Born Name:  Selma Diamond

Born Date:  August 5, 1920

Born Place:  London, Ontario, Canada

Died Date:  May 13, 1985

Died Place:  Los Angeles, California

Occupations:  Comedian, actress, writer

Brief Biography:  Selma Diamond known for her raspy voice and sharp wit. She was a prolific writer for radio and TV giants like Sid Caesar before gaining fame as the feisty bailiff Selma Hacker on the sitcom Night Court (1984–1985), defining a tough, comedic persona.

Early Life and Career:
Writing Beginnings: A graduate of New York University, she started by selling cartoons and fiction to The New Yorker magazine.
Radio Writer: She broke into a male-dominated field, writing for stars like Rudy Vallee, Jimmy Durante, Groucho Marx, and for the radio program The Big Show.

Television and Writing Success:
Golden Age: She was a prominent writer for Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour in the 1950s, earning an Emmy nomination for the latter.
Inspiration: She was the main inspiration for the character of Sally Rogers on The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Comedy Style: Known for her dry wit and gravelly voice, she released a comedy album in 1960 titled "Selma Diamond Talks...And Talks And Talks And Talks...".

Acting Career and Night Court:
Film: Made her film debut as the voice on the telephone in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) and appeared in All of Me (1984).
Night Court: She was cast as the cynical, chain-smoking bailiff Selma Hacker on Night Court in 1984, becoming a beloved television personality.
Other TV: Appeared regularly on Too Close for Comfort and frequently on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.