Estelle Harris, Seinfeld Star and Toy Story Voice Actress, Dead at 93
She was number 281 on the list.
Estelle Harris has died due to natural causes in Palm Desert, Calif., PEOPLE confirms. She was 93.
The actress' family announced her death in a statement to Deadline on Saturday.
"It is with the greatest remorse and sadness to announce that Estelle Harris has passed on this evening at 6:25 p.m.," her son Glen Harris shared.
"Her kindness, passion, sensitivity, humor, empathy, and love were practically unrivaled, and she will be terribly missed by all those who knew her," he continued.
Harris was famous for playing Jason Alexander's character's mother Estelle Costanza on Seinfeld, as well as Mrs. Potato Head in the latter three Toy Story films. Additionally, she was well-known for her parts in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Tarzan II, The Pinocchio Shop, and many more iconic voice roles and commercials.
Alexander mourned his late TV mom with a Twitter tribute Saturday night, writing, "One of my favorite people has passed - my tv mama, Estelle Harris. The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. I adore you, Estelle. Love to your family. Serenity now and always."
Harris was born Estelle Nussbaum on April 4, 1928, in Manhattan, and got her start in Hollywood in Looking Up and then Once Upon a Time in America before landing a 3-episode gig on Night Court. She was married to her late husband Sy Harris from 1953 until his death in January 2021.
She is survived by three children — Eric, Glen, and Taryn — three grandsons, and a great-grandson.
After her children grew up, Harris pursued acting and achieved early success in television commercials, even logging 23 spots in a year at one point. One of her most-famous commercials had her energetically singing the praises of Handi-Wrap II.
In 1977, Harris began her long format acting career in the film Looking Up about three generations of a working class Jewish family in New York City. She 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 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."[7] 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 included 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 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."
Harris reprised her role of Mrs. Potato Head in Toy Story 4 (2019), which was her final film role.
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
The West Side Waltz Estelle
1997 Out to Sea Bridget
1998 Chairman of the Board Ms. Dawn Krubavitch
The Odd Couple II Peaches
My Giant Aunt Pearl
1999 Lost & Found Mrs. Donna Stubblefield
Toy Story 2 Mrs. Potato Head (voice)
2000 What's Cooking? Aunt Bea
Dancing in September Sally
Playing Mona Lisa Aunt Velva
2001 Good Advice Iris
2003 Brother Bear Old Lady Bear (voice)
2004 Home on the Range Audrey (voice)
Teacher's Pet Mrs. June Boogin (voice)
2005 Tarzan II Mama Gunda (voice)
2006 Queer Duck: The Movie Mrs. Catherina Duckstein (voice)
2007 The Grand Ruth Melvin
2010 Toy Story 3 Mrs. Potato Head (voice)
Movin' In Arlene Taylor
2011 Hawaiian Vacation Mrs. Potato Head (voice) Short Films
Small Fry
2012 Partysaurus Rex
2013 CBGB Bertha Kristal
2015 Promoted Sylvia Silver
2019 Toy Story 4 Mrs. Potato Head (voice) Final Film Role
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. Lynn Rachlin Episode: "Intolerance"
Mad About You Mother Thelma Episode: "Sofa's Choice"
1992–1998 Seinfeld Estelle Costanza 27 episodes
1993 Good Advice Ronnie Cohen 5 episodes
1995 Chicago Hope Thelma Johnson (uncredited) Episode: "Heartbreak"
Aladdin Additional voices Episode: "While the City Snoozes"
Timon & Pumbaa Timon's Mother (voice) Episode: "Mombasa-In-Law/The Laughing Hyenas: TV Dinner"
In the House Mrs. Claus Episode: "Christmas Story"
1996 Night Stand Mary the Real Mother Episode: "Dick Goes Home"
The Mask Lt. Kellaway's Mother (voice) Episode: "The Mother of All Hoods"
The Tick Arthur's Mother (voice) Episode: "The Tick vs. Dot and Neil's Wedding"
Star Trek: Voyager Old Woman Episode: "Sacred Ground"
1997 Moesha Frances Howie Episode: "Break a Leg"
Living Single Esther Brooks Episode: "Back in the Day"
Cybill Woman Episode: "From Boca, with Love"
1998 Addams Family Reunion Great-grandmother Delilah Addams Television film
Hercules Phil's Mother (voice) Episode: "Hercules and the King for a Day"
The Wild Thornberrys Iguana/Turtle (voice) Episode: "Eliza-cology"
Godzilla: The Series Old Lady/Receptionist (voice) Episode: "What Dreams May Come"
The Rosie O'Donnell Show Herself
1999 The Brothers Flub Additional voices 16 episodes
Sunset Beach Margaret Raynor 3 episodes
The Parkers Miss Agnes Episode: "Scammed Straight"
1999–2000 Mickey Mouse Works Mrs. Tammy Turtle (voice) 4 episodes
2000 Providence Darlene Episode: "Syd in Wonderland"
Queer Duck Mrs. Catherina Duckstein (voice) 5 episodes
2001 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Dora Episode: "Sabrina, the Muse"
The Kids from Room 402 Aunt Cookie (voice) Episode: "Uncle Bonehead"
Family Guy Death's Mother (voice) Episode: "Death Lives"
2002 House of Mouse Mrs. Tammy Turtle (voice) 4 episodes
Weakest Link Herself 1 episode
Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck 1 episode
2003 Half & Half Grandma Sophie Episode: "The Big Phat Mouth Episode: Part 2"
Regular Joe Aunt Mickie Episode: "Boobysitting"
The Proud Family Helga (voice) Episode: "Thelma and Luis"
Test the Nation Herself 1 episode
2004 Kim Possible Mama Lipsky (voice) 3 episodes
Kramer vs. Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo Herself
2004–2005 Dave the Barbarian Lula (voice) 21 episodes
2005 Tripping the Rift Estelle Episode: "Roswell"
Phil of the Future Older Pim Episode: "Maybe-Sitting"
2005–2008 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Muriel 14 episodes
2006 Mind of Mencia Herself 1 episode
ER Mrs. Dawn Markovic Episode: "Bloodline"
2007 iCarly Mrs. Lydia Halberstadt Episode: "iScream on Halloween"
The Emperor's New School Mrs. Irma Mudka Episode: "The Emperor's New Home School/Mudka's Secret Recipe"
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: "In Country... Club"
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"
The Bonnie Hunt Show Herself 1 episode
KTLA Morning News
Totally Tracked Down
2011 The Looney Tunes Show Sylvester's Mother (voice) Episode: "Point, Laser Point"
2012 Futurama Velma Farnsworth (voice) Episode: "Near-Death Wish"
2013 The Exes Mother Episode: "Zero Dark Forties"
2014–2015 Jake and the Never Land Pirates Peg-Leg Peg (voice) 3 episodes
Video games
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue Mrs. Potato Head Film Cutscene Footage
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