Elsa Raven
Elsa Rabinowitz (September 21, 1929 – November 2, 2020), known professionally as Elsa Raven, was an American character actress, perhaps best known for her two years (1988–1990) on the sitcom Amen and playing the mother of Vincent Terranova (Ken Wahl) on the TV series Wiseguy.[1]
Elsa Raven | |
|---|---|
| Born | Elsa Rabinowitz September 21, 1929 |
| Died | November 2, 2020 (aged 91) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1961–2011 |
Raven is also known for her small but memorable role in Back to the Future (1985) as the clock tower lady with her phrase "Save the clock tower!" while gathering local donations to preserve the clock as-is, in opposition to Mayor Wilson's initiative to replace the clock altogether. She played Ida Straus in the 1997 film Titanic along with Lew Palter, who played Isidor Straus,[2] and had a voice role in the 1981 animated film American Pop.[3]
Raven adhered to Judaism.[4] Raven died on November 2, 2020 in Los Angeles at the age of 91.[5][6] Upon her death, she was cremated and her ashes returned to her family.
Filmography
Film appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | The Honeymoon Killers | Matron | |
| 1971 | The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight | Mrs. Water Buffalo | |
| Lady Liberty | Policewoman | Uncredited | |
| South of Hell Mountain | |||
| 1972 | A Fan's Notes | Deborah | |
| 1979 | The Cracker Factory | Tourist | |
| The Amityville Horror | Mrs. Townsend | ||
| 1980 | Fatso | Phil's Wife | |
| 1981 | American Pop | Hannele | Voice |
| The Postman Always Rings Twice | Matron | ||
| Paternity | Pre-natal Nurse | ||
| 1983 | Second Thoughts | Large Nurse | |
| Twilight Zone: The Movie | Nurse No. 2 | Segment "Kick the Can" | |
| 1985 | Back to the Future | Clocktower Lady | |
| Creator | Mrs. Mallory | ||
| 1988 | The Moderns | Gertrude Stein | |
| 1991 | Another You | Volunteer | |
| 1993 | Indecent Proposal | Citizenship Student | |
| In the Line of Fire | Booth's Landlady | ||
| Fearless | Grey Haired Lady | ||
| 1995 | One Night Stand | Mrs. Salvatore | |
| 1997 | Titanic | Ida Straus | |
| 2001 | Face to Face | Grandma | |
| 2002 | The 4th Tenor | Mama | |
| 2005 | The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green | Senior Lady | |
| The Cutter | Mrs. Rosen | ||
| Laying Down Arms | Ester | Short movie | |
| 2006 | Miriam | Aunt Levya | |
| 2009 | Dead Game | Boogie | Short movie |
| 2011 | They're with Me | Great Great Grandma Fanny Feiner | Short movie |
| Answers to Nothing | Mrs. Harrison |
TV appearances
- Million Dollar Infield (1982) – Dr. Isabel Armen
- Quincy, M.E. (1978–1982) – Miss Beck – FDA / Miss Coroner Judge / Nurse Angela Davenport
- The A-Team (1983–1984) – Clara Dickerson / Dr. Marian Ericson
- Highway to Heaven (1985) – Ms. Zabenko
- Family Ties (1986, episode 84 "Checkmate") – 'Mildred Atkins'
- General Hospital (1986) – Tessie
- Freddy's Nightmares (1988) – Mrs. Wildmon
- Amen (1989–1990) – Inga
- Wiseguy (1987–1990) – Carlotta Terranova Aiuppo
- Get a Life (1991) – Marta
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1992) – Ida Pollock
- Murphy Brown (1993) – Mrs. Kobolakis
- Seinfeld (1994) – Mom
- 3rd Rock from the Sun (1999) – Aunt Florence
- Everybody Loves Raymond (2004) – Mrs. Lopman
- ER (2008) – Rosemary Smalls
References
- "Elsa Raven". The New York Times.
- Heyer, Paul (2012). Titanic Century: Media, Myth, and the Making of a Cultural Icon. ABC-CLIO. p. 158. ISBN 9780313398155.
- Canby, Vincent (February 13, 1981). "'American Pop' Grown-Up Animation". The New York Times. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- "Back to the Future and Seinfeld actress Elsa Raven dies at 91". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
- Neil, Genzlinger (November 5, 2020). "Elsa Raven, 'Back to the Future' Character Actress, Dies at 91". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "'Back to the Future' Writer Bob Gale Pays Tribute to "Memorable" Elsa Raven | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com.
External links
- Elsa Raven at IMDb