Doris Roberts was born Doris May Green on November 4, 1925, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Ann (née Meltzer) and Larry Green. Her father abandoned the family when she was young, and she was raised by her mother and maternal grandparents in The Bronx, New York.

Her stepfather, Chester H. Roberts, whose surname she later adopted, operated a stenographic service catering to playwrights and actors. She developed an interest in acting while performing in a kindergarten play and honed her skills at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.

Doris Roberts began her acting career in 1951 with a role on the television series "Studio One". Over the years, she appeared in numerous TV shows and films, including "The Naked City," "Ben Casey," "The Defenders," and "Remington Steele".

She made her film debut in "Something Wild" in 1961 and went on to appear in films such as "The Honeymoon Killers," "Little Murders," "Hester Street," and "Rabbit Test". Her career spanned seven decades, and she was known for her versatility and ability to bring depth to her characters.

One of her most memorable roles was as Marie Barone on the CBS sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," which aired from 1996 to 2005. Her performance earned her four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

She also received an Emmy for a guest appearance on "St. Elsewhere" in 1983. In addition to her television work, Doris Roberts appeared in films such as "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and "Madea's Witness Protection".

Doris Roberts was married twice. Her first marriage was to Michael E. Cannata in 1956, and they had a son, Michael Cannata Jr., before divorcing in 1962.

She later married writer William Goyen in 1963, and they remained together until his death in 1983. Doris Roberts passed away on April 17, 2016, at the age of 90 in Los Angeles, California.