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Why Doesn’t Roger Mourn His Mother’s Death?

Why Doesn’t Roger Mourn His Mother’s Death?

All about the offscreen matriarch

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Ben Crew
May 04, 2025
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Why Doesn’t Roger Mourn His Mother’s Death?
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I don’t know if I would call it a missed opportunity, but it does seem strange that Roger Sterling’s mother (who I always visualized being played by Elaine Stritch) is alive for five seasons of the show but never appears onscreen.

(© AMC/Lionsgate)
“She led an amazing life” (© AMC/Lionsgate)

She is occasionally mentioned as an influence on Roger’s wit and as Jane’s landlord but we never see her stumble into the office founded by Roger Sr. to down 15 vodka gimlets with her baby boy.

When she dies in Season 6 and Roger has no initial reaction, one begins to wonder if Roger even loved his mother.

So why doesn’t Roger Sterling mourn his mother’s death?

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