Rose Gregorio (born 1932) is an American character actress. She began her career appearing mostly in theatre in Chicago and New York City during the 1950s and 1960s. During the 1970s she became more active in television and film, appearing mostly in supporting roles. She won a Clarence Derwent Award and garnered Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations in 1977 for her portrayal of Agnes in the original production of Michael Cristofer's The Shadow Box. She has also notably appeared in the original productions of two Arthur Miller plays, A View from the Bridge (1983) and The Last Yankee (1993). Among her numerous television credits, includes the role of Helen Hathaway, the mother of Carol Hathaway, on ER which she portrayed from 1996-1999.
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Born in Chicago, Illinois, Gregorio began her career appearing in theatre productions in her home city during the 1950s. She made her television debut in 1961 on Armstrong Circle Theatre in the original play The Fortune Tellers starring opposite Val Avery. The following year she relocated to New York City, making her Off-Broadway debut as Beebee in William Snyder's The Days and Nights of BeeBee Fenstermaker at the Sheridan Square Playhouse, a production which also starred Robert Duvall. She next appeared as Martha in the 1963 play Journey to the Day by Roger O. Hirson at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. That same year she guest starred on East Side/West Side in the episode My Child on Monday Morning. In 1964 she appeared on the show Route 66 in the episode "Follow the White Dove with the Broken Wing" and she portrayed the role of Evelyn in George Panetta's Kiss Mama at the Actors' Playhouse. In 1965 she married director Ulu Grosbard, and the couple are still together today.[1]
During the mid 1960s Gregorio served as a standby performer for many Broadway shows in case the regularly scheduled actress was unable to perform. She finally made her official Broadway debut in 1968 in Jack Gelber's The Cuban Thing at the Henry Miller's Theatre. That same year she landed her first film role, the role of Sylvia Finney in Frank Perry's The Swimmer. The following year she returned to Broadway to appear opposite Dustin Hoffman in John Sebastian's musical Jimmy Shine.[1]
In the 1970s, Gregorio's career became more centered on film and television. Her movie appearances include Gloria Soloway in Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? (1971), Ruth in Desperate Characters (1971), Agnes in Tell Me Where It Hurts (1974), Angela in Mr. Ricco (1975), and Elaine Cassel in Eyes of Laura Mars (1978). She appeared in the television movies Paradise Lost (1971), Miles to Go Before I Sleep (1975), One of Our Own (1975), The Death of Richie (1977), Sharon: Portrait of a Mistress (1977), The Storyteller (1977), and Dummy (1979). She also guest starred on the television shows The Bob Newhart Show (1974), Medical Center (1974), The Rookies (1975), Harry O (1975), Jigsaw John (1976), Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976), The Rockford Files (1978), and Charlie's Angels (1979).[1]
In 1977, Gregorio returned to Broadway after an 8 year hiatus from theatre in the original production of Michael Cristofer's critically acclaimed play The Shadow Box. For her portrayal of the character Agnes, Gregario garnered nominations for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. Since then her theatre appearances have been sporadic. She appeared as Laurie in the Off-Broadway production of David Blomquist's Weekends Like Other People at the Marymount Manhattan Theatre in 1982. The following year she returned to Broadway as Beatrice in the original production of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge at the Ambassador Theatre and again in 1988 as Helga in the original production on David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. In 1993 she appeared as Karen Frick in the Manhattan Theatre Club's production of Arthur Miller's The Last Yankee and in 2000 she portrayed the roles of Lena and Sandra in Beth Henley's Family Week at the Century Center for the Performing Arts.[1]
Gregorio remained active in film and television during the 1980s and 1990s. Her film credits include Brenda Samuels in True Confessions (1981), Mrs. Sabantino in Five Corners, Pina in City of Hope (1991), Pina in Tarantella (1996), Grandma Rosie in The Deep End of the Ocean (1999), and Helen in Maze (2000). On television she is probably best known for portraying Helen Hathaway, the mother of Carol Hathaway, on ER between 1996-1999. She has also appeared as a guest star on Falcon Crest (1984), Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989), Murder, She Wrote (1991), The Practice (1997), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2003), and performed in numerous television movies.[1]