Estelle Harris
Estelle Harris (née Nussbaum; born April 4, 1928)[3] is an American actress, known for her exaggerated shrill, grating voice. She is best known for her roles as Estelle Costanza on Seinfeld, the voice of Mrs. Potato Head in the Toy Story franchise, Muriel in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, and Mama Gunda in Tarzan II.
Estelle Harris | |
|---|---|
 Harris at the premiere of Ponyo in June 2009 | |
| Born | Estelle Nussbaum April 4, 1928 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)[1] |
| Spouse(s) | Sy Harris (m. 1953) |
| Children | 3[2] |
Early life
Harris was born Estelle Nussbaum in Manhattan, New York on April 4, 1928, the younger of two daughters of Isaac ("Ira") and Anna Nussbaum, Polish Jewish immigrants who owned a candy store.[4] She moved to Tarentum, Pennsylvania, when she was seven years old to live near her aunt and uncle, who asked her father to work in their candy store. She graduated from Tarentum High School.[1]
Career
Harris pursued acting in earnest after her children grew up and achieved early success in television commercials, even logging 23 spots in a year at one point. One of her most-famous commercials found her energetically singing the praises of Handi-Wrap II.
In 1977, Harris began her career in Looking Up. She later became widely known for her supporting role as Estelle Costanza on Seinfeld. In Star Trek: Voyager, she portrayed the Old Woman who was actually a projection of the Nechani Spirits, in the unusually spiritual third-season Voyager episode "Sacred Ground," which aired on October 20, 1996. She played a small role as Bridget in Out to Sea (1997). In Toy Story 2 (1999), she provided the voice of Mrs. Potato Head and would continue to reprise the role for the franchise. In 2005, she lent her voice to Mama Gunda in Tarzan II. In The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Harris had a recurring role as Muriel. In 2007, she appeared in Brad Paisley's music video for the song "Online."[5] Harris reprised her role of Mrs. Potato Head in Toy Story 3 (2010). She portrayed Bertha Kristal, the mother of CBGB founder Hilly Kristal, in CBGB (2013).
Her other voice work includes Lula in Dave the Barbarian, Mama Lipsky in Kim Possible, Thelma in The Proud Family, Mrs. Turtle in Mickey Mouse Works and House of Mouse, Death's nagging mother in Family Guy, the Old Lady Bear in Brother Bear (2003), and Audrey in Home on the Range (2004). She also provided the voice of Marty's Wife in the American Dad! episode "In Country...Club."[6]
Harris reprised her role of Mrs. Potato Head in Toy Story 4 (2019).
Personal life
Since 1953, Harris has been married to window treatment salesman Sy Harris.[2] They have two sons and one daughter.[2]
Harris had previously resided in Port Washington, New York. Currently, she resides in West Hollywood, California.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Once Upon a Time in America | Thelma | |
| 1988 | Stand and Deliver | Jackie Harris | |
| 1992 | This Is My Life | Aunt Harriet | |
| 1995 | Perfect Alibi | Aunt Dorothy | |
| 1995 | The West Side Waltz | Estelle | |
| 1997 | Out to Sea | Bridget | |
| 1998 | Chairman of the Board | Ms. Krubavitch | |
| 1998 | The Odd Couple II | Peaches | |
| 1998 | My Giant | Aunt Pearl | |
| 1999 | Lost & Found | Mrs. Stubblefield | |
| 1999 | Toy Story 2 | Mrs. Potato Head (voice) | |
| 2000 | What's Cooking? | Aunt Bea | |
| 2000 | Dancing in September | Sally | |
| 2000 | Playing Mona Lisa | Aunt Velva | |
| 2001 | Good Advice | Iris | |
| 2003 | Brother Bear | Old Lady Bear | Voice |
| 2004 | Home on the Range | Audrey (voice) | |
| 2004 | Teacher's Pet | Mrs. Boogin (voice) | |
| 2005 | Tarzan II | Mama Gunda (voice) | |
| 2006 | Queer Duck: The Movie | Mrs. Duckstein (voice) | |
| 2007 | The Grand | Ruth Melvin | |
| 2010 | Toy Story 3 | Mrs. Potato Head (voice) | |
| 2010 | Movin' In | Arlene Taylor | |
| 2011 | Hawaiian Vacation | Mrs. Potato Head (voice) | Short film |
| 2011 | Small Fry | Mrs. Potato Head (voice) | Short film |
| 2012 | Partysaurus Rex | Mrs. Potato Head (voice) | Short film |
| 2013 | CBGB | Bertha Kristal | |
| 2015 | Promoted | Sylvia Silver | |
| 2019 | Toy Story 4 | Mrs. Potato Head (voice) |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–1986 | Night Court | Easy Mary | 3 episodes |
| 1987 | Married... with Children | Delilah | Episode: "Al Loses His Cherry" |
| 1990 | Mathnet | Agnes | Episode: "The Case of the Swami Scam" |
| 1991 | Brooklyn Bridge | Esther Shapiro | Episode: "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" |
| 1992 | Law & Order | Mrs. Rachlin | Episode: "Intolerance" |
| 1992 | Mad About You | Mother Thelma | Episode: "Sofia's Choice" |
| 1992–1998 | Seinfeld | Estelle Costanza | 27 episodes |
| 1993 | Good Advice | Ronnie Cohen | 5 episodes |
| 1995 | Chicago Hope | Thelma Johnson (uncredited) | Episode: "Heartbreak" |
| 1995 | Aladdin | Additional voices | Episode: "While the City Snoozes" |
| 1995–1997 | The Pinocchio Shop | Zinnia Flugelschwartz | Series regular 78 episodes |
| 1995 | Timon & Pumbaa | Timon's Mother (voice) | Episode: "Mombasa-In-Law/The Laughing Hyenas: TV Dinner" |
| 1995 | In the House | Mrs. Claus | Episode: "Christmas Story" |
| 1996 | Night Stand | Mary the Real Mother | Episode: "Dick Goes Home" |
| 1996 | The Mask | Lt. Kellaway's Mother (voice) | Episode: "The Mother of All Hoods" |
| 1996 | The Tick | Arthur's Mother (voice) | Episode: "The Tick vs. Dot and Neil's Wedding" |
| 1996 | Star Trek: Voyager | Old Woman | Episode: "Scared Ground" |
| 1997 | Moesha | Frances Howie | Episode: "Break a Leg" |
| 1997 | Living Single | Esther Brooks | Episode: "Back in the Day" |
| 1997 | Cybill | Woman | Episode: "From Boca, with Love" |
| 1998 | Addams Family Reunion | Grandma Addams | Television film |
| 1998 | Hercules | Phil's Mother (voice) | Episode: "Hercules and the King for a Day" |
| 1998 | The Wild Thornberrys | Iguana/Turtle (voice) | Episode: "Eliza-cology" |
| 1998 | Godzilla: The Series | Old Lady/Receptionist (voice) | Episode: "What Dreams May Come" |
| 1998 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show | Herself | |
| 1999 | The Brothers Flub | Additional voices | 16 episodes |
| 1999 | Sunset Beach | Margaret Raynor | 3 episodes |
| 1999 | The Parkers | Miss Agnes | Episode: "Scammed Straight" |
| 1999–2000 | Mickey Mouse Works | Mrs. Turtle (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2000 | Providence | Darlene | Episode: "Syd in Wonderland" |
| 2000 | Queer Duck | Mrs. Duckstein (voice) | 5 episodes |
| 2001 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Dora | Episode: "Sabrina, the Muse" |
| 2001 | The Kids from Room 402 | Aunt Cookie (voice) | Episode: "Uncle Bonehead" |
| 2001 | Family Guy | Death's Mother (voice) | Episode: "Death Lives" |
| 2002 | House of Mouse | Mrs. Turtle (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2002 | Weakest Link | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2002 | Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2003 | Half & Half | Grandma Sophie | Episode: "The Big Phat Mouth Episode: Part 2" |
| 2003 | Regular Joe | Aunt Mickie | Episode: "Boobysitting" |
| 2003 | The Proud Family | Helga (voice) | Episode: "Thelma and Luis" |
| 2003 | Test the Nation | 1 episode | |
| 2004 | Kim Possible | Mama Lipsky (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2004 | Kramer vs. Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo | Herself | |
| 2004–2005 | Dave the Barbarian | Lula (voice) | 21 episodes |
| 2005 | Tripping the Rift | Estelle | Episode: "Roswell" |
| 2005 | Phil of the Future | Older Pim | Episode: "Maybe-Sitting" |
| 2005–2008 | The Suite Life of Zack & Cody | Muriel | 14 episodes |
| 2006 | Mind of Mencia | 1 episode | |
| 2006 | ER | Mrs. Markovic | Episode: "Bloodline" |
| 2007 | iCarly | Mrs. Halberstadt | Episode: "iScream on Halloween" |
| 2007 | The Emperor's New School | Mrs. Mudka | Episode: "The Emperor's New Home School/Mudka's Secret Recipe" |
| 2007 | Case Closed | Madame | Television film |
| 2008 | Can You Teach My Alligator Manners? | Nana | Episode: "Nana's Visit" |
| 2009 | American Dad! | Marty's Wife (voice) | Episode: "I'm Country... Club" |
| 2009 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Estelle Costanza / Herself | Episode: "The Table Read" |
| 2009–2010 | Made in Hollywood | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 2009–2014 | Fanboy & Chum Chum | Oz's Mother (voice) | 11 episodes |
| 2010 | Sonny with a Chance | Grace Gallagher | Episode: "Random Acts of Disrespect" |
| 2010 | The Bonnie Hunt Show | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2010 | KTLA Morning News | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Totally Tracked Down | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2011 | The Looney Tunes Show | Sylvester's Mother (voice) | Episode: "Point, Laser Point" |
| 2012 | Futurama | Velma Farnsworth (voice) | Episode: "Near-Death Wish" |
| 2012 | Greetings from Home | Nana | 12 episodes |
| 2013 | The Exes | Mother | Episode: "Zero Dark Forties" |
| 2014–2015 | Jake and the Never Land Pirates | Peg-Leg Peg (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | The Slice | Mima D'Angelo | Television film |
References
- Mills, Nancy (October 1, 1995). "A Mother Figure". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- Mendoza, N. F. (January 29, 1995). "With An Eye On...Why Estelle Harris wants to be a full-time mom to her boy George on 'Seinfeld'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- Born in 1928 as per both the 1930 United States census, which lists Isaac Nussbaum (age 30) as "Head", Anna Nussbaum (age 30) as "Wife" and Minnie (age 9) and Estelle (age 2) as "Daughter[s]", New York City. Ward 6th Assembly District; Date: April 6, 1930.
- Per 1930 U.S. census data
- "Brad Paisley gets in tune with "Online" video". Country Standard Times. June 25, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- "In Country... Club". IMDb. American Dad. September 27, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
External links
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