Elsa Raven obit

Elsa Raven Dies: ‘Save The Clock Tower’ Lady From ‘Back To The Future’ Was 91

 

She was not on the list.

Elsa Raven, a character actress whose memorable turns were highlighted by her role as the “Save The Clock Tower” lady in the original Back to the Future, died Tuesday at home in Los Angeles. Her death was confirmed by her agent, David Shaul.

Raven, whose real name was Elsa Rabinowitz, was born September 21, 1929, in Charleston, SC, the fourth child of Louis and Rosalie Rabinowitz. She started her acting career on stage in New York City, where she also assisted Joseph Papp in bringing the Free Shakespeare Festival to Central Park.

Her career included many character actress roles. Beyond Back to the Future (see her appearance in that film in the video above, starting at 1:36), she also played the realtor who sold the house in The Amityville Horror, John Malkovich’s landlady in In the Line of Fire, Gertrude Stein in The Moderns and the mother who lost her son in Fearless. She also played Ida Strauss in Titanic, in which most of her scenes were cut. But she was featured in the Celine Dion video for “My Heart Will Go On” as half of the older couple in the stateroom where water poured in.

She also had regular TV roles as Inga the Swedish maid on Amen, as Vinnie Terranova’s mother Carlotta on Wiseguy, as Lucille on Days of Our Lives, and as Tugboat Tessie on General Hospital.

She was a proud voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, diligently watching many movies every year.

Survivors include 15 nieces and nephews. No memorial plans have been announced.

Filmography 

Film appearances 

The Honeymoon Killers (1970) – Matron 

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971) – Mrs. Water Buffalo 

Lady Liberty (1971) – Policewoman (uncredited) 

South of Hell Mountain (1971) 

A Fan's Notes (1972) – Deborah 

The Cracker Factory (1979) – Tourist 

The Amityville Horror (1979) – Mrs. Townsend 

Fatso (1980) – Phil's Wife 

American Pop (1981) – Hannele (voice) 

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) – Matron 

Paternity (1981) – Pre-natal Nurse 

Second Thoughts (1983) – Large Nurse 

Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) – Nurse No. 2 (segment "Kick the Can") 

Back to the Future (1985) – Clocktower Lady 

Creator (1985) – Mrs. Mallory 

The Moderns (1988) – Gertrude Stein 

Another You (1991) – Volunteer 

Indecent Proposal (1993) – Citizenship Student 

In the Line of Fire (1993) – Booth's Landlady 

Fearless (1993) – Grey Haired Lady 

One Night Stand (1995) – Mrs. Salvatore 

Titanic (1997) – Ida Straus 

Face to Face (2001) – Grandma 

The 4th Tenor (2002) – Mama 

The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green (2005) – Senior Lady 

The Cutter (2005) – Mrs. Rosen 

Miriam (2006) – Aunt Levya 

Answers to Nothing (2011) – 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 

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