Rae Allen obit

Rae Allen Dies: Tony Award-Winning ‘Damn Yankees’, ‘Sopranos’, ‘All In The Family’ Actress Was 95

 

She was not on the list.

Rae Allen, the Tony Award-winning actress known for roles in Damn Yankees, A League of Their Own and The Sopranos, died early Wednesday morning peacefully in her sleep. She was 95.

Allen was described by many who knew her as “a force of nature” and she had a career to match.

Born Rae Julia Theresa Abruzzo in Brooklyn, NY, she got her start in Broadway theater productions after graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1947.

Allen earned her first Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play as the nosy reporter Gloria in Damn Yankees in 1955. She was nominated again for Traveler Without Luggage in 1967, and won the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Play for And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little in 1971.

Allen moved into television and film in 1958, re-creating her stage role in the film adaptation of Damn Yankees. Her song, “Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo,” is still played at Yankees games to this day.

She appeared in such 1960s TV staples as The Untouchables, Car 54, Where Are You? and The Patty Duke Show. On All In the Family, she famously played Edith Bunker’s cousin Amelia.

In the ’80s, Allen had a run on Soap — on which she played Judge Betty Small — along with guest appearances on The Greatest American Hero, Lou Grant, Remington Steele and Hill Street Blues.

On Seinfeld, the actress played Mrs. Sokol before being cast in The Sopranos as Aunt Quintina Blundetto.

In the early 2000s, Allen landed parts on Grey’s Anatomy, Joan of Arcadia and NYPD Blue. On the big screen, she appeared in such films as Reign Over Me, Stargate, A League of Their Own and Where’s Poppa?

She is survived by her nieces Laura and Betty Cosgrove; and her adopted family, friends April Webster and Lisa Ann Gold.

Memorial services are being planned, one for each coast. Times and dates are to be announced.

Actress (53 credits)

 2011 Vampire Mob (TV Series)

Carlina Grigiono

- Dinner for Six (2011) ... Carlina Grigiono

- Full Nest Syndrome, Plus One (2011) ... Carlina Grigiono

 2010 How to Be a Better American (TV Movie)

Ruth

 2008 The Meant to Be's (TV Movie)

Eleanor Roosevelt

 2007 Reign Over Me

Adell Modell

 2006 The Hard Easy

Freddie

 2006 Grey's Anatomy (TV Series)

Ruth

- Break on Through (2006) ... Ruth

 2005 Love for Rent

Gwen

 2004 NYPD Blue (TV Series)

Bertha Kunitz

- I Love My Wives, But Oh You Kid (2004) ... Bertha Kunitz

 2004 Joan of Arcadia (TV Series)

Fortune Teller God

- No Future (2004) ... Fortune Teller God

 2004 The Sopranos (TV Series)

Aunt Quintina Blundetto

- The Test Dream (2004) ... Aunt Quintina Blundetto

- Marco Polo (2004) ... Aunt Quintina Blundetto

- In Camelot (2004) ... Aunt Quintina Blundetto

- Irregular Around the Margins (2004) ... Aunt Quintina Blundetto

- Rat Pack (2004) ... Aunt Quintina Blundetto

 2002 The 4th Tenor

Italian Woman

 2002 Borderline (TV Movie)

Dr. Alma Burke

 2002 Providence (TV Series)

Dr. Hallstrom

- Act Naturally (2002) ... Dr. Hallstrom

 2000-2001 The Fearing Mind (TV Series)

Lucy Fearing

- Will (2001) ... Lucy Fearing

- Come to Papa (2000) ... Lucy Fearing

- The Fortunate One (2000) ... Lucy Fearing

- Gentleman Caller (2000) ... Lucy Fearing

- Two Faces (2000) ... Lucy Fearing

Show all 13 episodes

 1998 L.A. Doctors (TV Series)

Mildred Cattano

- Fear of Flying (1998) ... Mildred Cattano

 1995 Hudson Street (TV Series)

Fran Canetti

- Saturday Night's the Loneliest Night of the Week (1995) ... Fran Canetti

 1994 Stargate

Barbara Shore, Ph.D.

 1994 Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills (TV Movie)

Female Judge

 1994 Angie

Aunt Violetta

 1993 Calendar Girl

Mrs. Macdonald

 1993 Brooklyn Bridge (TV Series)

Cousin Ruthie

- In a Family Way (1993) ... Cousin Ruthie

 1992 A League of Their Own

Ma Keller

 1992 Seinfeld (TV Series)

Mrs. Sokol

- The Boyfriend (1992) ... Mrs. Sokol

 1991 Face of a Stranger (TV Movie)

Ruthie

 1991 Keeping Secrets (TV Movie)

 1990 She Said No (TV Movie)

Judge Gondon

 1990 Head of the Class (TV Series)

Sofia

- Cement Hi-Tops (1990) ... Sofia

 1990 Equal Justice (TV Series)

Judge Cynthia Russell

- The Art of the Possible (1990) ... Judge Cynthia Russell

- Balancing Act (1990) ... Judge Cynthia Russell

 1990 Far Out Man

Holly

 1988 Moving

Dr. Phyllis Ames

 1986 Faerie Tale Theatre (TV Series)

Aladdin's Mother

- Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp (1986) ... Aladdin's Mother

 1984 Scarecrow and Mrs. King (TV Series)

Sergeant Magovich

- Lost and Found (1984) ... Sergeant Magovich

 1982 Hill Street Blues (TV Series)

Gloria Currin

- Little Boil Blue (1982) ... Gloria Currin

 1982 Remington Steele (TV Series)

Kay Letrell

- Steele Waters Run Deep (1982) ... Kay Letrell

 1982 Lou Grant (TV Series)

Helen Paterson

- Obituary (1982) ... Helen Paterson

 1981 The Greatest American Hero (TV Series)

Edith Morabito

- The Beast in the Black (1981) ... Edith Morabito

 1980 Soap (TV Series)

Judge Betty Small

- Episode #4.2 (1980) ... Judge Betty Small

- Episode #4.1 (1980) ... Judge Betty Small

- Episode #3.22 (1980) ... Judge Betty Small

- Episode #3.20 (1980) ... Judge Betty Small

 1980 Phyl & Mikhy (TV Series)

Gwyn

- The Meet (1980) ... Gwyn

 1976 Ace (TV Movie)

Gloria Ross

 1974 CBS Daytime 90 (TV Series)

Dommy

- Legacy of Fear (1974) ... Dommy

 1973 If I Had a Million (TV Movie)

 1973 Medical Center (TV Series)

Rose

- Clash of Shadows (1973) ... Rose

 1973 Keep an Eye on Denise (TV Movie)

 1973 Acts of Love and Other Comedies (TV Movie)

Jeffrey's Wife

 1972-1973 All in the Family (TV Series)

Amelia / Amelia DeKuyper

- Class Reunion (1973) ... Amelia

- Edith Gets a Mink (1972) ... Amelia DeKuyper

 1971 Taking Off

Mrs. Divito

 1970 Where's Poppa?

Gladys Hocheiser

 1967 The Tiger Makes Out

Beverly

 1964 The Patty Duke Show (TV Series)

Miss McClintock

- Can Do Patty (1964) ... Miss McClintock

 1964 Profiles in Courage (TV Series)

Miss Darvon

- Mary S. McDowell (1964) ... Miss Darvon

 1963 Car 54, Where Are You? (TV Series)

Miss Thelma Eisenberg

- Joan Crawford Didn't Say No (1963) ... Miss Thelma Eisenberg (uncredited)

 1962 The Untouchables (TV Series)

Sarro's Daughter

- The Economist (1962) ... Sarro's Daughter

 1958 Damn Yankees

Gloria Thorpe