October 12th Birthday

Doris Grau

Born October 12, 1924. Died December 30, 1995 – American actor, script supervisor and voice artist who is best known for her work on the US animated TV comedy, “The Simpsons”, playing the dry witted Lunch Lady Doris.

Paralleling actors like Selma Diamond, who played the gravel-voiced security guard Selma Hacker in the first two seasons of the US TV comedy “Night Court”, Doris usually played husky voiced, chain smoking, acerbic witted women on TV shows like “The Simpsons” and the Jon Lovitz vehicle, “The Critic”.

Doris also claimed guest appearances on the US TV sketch comedy program, “The Tracey Ullman Show” and provided additional voice-over work for the film “Babe” (1995) as well as appearing on camera in the film “The Distinguished Gentleman” (1992).

But her most well known, and perhaps most beloved role, was as the Springfield Elementary School cafeteria supervisor Lunch Lady Doris whose realistic, slightly cynical and indifferent views often managed to undercut the histrionics of her boss, Principal Seymour Skinner.

Unfortunately, Doris passed away on December 30, 1995 from lung disease and her character was retired from “The Simpsons” out of respect by the shows grateful producers…..until 10 years later anyway when her character was re-voiced by Simpsons stalwart, Tress MacNeille. I guess the show must go on.

I wonder if there are any Lunch Lady Doris quotes hanging about? Oh yeah, here we go:

-

Superintendent Chalmers: “And why is the cafeteria worker posing as a nurse?”

Lunch Lady Doris: “I get two pay-checks this way.”

Superintendent Chalmers: “D’oh!”

-

Lunch Lady Doris: “More testicles mean more iron!”

-

Delivery Man: “Where do you want these beef hearts?”

Lunch Lady Doris: “On the floor.”

Delivery Man: “It doesn't look very clean.”

Lunch Lady Doris: “Just do your job, heart boy.”

-

Groundskeeper Willy: “Lunchlady Doris. Have you got any grease?”
Lunch Lady Doris: “Yes, yes we do.”
Groundskeeper Willy (ripping off his shirt and revealing rippling muscles): “Then grease me up women!”
Lunch Lady Doris: “Okey-Dokey.”

-

Principal Skinner: “This overcrowding in detention is becoming critical. It's a powder keg waiting to go off in an explosion of unacceptable behaviour.”
Lunch Lady Doris: "Don't bitch to me, boss man. Thanks to the latest budget cuts I'm down to using Grade F meat!"

-

Lisa Simpson: “Uhh, excuse me? Isn't there anything here that doesn't have meat in it?”
Lunch Lady Doris: “Possibly the meat loaf.”

-

Bart Simpson: “Lunchlady Doris? Why are you here?”
Lunch Lady Doris: “Budget cuts. They've even got Groundskeeper Willy teaching French.”

(cut to Groundkeeper Willy, sporting beret, in French class)

Groundskeeper Willy: “Bonjourrrrrrrrrr, ya cheese eatin’, surrender monkeys!”

-

And there are many, many more.

RIP Doris......ya did good.

Thanks for reading.

I’ll get outta your way now.