Dorothy Lyman (born April 18, 1947) is an American television actress, director, and producer. She is most known for her work as Gwen Frame on Another World, on All My Children as the original Opal Sue Gardner, as Rebecca Whitmore on Generations, and on the sitcom Mama's Family as Naomi Harper.
Life and career Lyman was born on April 18, 1947, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Violet E. (née Brightwell) and Hector H. Lyman, who was a stockbroker. She was raised Protestant.
She attended Washburn High School in Minneapolis. She debuted in her first soap opera, A World Apart, as flower child Julie Stark in 1971. Several years later, Dorothy appeared as Elly Jo Jamison, an evil relation of wealthy Orin Hillyer's, (1972–1973) on The Edge of Night, and as architect Gwen Parrish Frame (1976–1980, 1989) on Another World.
Lyman's producing and directing debut came in 1981 with A Couple White Chicks Sitting Around Talking, an off-Broadway comedy.
Her most notable soap opera role, though, was on All My Children as Opal Sue Gardner (1981–1983), for which she received two Emmy Awards—as Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series in 1982 and for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 1983. Lyman performed characters on other soap operas including Rebecca Whitmore (1990–1991) on Generations, and Bonnie Roberts (1991–1992) on The Bold and the Beautiful.
In 1983, Lyman became well known for her role as Naomi Harper on the sitcom Mama's Family, a role she played for the full six seasons. In an appearance on Vicki Lawrence's talk show Vicki!, Lyman noted that she continued to perform on All My Children concurrently with the beginning of Mama's Family'''s production, flying back and forth each week between New York City and Los Angeles. While the commute was brutal, she remembered it fondly, referring to that stage of her career as "All My Paychecks".
Lyman's Broadway credits include portraying Jan Morrison in Dancing in the End Zone (1985). During this time, Lyman appeared in the Tales from the Darkside television series in the "In the Cards" episode (1985). She also played Ralphie's mother in Jean Shepherd's Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss from 1988, appeared in ALF as Maura Norris in the episode "Tequila" (1988), and in Hunter as Sgt. Carol James Meyers in the episode "The Pit" (1989).
When Mama's Family ended its run in 1990, Lyman went behind the camera, producing and directing 75 episodes of The Nanny (all episodes of the third and fourth seasons, and all but four episodes of the fifth), even making a special guest appearance on the Fran Drescher sitcom. Lyman also had a recurring role on Bob, Bob Newhart's third series.
On the big screen, she made a cameo appearance in I Love Trouble, a film starring Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts. She made another cameo appearance in the 2001 film Blow starring Johnny Depp. She was seen in the 2006 films World Trade Center and The Departed.
In 2007, Lyman guest-starred in the third season of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica as Starbuck's mother. She made a guest appearance on Reba, playing the titular character's mother. She appeared in The Blacklist in the season-six episode "The Pawnbrokers".
Lyman performed My Kitchen Wars in Hollywood and New York as a one-woman show based on the book by Betty Fussell. She wrote and performed in A Rage in Tenure at the Geo Theater in Hollywood in 1995.
In 2010, Lyman produced, directed, and served as cinematographer on the feature-length documentary, Janet's Class. a film whose titular subject, veteran stage and screen character actress/acting teacher Janet Sarno, had appeared previously in Split Ends'', Lyman's feature film directorial debut. Summarized by Lyman as simply "a film about aging" and prompted, at least in part, by problems the issue posed to her personally, her new film was conceived with two principal goals in mind: to help the audience—and herself—come to grips with the reality of aging while, at the same time, offering insight into what exactly goes into becoming a capable actor. Scored by Grammy-winning arranger Bill Cunliffe,Garrison, Judy (February 1, 2011). "Dorothy Lyman Documentary to Be Screened at Andes Hotel". The Andes Gazette. Retrieved December 4, 2025. "What impelled Dorothy to make a film of this group of 14 senior citizens, ages 50 to 92, who are taking an acting class from teacher Janet Sarno (also a senior)? 'I am not enjoying aging, am finding it a problem, this getting older. So I forced myself to look at older folks, hoping it might help.' Along with that motivation, her objective was to offer the audience insight into aging, and from a professional perspective she hoped to shine a light on a diversity of acting techniques and what it takes to be a good actor. [...] Dorothy and Janet Sarno became acquainted when Sarno was cast to play Aunt Connie in Lyman’s film Split Ends. Sarno, who has taught music and acting in a multiplicity of settings, teaches this course in a church basement. Dorothy shot this film herself, a first for her. When she started to video the student actors she wasn’t sure it was going to develop into a full length documentary. The absence of a 'crew' may have helped foster an atmosphere where the actor/subjects could easily open up to her. Grammy Award-winner Bill Cunliffe wrote the score.""Artist: Bill Cunliffe". Grammy.com. and featuring Sarno and her church basement disciples ranging in age from 50 to 92, the film had, as of December 2025, failed to find a commercial distributor, although it did have at least one public screening, in February 2011 at the Andes Hotel in the city of Andes in upstate New York, where Lyman resided from 2001 through 2018.Calhoun, Zack (September 15, 2019). "People You Should Know ... Dorothy Lyman". Visible Souls, The musings and diatribes of a New York actor and playwright. Retrieved December 4, 2025."Tell me about your production of IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER. What inspired you to write the play? How do you feel rehearsals are going? What do you love most about the show?I bought a 200 year old dairy farm in Upstate New York in 2001. I lived there until this past year when my family persuaded me to move in with my son’s family in Connecticut. I packed up my horses and my hens and moved, but it was really hard to leave the friends and community I had created in Delaware County. The play helped me come to terms with my very ambivalent feelings about downsizing and possibly losing my autonomy."
Personal life From 1971 to 1983, Lyman was married to director and actor John Tillinger; they have two children, including daughter Emma Tillinger Koskoff, who is an Academy Award-nominated producer. Her son, Sebastian Tillinger, is an actor. From her second marriage to French film producer Vincent Malle, Lyman has one son, Jackson Malle, an anthropologist and screenwriter, born in 1985. She is a registered Democrat and is a resident of Washington Depot, Connecticut.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1971The 300 Year WeekendJean1980Night of the JugglerNurse Jenny1984Summer FantasyDr. Nancy Brannigan1988Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of BlissMomTelevision filmNominated — CableACE Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries1988The People Across the LakeRuth Mortimer1990Camp CucamongaMillie SchectorTelevision film1993Ruby in ParadiseMildred Chambers1993Jack the BearMrs. Morris1993Young Goodman BrownSarah Good1994Tears and Laughter: The Joan and Melissa Rivers StoryDorothyTelevision film1994I Love TroubleSuzie1997Dinner and DrivingRita2001BlowJudge2006World Trade CenterAllison's Mother2006The DepartedWoman at Bar2008Split EndsDirector and producer2009The Northern KingdomNanDirector and producer2011Janet's ClassDirector and producer, and cinematographer; Feature-length documentary follows veteran actress/acting teacher Janet Sarno and her class composed entirely of aspirants between the ages of 50 and 92.2015Bad HurtMrs. Salisbury2016BlindJudge2018The Price for SilenceWendy Moro2018Bullitt CountyThe Mrs.2019Back ForkSusie2019VaultMa
Television Year Title Role Notes1971A World ApartJulie StarkSeries regular1972-1973The Edge of NightElly Jo JamisonSeries regular1975One Life to LiveSister Margaret1976-1980, 1989Another WorldGwen Parrish FrameSeries regular1981-1983All My ChildrenOpal CortlandtSeries regularDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (1983)Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1982)1985 Tales from the DarksideCatherineEpisode: "In the Cards"1985Heart's IslandJohnie BaylorPilot1988ALFMaura NorrisEpisode: "Tequila"1989HunterSgt. Carol James MeyersEpisode: "The Pit"1983-1990Mama's FamilyNaomi Oates HarperSeries regular, 125 episodes1990-1991GenerationsRebecca Whitmore #2Series regular1991-1992The Bold and the BeautifulBonnie RobertsSeries regular1991-1993Life Goes OnMary McKenna9 episodes1993Bodies of EvidenceClaudia BrooksEpisode: "Shadows"1993BobPatty Fleisher3 episodes1994Picket FencesMiriam ThorneEpisode: "Cold Spell"1995SistersDr. Deborah RosenEpisode: "A Lullaby to My Father"1995Hope & GloriaMaxineEpisodes: "My Mamma Done Told Me" and "Love with an Improper Stranger"1995Murder, She WroteNorma SheyEpisode: "The Secret of Gila Junction1993-1998The NannyDirector and producer, 74 episodes2001Days of Our LivesContessa Dorothea DiLymanSpecial guest star2002RebaHelenEpisode: "Meet the Parents"2002V.I.P.Granny GoshenEpisode: "Valley Wonka"1999-2002The PracticeDr. Diane Starger3 episodes2002Judging AmyMs. PattersonEpisode: "Cause for Alarm"2003CSI: MiamiVivian KensingtonEpisode: "Dead Zone"2005Law & Order: Special Victims UnitPrincipal ParkerEpisode: "Alien"2007Battlestar GalacticaSocrata ThraceEpisode: "Maelstrom"2009Law & OrderJudge Dorothy CarrEpisode: "Reality Bites"2015ElementaryBelindaEpisode: "Absconded"2016DivorceBridgetEpisode: "Christmas"2018FBIJilly PetersEpisode: "Pilot"2019The BlacklistDelaine UhlmanEpisode: "The Pawnbrokers (No. 146/147)"2022The Girl from PlainvilleDonna RoyEpisode: "Turtle"2025Law & Order: Organized CrimeLucia SpezzanoEpisode: "Lago D'Averno"
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