born in dallas, texas she first appeared on television in an episode of "route 66" that happened to be shooting in dallas. she resumed her on-camera career in 1970, guest-starring in roles on "one day at a time", "st. elsewhere", "carnivàle", "jag", "coach" and "king of the hill". she played a key role in the emmy award-winning episode "cousin liz" of "all in the family" and portrayed the mother of april stevens ewing in several episodes of the penultimate season of "dallas". she played daisy larue in the tv show "meet the browns" and appeared as mrs. monroe, gabe duncan's teacher, in "good luck charlie". she also appeared in the third-season finale of "desperate housewives" as ilene britt, the mother of edie britt (nicollette sheridan), and has portrayed lily's maternal grandmother on several episodes of "how i met your mother". she played the part of charlie (as an elderly woman) in "heroes" for one episode.