Estelle Harris

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Estelle Harris bigraphy, stories - Actress

Estelle Harris : biography

April 4, 1928 –

Estelle Harris (née Nussbaum; April 4, 1928) is a comedic actress and voice artist, often recognized for her shrill, grating voice. She is best known for her role as Estelle Costanza on Seinfeld from 1992 to 1998, as the voice of Mrs. Potato Head in the Toy Story franchise, and Muriel on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.

Career

Harris is best known for her supporting role as Estelle Costanza, George’s (Jason Alexander) mother and Frank’s (Jerry Stiller) wife on Seinfeld, her voice role in Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Hawaiian Vacation, Small Fry and Partysaurus Rex as Mrs. Potato Head, and her role as Muriel on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. She appeared in Brad Paisley’s music video for the song "Online".

Voice acting

Harris is also a voice artist; she has voiced such characters as Lula from Dave the Barbarian, Mama Lipsky on Kim Possible, Thelma on The Proud Family, Old Lady Bear in Brother Bear (2003), Audrey in Home on the Range (2004), and Death’s nagging mother on Family Guy.

Personal life

Estelle Nussbaum married Sy Harris in 1953. The couple have three children, including disabled former New York City police officer Taryn Harris. Estelle and Sy Harris escaped serious injury after their car blew a tire and flipped twice outside Los Angeles on September 20, 2001.

Early years

Harris was born in Manhattan, the younger of two daughters of Isaac and Anna Nussbaum, Polish Jewish emigrants, who owned a candy store.Per 1930 U.S. census data

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1977 Looking Up Irma
1977 Summerdog Mrs. Baleeka
1984 Once Upon a Time in America Peggy’s Mother
1988 Stand and Deliver Secretary
1992 This Is My Life Aunt Harriet
1993 Good Advice Ronnie Cohen TV Series
1995 Downhill Willie Mama Saxer
1995 Perfect Alibi Aunt Dorothy
1995 The West Side Waltz
1997 Out to Sea Bridget
1998 Chairman of the Board Ms. Krubavitch
1998 The Odd Couple II Flirting Woman
1998 My Giant Aunt Pearl
1999 Lost & Found Mrs. Stubblefield
1999 Toy Story 2 Mrs. Potato Head Voice Role Only
2000 What’s Cooking? Aunt Bea
2000 Dancing in September Sally
2000 Playing Mona Lisa Aunt Velva
2001 Good Advice Iris
2002 No Prom for Cindy Cindy’s Grandmother
2003 Brother Bear Old Lady Bear Voice Role Only
2004 Home on the Range Audrey Voice Role Only
2004 Teacher’s Pet Mrs. Boogin
2005 Tarzan II Mama Gunda Voice Role Only
2006 Queer Duck: The Movie Mrs. Duckstein Voice Role Only
2007 Case Closed Madame
2007 iCarly Mrs. Halberstadt
2007 The Grand Ruth Melvin
2010 Toy Story 3 Mrs. Potato Head Voice Role Only
2010 Movin’ In Arlene Taylor
2011 Hawaiian Vacation Mrs. Potato Head Voice Role Only
2011 Small Fry Mrs. Potato Head Voice Role Only
2012 Partysaurus Rex Mrs. Potato Head Voice Role Only