Estelle Harris (; April 22, 1928 – April 2, 2022) was an American actress and comedian, known for her exaggeratedly shrill voice. She was best known for her role as Estelle Costanza on Seinfeld. Her other roles included the voice of Mrs. Potato Head in the Toy Story franchise, Muriel in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, and Mama Gunda in Tarzan II. During her career, Harris starred in various television commercials.
After her children were grown, she found success on Madison Avenue, appearing in 25 national television commercials. In one commercial, she energetically sang 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. "She is the mother that everybody loves, even though she's a pain in the neck," Harris told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 1998. Despite her iconic role, she was highly reclusive.
In , she appeared in the third-season episode "", 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." Harris reprised her role of Mrs. Potato Head in Toy Story 3 (2010) and Toy Story 4 (2019), the latter of which was her final film role. 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." She appeared in Promoted (2015) as Sylvia Silver.
She retired from acting in 2015, only briefly returning to reprise the role of Mrs. Potato Head in Toy Story 4 (2019), which was her final film role.
On September 20, 2001, the couple's car blew a tire and flipped twice, but they managed to escape serious injuries. Sy Harris died on January 11, 2021, predeceasing his wife by one year.
On April 2, 2022, Harris died of natural causes at her home in Palm Desert, California, at the age of 93.
Filmography
Film
The West Side Waltz Estelle The Odd Couple II Peaches My Giant Aunt Pearl Toy Story 2 Mrs. Potato Head Voice A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. Dancing in September Sally Playing Mona Lisa Aunt Velva Teacher's Pet June Boogin Movin' In Arlene Taylor Small Fry
Television
Mad About You Mother Thelma Episode: "Sofa's Choice" Aladdin Additional voices Episode: "While the City Snoozes" Timon & Pumbaa Timon's Mother Voice, episode: "Mombasa-In-Law" In the House Mrs. Claus Episode: "Christmas Story" Lt. Kellaway's Mother Voice, episode: "The Mother of All Hoods" The Tick Ruth Voice, episode: "The Tick vs. Dot and Neil's Wedding" Old Woman Episode: "" Living Single Esther Brooks Episode: "Back in the Day" Cybill Woman Episode: "From Boca, with Love" Hercules Phil's Mother Voice, episode: "Hercules and the King for a Day" The Wild Thornberrys Iguana/Turtle Voice, episode: "Eliza-cology" Old Lady/Receptionist Voice, episode: "What Dreams May Come" The Rosie O'Donnell Show Herself Sunset Beach Margaret Raynor 3 episodes The Parkers Miss Agnes Episode: "Scammed Straight" 72nd Academy Awards Mrs. Potato Head Voice, television special Queer Duck Mrs. Catherina Duckstein Voice, 5 episodes The Kids from Room 402 Aunt Cookie Voice, episode: "Uncle Bonehead" Family Guy Death's Mother Voice, episode: "Death Lives" Weakest Link Herself 1 episode Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck Regular Joe Aunt Mickie Episode: "Boobysitting" The Proud Family Helga Voice, episode: "Thelma and Luis" Test the Nation Herself 1 episode As Told by Ginger Myrna Voice, episode: "The Wedding Frame" Herself Phil of the Future Older Pim Episode: "Maybe-Sitting" ER Dawn Markovic Episode: "Bloodline" The Emperor's New School Irma Mudka Voice, episode: "Mudka's Secret Recipe" Case Closed Madame Television film Curb Your Enthusiasm Estelle Costanza / Herself Episode: "The Table Read" The Bonnie Hunt Show Herself 1 episode KTLA Morning News Totally Tracked Down
Video game
Theatre
External links
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