role for Albertson was as a proper banker's wife who is repulsed by the bucolic title characters in Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki. She was also seen in She's Back on Broadway, So This Is Love, About Mrs. Leslie, Forever, Darling, The Long, Hot Summer, Don't Give Up the Ship, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and as Mrs. Van Hoskins, a wealthy woman whose jewels are stolen, in the screwball comedy filmWhat's Up, Doc?.
Stage
Albertson's Broadway credits include The Egg and Xmas in Las Vegas.
