Estelle Harris, a talented comedian and actress who entertained millions via more than one memorable role, has died. She was 93.
Born Estelle Nussbaum in New York City on April 22, 1928, Harris began pursuing acting at assorted amateur community theatres while raising her children, and went on to find incredible success both on stage and screen.
Though she might be best known for playing George Costanza's (Jason Alexander) mother Estelle on iconic TV sitcom Seinfeld, she enjoyed a wide-ranging career in ads, shows and movies.
On the small screen, she appeared in (or voiced characters for) the likes of Futurama, The Looney Tunes Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, ER, Dave The Barbarian, Kim Possible, The Proud Family, House Of Mouse, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Godzilla: The Series, The Wild Thornberrys, Hercules, Cybill, Star Trek: Voyager, The Tick, Mad About You, Married… with Children and Night Court.
Her most memorable film role remains that of Mrs. Potato Head in three of the four Toy Story movies, though other film roles included CBGB, Playing Mona Lisa, What’s Cooking?, Lost & Found, My Giant, The Odd Couple II, Chairman Of The Board, Out To Sea, This Is My Life, Stand And Deliver, Once Upon A Time In America, Summerdog and Looking Up.
“It is with the greatest remorse and sadness to announce that Estelle Harris has passed on this evening at 6:25pm,” her son Glen Harris told Deadline. “Her kindness, passion, sensitivity, humor, empathy and love were practically unrivaled, and she will be terribly missed by all those who knew her.”
Alexander, her TV son, also paid tribute.