Alison La Placa

Alison La Placa (born December 16, 1959) is an American actress best known for the role of acid-tongued yuppie Linda Phillips in the Fox sitcoms Duet and its spin-off Open House, both of which aired in the late 1980s.

Alison La Placa
Born (1959-12-16) December 16, 1959
OccupationActress
Spouse(s)Philip Charles MacKenzie (1992–present)

Biography

Early life and career

La Placa is a graduate of Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.[1] She attended Illinois Wesleyan University, where she majored in drama. She performed in a circus show, Circus Fantastic, at Marriott's Great America, now Six Flags Great America.

Before moving to Los Angeles La Placa worked as a cocktail waitress at Chicago's Palmer House on Michigan Ave.

Shortly after moving to Hollywood, La Placa landed the part of Elyse in television sitcom version of Barry Levinson's film Diner. That pilot did not get picked up, and soon thereafter La Placa got a part in the made-for-TV movie Listen to Your Heart (1983).

Later career

The following year La Placa earned a regular spot on Suzanne Pleshette Is Maggie Briggs (1984). She had a small part in Fletch (1985) and she subsequently played Linda Phillips on the series Duet (from 1987 to 1989) and Open House (from 1989 to 1990). LaPlaca also played opposite Kirstie Alley in the 1990 movie Madhouse, with co-star John Larroquette.

La Placa has guest-starred on series including ER, Cheers, Family Ties, Desperate Housewives, and Friends (as Rachel's boss, Joanna). She was a regular on Stat (1991), The Jackie Thomas Show (1992), Tom (1994), and the NBC sitcom The John Larroquette Show (from 1994 to 1996). La Placa has also guest-starred on animated series such as Johnny Bravo.

She has been married to TV actor/director Philip Charles MacKenzie (her costar on Open House) since 1992.[2]

She also played the character of Andrea in the TV series Boston Legal in two episodes in season 4 ("Glow in the Dark" and "Rescue Me"). She also appeared in Malcolm in the Middle as Barbara in the episode "Convention" and in a recurring role on ’Til Death as Beth, Joy's coworker.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Voyage of the Rock Aliens Diane Credited as Alison Laplaca
1985 Fletch Pan Am Clerk
1990 Madhouse Claudia

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Listen to Your Heart Lynn Television film
1984 Diner Elyse Television short
1984 Maggie Briggs Melanie Bitterman Episode: "A New Leaf"
1984 Family Ties Barbara Episode: "Fabric Smarts"
1985 Cheers Paula Nelson Episode: "Behind Every Great Man"
1985 Brothers Annie Todson Episode: "The Shoop Shoop Shop"
1985 Murder:By Reason of Insanity Janet Landry Television film Credited as Alison LaPlaca
1986 Remington Steele Joan Kendall Episode: "Steele in the Running"
1986 Second Serve Nightclub Singer Television film
1987 Our House Ann Tollfeson Episode: " The Best Intentions"
1987 Fame Ms. Audrey Fleming Episode: "The Crimson Blade"
1987-1989 Duet Linda Phillips Main role

(seasons 1-3)

1989-1990 Open House Linda Phillips Main role

(season 1)

1991 Stat Dr. Elizabeth Newberry Main role

(season 1)

1991 In The Nick of Time Susan Rosewell Television film
1992-1993 The Jackie Thomas Show Laura Miller Main role

(season 1)

1994 Batman: The Animated Series Baby-Doll / Mary Louise Dahl Episode: "Baby-Doll" Credited as Alison Laplaca
1994 Tom Dorothy Graham Main role

(season 1)

1994-1996 The John Larroquette Show Catherine Merrick Recurring role; 49 episodes
1997 Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man Marion Episode: "With Friends Like These"
1997 Temporarily Yours Lily Greer Episode: "By Design"
1997 Johnny Bravo Lois/Brunette Episode: "Going Batty/Berry the Butler/Red Faced in the White House" Credited as Alison LaPlaca
1997 Friends Joanna Recurring role; 3 episodes Credited as Alison LaPlaca
1998 7th Heaven Carolyn Fulton Episode: "...And a Nice Chianti"
1999 Hercules Additional voices Episode: "Hercules and the Odyssey Experience"
2000 Malcolm in the Middle Barbara Episode: "Convention" Credited as Alison LaPlaca
2001 Nathan's Choice Pilot Television short
2002 ER Female Lawyer Episode: "Lockdown"
2006 Desperate Housewives Rita Patterson Episode: "The Miracle Song" Credited as Alison LaPlaca
2007 The O.C. Dr. James Episode: "The Groundhog Day" Credited as Alison Laplaca
2007 Grey's Anatomy Mrs. Nolston Recurring role; 2 episodes Credited as Alison LaPlaca
2008 Boston Legal Andrea Michele Recurring role; 2 episodes Credited as Alison LaPlaca
2008-2010 'Til Death Beth Recurring role; 3 episodes Credited as Alison LaPlaca
2009 Lie to Me Diane Ktretschmer Episode: "Do No Harm" Credited as Alison LaPlaca
2009 Without a Trace Mary Whitman Episode: "Voir Dire" Credited as Alison LaPlaca
2010 15 Minutes Goldie Television short
2011 Man Up! Caroll Episode: "Acceptance"
2012 Up All Night Gail Reinhold Episode: "Preschool Auction" Credited as Alison LaPlaca
2014 Mom Louanne Episode: "Forged Resumes and the Recommended Dosage" Credited as Alison LaPlaca

References

  1. Nenni, Pete. "Stevenson grads make a name for themselves in television roles", Daily Herald (Arlington Heights), May 13, 2003.
  2. Castro, Peter (May 15, 1995). "A Place to Call Home". People. 43 (19). Archived from the original on June 2, 2009.
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