Marcia Ann Burrs, a veteran character actor whose many TV appearances included stints as Mrs. Claus in two Hallmark Christmas TV-movies and, in a memorable episode of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, the long-ago high school girlfriend of Danny DeVito’s Frank Reynolds, died Sunday, March 22, in Matthews, North Carolina. She was 85.
Her death was announced by her family. Although a cause was not specified, the announcement notes that she died peacefully surrounded by family.
Although she made appearances in such feature films as Rob Reiner’s Rumor Has It… (2005) and Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring (2013), Burrs most prolifically and steadily worked as a character performer on dozens of TV shows, from 1988’s The Slap Maxwell Story through such recent fare as Young Sheldon, Angie Tribeca and Grace and Frankie (all 2017).
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For fans of holiday movies, Burrs will be remembered as the wife of Santa Claus in two Hallmark television films opposite Steve Guttenberg, Crystal Bernard and, as Santa, John Wheeler: Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus (2004) and Meet the Santas (2005).
Other TV credits include appearances on Mad Men, Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, How I Met Your Mother, Bones, The King of Queens, My Name Is Earl, Monk, Frasier, That ’70s Show, Scrubs, Station 19, That’s So Raven, Moonlighting, among others.
In the 2006 fan-favorite Season 2 episode of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia “Mac Bangs Dennis’ Mom,” Burrs played Angie Spinola, the high school girlfriend of DeVito’s Frank character who agrees to a many-decades-later reunion date. To the vulgar Frank’s disappointment, Angie isn’t the wild teenager she once was.
“I think you’re too old for me,” Frank says.
“Frank, I’m two years younger than you,” Angie responds.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Frank replies, as Burrs’ expression shows a well-performed mix of confusion and annoyance.
Born November 25, 1940, in Manila, the Philippines, Burrs moved to New York City after studying drama at The College of William & Mary to launch a career in musical theater, commercials and soap operas. In New York she met and married Joseph Edward Bures (a spelling she sometimes used in her credits). Their marriage lasted more than 52 years until his death in 2020.
Burrs is survived by daughters Jennifer Martin and Diana Fuller; their husbands; two grandsons; two brothers, a sister and other extended family.
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