Just 13 days after the passing of Estelle Harris comes word that another recurring actress on sitcom Seinfeld, Liz Sheridan, has passed away. Sheridan, who appeared in 21 episodes of Seinfeld as Jerry’s mother Helen, died overnight in her sleep today in New York City. She was 93.
Sheridan was also remembered for her recurring role as nosy neighbor Raquel Ochmonek on NBC comedy ALF from 1986 to 1990.
Born on April 10, 1929 in Rye, New York, Sheridan began her professional life as a nightclub dancer and singer, first in the Caribbean in the 1950s and 1960s, and then in New York City. She was cast in Broadway productions throughout the 1970s, both in musicals and plays.
In 1977, Sheridan co-starred opposite Meryl Streep and Christopher Lloyd in the musical, Happy End, before moving to Los Angeles and making the rounds as a guest on television in series like Kojak, The White Shadow, Archie Bunker’s Place, Gimme A Break!, and St. Elsewhere.
Other TV appearances for Sheridan before landing on ALF included Scarecrow and Mrs. King, the original One Day at a Time, Riptide, Newhart, Moonlighting, The A-Team, Cagney & Lacey and Family Ties.
On a personal note, Sheridan met the then-unknown James Deans whole working as a dancer in New York City nightclubs. She wrote a book, Dizzy & Jimmy: My Life with James Dean: A Love Story, chronicling their time together in 1952. "We had great times. We didn't want to be apart. We found a place and lived together before he really hit it big,” she wrote.
Sheridan continued to work in film and TV through the 2000s, with roles in movies including Now You Know, Closing the Deal and Play the Game, and guest shots on TV series including Numb3rs and animated American Dad! Earlier, from 1994 to 1007, Sheridan was the voice of Mrs. Stillman on Louie Anderson’s animated Life With Louie.
Sheridan is survived by her daughter and son-in-law.
