Alice Playten (née Plotkin; August 28, 1947 – June 25, 2011) was an American actress known for her high-pitched, child-like voice.
Alice Playten | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Alice Plotkin August 28, 1947 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | June 25, 2011 (aged 63) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1959–2009 |
| Spouse | Joshua White (m. 1982) |
Life and career
Born in New York City, Playten began her career in 1959 at age 11, playing Marie's young son in the Metropolitan Opera's original production of Alban Berg's Wozzeck.[1] Her Broadway credits included Gypsy, Oliver!, Henry, Sweet Henry, Hello, Dolly!, Rumors, Seussical, and Caroline, or Change.
Her many off-Broadway credits include Promenade, The Last Sweet Days of Isaac, Up from Paradise, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You, First Lady Suite, A Flea in Her Ear, National Lampoon's Lemmings, and Shlemiel the First.[1]
Playten's screen credits include Ladybug Ladybug (1963), Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name? (1971), California Dreaming (1979), Legend (1985), and I.Q. (1994). She wore heavy makeup and prosthetics in Legend to portray the character of Blix, a major minion of the Lord of Darkness; she also dubbed the voice of Gump. She did voice work in several animated features, including Felix the Cat (as Pearl), Really Rosie (as an alligator), Heavy Metal (as Gloria), Doug (as Beebe Bluff and Elmo), Doug's 1st Movie and My Little Pony: The Movie.
She was a regular on the children's television series The Lost Saucer and That's Cat, appeared in National Lampoon's Disco Beaver from Outer Space during the early days of HBO, and had guest shots on Frasier, Law & Order, Third Watch, and As the World Turns, among others.
Playten may have been best known for her role of the newlywed who makes a gigantic dumpling as the first meal she cooks for her husband (Terry Kiser) in two classic 1969–1970 Alka-Seltzer commercials.[1]
Personal life and death
Playten was married to director Joshua White from no later than July 1982 until her death.[2][1]
Playten died on June 25, 2011, at Sloan-Kettering Hospital in Manhattan from heart failure after a lifetime of juvenile diabetes, complicated by pancreatic cancer.[1]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Ladybug Ladybug | Harriet | |
| 1971 | Who Killed Mary Whats'ername? | Della Isador | |
| 1978 | Petronella | Princess / Queen (voice) | |
| 1979 | California Dreaming | Corrine | |
| 1981 | Heavy Metal | Gloria (voice) | Segment: "So Beautiful and So Dangerous" |
| 1982 | Amityville II: The Possession | Deamons' voice (voice) | |
| 1985 | Legend | Blix | |
| 1986 | My Little Pony: The Movie | Baby Lickety-Split (voice) | |
| 1987 | The Big Bang | Una (voice) | |
| 1988 | Felix the Cat: The Movie | Pearl / Poindexter (voice) | |
| 1993 | For Love or Money | Mrs. Prissilla Bailey | |
| 1994 | I.Q. | Gretchen | |
| 1996 | MURDER and murder | Alice | |
| 1997 | The Amazing Feats of Young Hercules | The Gorgon (voice) | Video |
| 1999 | Doug's 1st Movie | Beebe Bluff / Elmo (voice) | |
| 1999 | Pioneer 12 | Mother | |
| 2003 | A Very Wompkee Christmas | Buster (voice) | Video |
| 2007 | Oy Vey! | Hannah | Short |
| 2009 | Hidden Treasure of Wompkee Wood | Buster (voice) | Video |
| 2009 | The Rebound | Sensei Dana |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | The Lost Saucer | Alice | Main role |
| 1975 | Really Rosie | Alligator (voice) | TV film |
| 1976 | That's Cat | Alice | Main role |
| 1978 | Disco Beaver from Outer Space | Various | HBO production |
| 1980 | The Pirates of Penzance | Edith Stanley | TV film |
| 1984 | Rescue at Midnight Castle | Baby Lickety-Split (voice) | TV film |
| 1985 | My Little Pony: Escape from Catrina | Baby Moondancer (voice) | TV film |
| 1991 | Monsters | Violet Mitla | "The Moving Finger" |
| 1991–94, 1996–1999 | Doug | Beebe Bluff (voice) Elmo (voice) Larry (in "Doug Rocks the House") | Recurring role |
| 1992 | Ghostwriter | Parrot (voice) | "Ghost Story: Parts 3 & 5" |
| 1994 | The Cosby Mysteries | Oona Dowd | TV film |
| 1997 | Remember WENN | Jane Smith (voice) | "Caller I.D." |
| 1998 | New York Undercover | Homeless Woman | "Spare Parts" |
| 1999 | Frasier | Bonnie | "Our Parents, Ourselves", "Shutout in Seattle: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2001 | Third Watch | Sandy | "The Self-Importance of Being Carlos" |
| 2001 | Law & Order | Dog Walker | "Who Let the Dogs Out?" |
| 2001 | The Education of Max Bickford | Mrs. Lynch | "A Very Great Man" |
| 2005 | As the World Turns | Mrs. Lovejoy | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | The Buzz on Maggie | Dawn's Lackey | Episode: Scum Bites |
| 2006 | The Book of Daniel | Francesca | "Acceptance", "Assignation" |
Awards and honors
- 1968 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Henry, Sweet Henry)[3]
- 1968 Theatre World Award (Henry, Sweet Henry)[4]
- 1973 Obie Award for Distinguished Performance (National Lampoon's Lemmings)[5]
- 1989 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Spoils of War)[6]
- 1994 Obie Award (First Lady Suite)[1]
References
External links
- Alice Playten at the Internet Broadway Database
- Alice Playten at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Alice Playten at IMDb
- Alice Playten at the TCM Movie Database
- Alice Playten Passes Away at 63
