Tribute to Candice “Candy” Azzara

You would have particular cause to know the screen work of Candice “Candy” Azzara (b. 1945) if you were around during the 1970s. That Brooklyn-accented voice, slightly daffy demeanor and huge brown eyes were unmistakable. She was especially present on television during that decade, her castability enhanced by her brilliant strategy of wearing different colored wigs depending on the role.

Azzara had recurring roles on Rhoda and Soap; made multiple appearances on Barney Miller,Kojak, House Calls,and The Love Boat; was also onBaretta,Fay, and Tenspeed and Brown Shoe; and was a series regular on the short-lived Joseph Bologna-Rene Taylor sitcom Calucci’s Department (1973) with James Coco. Her movies included Who is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying All Those Terrible Things About Me? (1971), Hearts of the West (1975), Gene Wilder’sThe World’s Greatest Lover (1977), the original screen version of House Calls (1978), Fatso (1980, with Dom Deluise), Pandemonium(1982), and Easy Money (1983, with Rodney Dangerfield).

While Azzara is a fine dramatic actress, and she studied with Lee Strasberg and Gene Frankel, her forte is comic roles. In 1968 she made her Broadway debut in Bologna and Taylor’s play Lovers and Others Strangers, directed by Charles Grodin, and that set her on her way. A fun bit of trivia: she played Gloria in one of the pilots for the show that eventually became All in the Family! It would have been a very different show with her on it. No shade on the adorable Sally Struthers, of whom I am naturally also a fan, but I can see Azzara’s version of Gloria being a stronger foil for Archie, one who might actually be capable of shouting him down on his own terms. Maybe the network wasn’t ready to risk such a character back then.

In later years there were recurring roles for Azzara on Who’s the Boss? and Caroline in the City, and parts in things like Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can (2002), and Soderbergh’s Ocean’s 12 (2004). Her last screen credit was in 2018.

There’s an official page for her here, with a wonderful account of musical shenanigans by her family during her childhood years. Check it out!