We regret to confirm the death of actress Estelle Harris. She was best known as the voice of Mrs. Potato Head in DSisney’s Toy Story franchise.
She passed away of natural causes in her own home in Palm Desert, Californa on April 2, 2022, only weeks before her 94th birthday. She is survived by her children, three grandsons, one great-grandson, and millions of fans.
Voice Actress
Other voicework included Timon’s mother in Timon and Pumbaa and Audrey the Hen in Disney’s Home on the Range and Mrs, Lipsky, the mother of Drakken, aka Theodore P. Lipsky on Disney’s Kim Possible. She portrayed the ghost of Peg-Leg Peg in Jake and the Neverland Pirates. In Tarzan II, Mrs. Harris voiced Mama Gunda. She was the voice of Mabel in Disney’s Brother Bear. She had a recurring role as Mrs. Turtle in Mickey Mouse Works and House of Mouse. She was Thelga on The Proud Family, and in Phil of the Future, she voiced older Pim.
She did not do voicework only for Disney. She also voiced Lula the enchanted sword in Dave the Barbarian. Mrs. Harris voiced Mrs. Duckstein in Queer Duck: the Movie (2006). She has also been in American Dad and Futurama. In Star Trek: Voyager, Mrs. Harris played an old woman in one episode, “Sacred Ground.”
Live Action Work
In addition to being a respected voice actress, Estelle Harris also appeared on television and in movies. SciFi.Radio fans may remember her as Grandmama Delilah Addans in Addams Family Reunion (1998), as the grandmother of Gomez and the great-grandmother of Wednesday and Puggsley,
Two of her better known roles were as Easy Mary on Night Court and George Costanza’s mother on Seinfeld. She also played Muriel in Disney’s The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. She appeared with Brent Spiner in Out to Sea (1997)
Estelle Nussbaum was born in New York City, NY. USA, April 22, 1928. She grew up in Tarantum, Pennsylvania. She married Seymour “Sy ” Harris in 1953; he predeceased her last year. They had two sons, Eric and Glen, and a daughterTaryn.
In her younger days, Estelle Harris devoted herself to her family. Only when her children were older did she pursue an acting career. She started in amateur theatrics, dinner theter, and eventually commercials, Her final film was Toy Story 4 (2019), where she reprised the role of Mrs. Porro Head,
She had a long, full life, with a career stretching from 1979 to 2019, and over a hundred acting credis on her resume. She was married to the same man for nearly 70 years, which is something most Hollywood couples can’t manage, She raised three children and lived to see her grandchildren. She earned the respect of her colleagues, and the admiration of her fans.
She was nominated for Nest Actress in Comedy Series ny the Online Fim & Television Association in `998 for her role on Seinfeld.
Rest in peace, Mrs. Harris.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
