Actress Vicki Lawrence gained widespread recognition for her role as the grouchy grandmother Thelma Harper in the television series “Mama’s Family.”
The sitcom “Mama’s Family” debuted on NBC on January 23, 1983, and ran until February 24, 1990, when it aired its last episode. The comedy’s last episode aired on February 24, 1990.
Lawrence cherished her time spent in the role of Harper, but she yearned for the opportunity to transform her character into a more relatable version of herself. The actress did not want the directors of the movie to think of her solely as a mother from the role she played in “Mama’s Family.”
She pointed out that the producers believed she wouldn’t mind being cast as an older woman since she was wealthy, but the reality was that she did care and badly desired a change:
“I want to play some of the housewife roles that go to Teri Garr, but they don’t think of me,” she said. “But I’ll keep trying.” They believe that I am umbilically tied to the Burnett organization due to the length of time that I have been involved with it.
Since the actress began playing Harper when she was just 24 years old, it was a blow to her ego when audiences were unable to differentiate between her younger self and the older version of the character she portrayed. She came clean and said:
“If I ran for governor dressed as Thelma in any of the states east of the Mississippi, I would easily win.” People in more rural parts of the United States adore Mama. She is truthful and open in her communication. However, it would be discouraging to have Mama as the sole aspect of my identity.
Because Lawrence wanted to be seen in a different light, she became the hostess of “The Great American Homemaker,” a show that offered advice on subjects such as raising children and pets, preparing meals, and doing repairs around the house.
The fact that the program was geared at moms in their 20s and 30s made Lawrence delighted since she believed that she was the ideal candidate for the position. The actress said that hosting the program would help transform people’s perceptions of her in the following ways:
“It’s great to be myself and to be able to establish that I’m not yet 65 years old and that I wasn’t born with gray hair. My ambition in life is to perform in a stage production of an ingenue only once. It’s also important to tell my husband that he won’t be sleeping with Thelma, so do that now.
Before playing Harper and becoming a presenter on “The Great American Homemaker,” Lawrence had already settled down with her second husband.
Lawrence wed her closest companion, who is completely devoted to her.
Lawrence Russell, a country music composer, became her husband when she was only 23 years old. She said that her marriage to Russell only “lasted about 10 minutes.”
In the brief time that they were married, Lawrence recorded Russell’s song “The Night the Lights Went Out” in the state of Georgia. The album quickly climbed to the top spot on the charts.
After the dissolution of her marriage to Russell, she began a romantic involvement with Al Schultz, the makeup artist she worked with at CBS. The program that Schultz was a part of, “The Carol Burnett Show,” went off the air, but she continued to do her makeup. The actress has nothing but admiration for Schultz:
“If you didn’t know better, you’d assume he was a genuine moose, yet he has a soft touch. Who else could be that fantastic in bed, and then have to put their eyelashes back on the next morning?
Lawrence asserts that Carol Burnett was the one who located and introduced her to her future spouse. She said, “Carol has been largely responsible for most everything in my adult life,” and she went on to explain why.
The actress went on to say that as she was chatting with Schultz, Burnett was passing by while he was waiting in the dressing area. Burnett said to the secretary that Schultz was quite cute and that she ought to get him on the program.
Soon after that, Lawrence and Schultz tied the knot. Schultz took his retirement from CBS in order to devote his whole attention to managing the actress’s career and seeing to the financial needs of the family. On occasion, though, he did make-up for female clients such as Peggy Lee and Lena Home.
In addition to this, Schultz focused his attention on his role as a doting and affectionate parent to the couple’s two children, Courtney Allison Schultz and Garrett Lawrence Schultz.
The actress, together with her husband and two children, as well as their two dogs, a yellow Labrador named Molly and a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen named Lucas, make their home on the beach in California. Their gorgeous custom house is 4,200 square feet, making it an ideal space for hosting gatherings of friends and family.
The residence has a total of five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a three-car garage with storage space, and one of the bedrooms is situated below. In addition to that, there is a newly refurbished kitchen, a fireplace, and a gaming area with an integrated bar. Both a fireplace and soaring ceilings may be found in the master bedroom suite.
The living area of the house has both a fireplace and a wet bar. There is a balcony on each floor of the home, and each balcony has a view of the bay. The home is situated next to a boat dock on open sea that has a total of sixty pierheads and provides enough for a large yacht.
In addition to having one of the tiniest homes on the street, the couple did not employ a maid to reside in the home with them. Vicki said that the fact that she had no support insured that she “can run around naked in the middle of the night if I want to.” The couple has maintained their commitment to one another and continues to enjoy their marriage. Lawrence said:
“We still say, it’s almost like God said you two idiots belong together and hit us with a lightning bolt because we were really good friends, and we still are,” she added. “We still say, it’s almost like God said you two idiots belong together.”
The actress who plays Beth on “Young Americans” said that Schultz was there for her through the ups and downs of their marriage at all times. She referred to Schultz as her “best friend” and said that it was easy for her to face the difficult points in their marriage since her spouse kept her smiling all the time.
Additionally, the couple collaborated in the raising of their children. While Schultz was a dedicated parent to the children, Lawrence’s primary focus was on the caregiving responsibilities that came with being a mother. They were fortunate to have the assistance of both sets of grandparents when it came to taking care of the children.
On the occasion of Courtney’s 12th birthday, the attentive father that Schultz was pulled her out of school for a lunch date. In addition, he was the one who performed her makeup for the Cleopatra costume she wore for Halloween in 1985.
Schultz made sure the kids made their beds every morning. On the other side, Lawrence would accompany Courtney when she shopped for things to go to school. She gave her daughter the advice to conceal her very first bra so that her brother wouldn’t tease her about it.
On the majority of weekday afternoons, Lawrence would transport both Courtney and Garrett to their respective dancing classes and baseball games. She said that as a mother, “I try to keep my children’s lives down to earth, but down to earth today is fabulous.” She meant it in a positive way.
In addition, Lawrence and her husband spent time with one another engaging in a variety of hobbies. The actress would get her workout on by driving her Porsche to the nearby health club first thing in the morning. Her spouse would eventually come to join her in a different Rolls Royce.
Even now that they are both in their golden years, the duo never fails to make each other laugh. Once, on the occasion of National Tight End Day, Lawrence posted a picture of herself and her spouse on her Instagram account with the message, “A guy with a nice tight end has it forever.” One of Lawrence’s fans recalled that the actor had made the following comment many years ago:
“During the live concert I saw many years ago, you made a comment about how adorable your husband’s butt was, and I still remember it. Vikki, he is so adorable; you made the right choice.”
In addition, Lawrence was really fortunate to have wed a guy who was concerned about her mental health as well as her relationships with her friends. A home-cooked meal was on the agenda for the couple when they paid a visit to Betty White’s residence a few years after their marriage.
White was a longtime friend of Lawrence’s and appeared with her in the television shows “Eunice,” “Mama’s Family,” and “The Carole Burnette Show.” When the two people were welcomed to White’s home, they ate together and then played games together while having a great time and laughing a lot.
On the way back to their apartment, Schultz said to Lawrence, “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but if anything were to happen to you, I could date Betty White.” Schultz admired White and valued the bond that she and Lawrence had with one another. In response, Lawrence said
“All right, honey, let me tell you something. If anything were to happen to you, I’d have the opportunity to date Betty White.
After White’s passing, Lawrence said that she had a lot to learn from White and that White was always there for her. She recounted an incident in which her cat Sophie was hurt when she was hit by a bicycle that was being ridden by a child in the neighborhood. According to the actress, the cat’s front legs were broken, and she stated the animal looked like a little Frankenstein with splints.
At the time that this accident took place, Schultz instructed Lawrence to get herself a glass of wine and give Betty a call. In addition, Lawrence stole Schultz’s credit card so that he could take Sophie to an orthopedic specialist, despite the fact that Sophie’s husband promised that they would not be putting her down.
While Lawrence was going through the emotional turmoil of seeing the suffering of her cat at that same time, White and White’s husband were both there for her in their own special manner.
The attentive spouse of actress Jennifer Lawrence made sure that she was diagnosed with an incurable disease as soon as possible. The actress reported feeling itchy in her palms and hands after waking up one morning with the problem. She kidded with her husband that her itchiness was a sign that they would win a significant sum of money, so she encouraged him to go purchase a lottery ticket.
The pair chuckled, but the actress realized something was wrong when she dipped her hand in the water and the itch did not go away. She immediately realized something was wrong. It occurred to her once again the next day, and when it did, her whole body itched. She pointed out that:
“I remember running into the house and going straight into the bathroom to pull my shirt up because it started on my stomach and moved to my back, my thighs, and my butt.” “It started on my stomach and went to my back, my thighs, and my butt.”
Schultz, who was there in the restroom at the same time as the actress, saw large red welts at the locations where the woman had scratched herself. He recommended that Lawrence have himself checked out by an allergist. Lawrence was advised by the allergist that a battle with hives is something that happens to everyone at some point in their life and that the problem will go away in 10 days.
When Schultz’s symptoms did not improve within the allotted time frame of six weeks, she returned to the allergist, who gave her the diagnosis of chronic idiopathic urticaria. The body may be affected by the illness whenever it chooses since there is no specific trigger for it. The actress continued by saying:
Because there are several potential treatments for this condition, it is essential to consult with an allergist who is experienced in managing it. Although there is no known cure for it, it is treatable.
Even though Lawrence struggles with a disease that is not the same as a conventional allergy, she and her husband continue to enjoy their life and the time they spend together to the fullest.
The Happiness of the Actress Is Due to Her Husband Even though she has been diagnosed with a condition that cannot be cured, Lawrence and her husband have a love that has been so powerful that it has endured for four decades and counting. The actress posts several cute photos of them together on the internet on a regular basis. In one of the photos, a contented Lawrence is seen leaning her head on the cheerful shoulder of her husband.
She used the opportunity to celebrate her husband’s birthday by referring to him as her “hubby” and “baby daddy” and expressing her undying love for him.
In a different shot that she uploaded on Instagram, Lawrence referred to both her husband and the couple’s dog as her “sweeties.” In the picture, Schultz can be seen hanging out with their dog and having a good time. He caressed the fluffy white dog’s stomach as he held it on his lap and stroked its hair.
When the two go on vacation together, they always have a good time together. During the holiday season of 2014, a photo shot at the airport shows the pair playing the “Wheels of Fortune” game as they wait to board their flight. The image was taken at the airport. The pair radiated beauty and giddiness as they prepared for their holiday trip.
They also have game evenings, as shown by Lawrence’s post on Instagram in which he posted a photo of Schultz sitting at a table covered with poker chips with the words “Big Al’s game night @ our house.” PuhPuhPuhPokerFace!” Schultz seemed to be prepared to begin the game while holding a card in his hands.
The meals that Schultz serves to his wife are prepared by him. In one of the photos, he is seen preparing a BBQ, and as it was finishing up, he is relaxing with his dog while holding a glass of wine and some food on a plate. Schultz seemed to be so at ease in the photo that he did not even have shoes on.
However, Schultz is not the only one who has a talent for preparing delectable dishes for their guests. The meals for the whole family are also prepared by the actress’s son. When Lawrence told her audience that her son was going to make spaghetti for her, she couldn’t contain her excitement. He was referred to by her as “the chef.”
Even after such a long time together, Lawrence and Schultz have not lost their passionate affection for one another. On the occasion of their 43rd wedding anniversary, the actress published a post in which she said that, if given the opportunity, she would get married to him all over again. She congratulated her husband, the man who commanded her emotions, on their wedding anniversary over the phone.