What To Know
- Anne Schedeen, best known for playing Kate Tanner on the 1980s sitcom ALF, has died at age 77.
- Her acting career spanned decades, including roles in Emergency!, The Bionic Woman, Cheers, and Judging Amy.
- Schedeen is remembered for her humor, creativity, and love for family.
Anne Schedeen, the actress best known for playing Kate Tanner on the hit 1980s sitcom ALF, has died. She was 77.
Her family confirmed the passing on her Facebook page, writing, “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share Annie has passed peacefully. She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of creative energy, whip smart humor, delight in her family, adoration for little dogs, burning hatred for Trump, passion for second-hand thrifting, and love for a good story. We are bereft without her. We loved her so so much, as did all who met her.”
The statement continued, “She was a force. And it is unimaginable to think about life without her in it. But as she said, ‘I’m always with you.’ And she’s right. The memories, artwork, belly laughter, handmade jewelry, oil paintings, sculptures, costumes, and all around joie de vivre live on. Raise a margarita in her honor.”
A cause of death was not stated.
Born on January 8, 1949, in Portland, Oregon, Schedeen began her career in New York, where she worked in summer stock theater and commercials. After signing a contract with Universal Pictures, she moved to Los Angeles and began appearing in several TV roles. This included a recurring part as Carol in the medical drama Emergency! and Sandy Porter in Marcus Welby, M.D.
Her other credits included The Bionic Woman, Switch, Three’s Company, Friends, Cheers, Paper Dolls, Simon & Simon, Magnum, P.I., Murder, She Wrote, and many more.
Schedeen landed her most memorable role in 1986, playing Kate Tanner on the NBC sitcom ALF across all four seasons. The series, which ran until March 1990, became a massive hit, spawning several spinoffs, a TV movie, and an animated show.
“When ALF came along it was another pilot season,” she once told The Washington Post. “I kept reading scripts. I almost got involved with one, then withdrew at the last minute. Then I read ALF. I said, ‘This is funny. It makes me laugh.’ I met the people involved, I met ALF, and became more convinced I wanted to do it. That little alien made me laugh.”
After ALF, Schedeen appeared in the films Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster, Praying Mantis, and Heaven’s Prisoners. She also had a recurring role as Det. Peggy Fraser in the CBS legal drama Judging Amy. Her last acting role came in the TV series Tiny Nuts in 2014.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Christopher Barrett, daughter Tay Barrett, daughter-in-law Hilary Flynn, sister Sarabeth Schedeen, niece Minnie Schedeen, brother Roland “Tony” Schedeen, and sister-in-law Julieann Schedeen.