From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Estelle Margaret Parsons (born November 20, 1927) is an American theatre, film and television actress and occasional theatrical director. After studying law, Parsons became a singer before deciding to pursue a career in acting. She worked for the television program Today and made her stage debut in 1961. During the 1960s, Parsons established her career on Broadway before progressing to film. She received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for he...