Elizabeth "Beth" Howland (born May 28, 1941) is an American actress. She has worked on stage and television. Howland is best known for playing Vera on the sitcom Alice, inspired by the Martin Scorsese film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.Howland also originated the role of Amy in the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim's Company, in which she introduced the patter song "Getting Married Today."