Alice Playten

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Alice Playten
Born
Alice Plotkin

(1947-08-28)August 28, 1947
New York City, U.S.
DiedJune 25, 2011(2011-06-25) (aged 63)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1959–2009
Spouse
Joshua White
​
(m. 1982)​

Alice Playten (née Plotkin; August 28, 1947 – June 25, 2011) was an American actress known for her high-pitched, child-like voice.

Life and career[edit]

Born in New York City, Playten began her career in 1959 at age 11, playing Marie's young son in the Metropolitan Opera's original production of Alban Berg's Wozzeck.[1] Her Broadway credits included Gypsy, Oliver!, Henry, Sweet Henry, Hello, Dolly!, Rumors, Seussical, and Caroline, or Change.

Her many off-Broadway credits include Promenade, The Last Sweet Days of Isaac, Up from Paradise, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You, First Lady Suite, A Flea in Her Ear, National Lampoon's Lemmings, and Shlemiel the First.[1]

Playten's screen credits include Ladybug Ladybug (1963), Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name? (1971), California Dreaming (1979), Legend (1985), and I.Q. (1994). She wore heavy makeup and prosthetics in Legend to portray the character of Blix, a major minion of the Lord of Darkness; she also dubbed the voice of Gump. She did voice work in several animated features, including Felix the Cat (as Pearl), Really Rosie (as an alligator), Heavy Metal (as Gloria), Doug (as Beebe Bluff and Elmo), Doug's 1st Movie and My Little Pony: The Movie.

She was a regular on the children's television series The Lost Saucer and That's Cat, appeared in National Lampoon's Disco Beaver from Outer Space during the early days of HBO, and had guest shots on Frasier, Law & Order, Third Watch, and As the World Turns, among others.

Playten may have been best known for her role of the newlywed who makes a gigantic dumpling as the first meal she cooks for her husband (Terry Kiser) in two classic 1969–1970 Alka-Seltzer commercials.[1]

Personal life and death[edit]

Playten was married to director Joshua White from no later than July 1982 until her death.[2][1]

Playten died on June 25, 2011, at Sloan-Kettering Hospital in Manhattan from heart failure after a lifetime of juvenile diabetes, complicated by pancreatic cancer.[1]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1963 Ladybug Ladybug Harriet
1971 Who Killed Mary Whats'ername? Della Isador
1978 Petronella Princess / Queen (voice)
1979 California Dreaming Corrine
1981 Heavy Metal Gloria (voice) Segment: "So Beautiful and So Dangerous"
1982 Amityville II: The Possession Deamons' voice (voice)
1985 Legend Blix
1986 My Little Pony: The Movie Baby Lickety-Split (voice)
1987 The Big Bang Una (voice)
1988 Felix the Cat: The Movie Pearl / Poindexter (voice)
1993 For Love or Money Mrs. Prissilla Bailey
1994 I.Q. Gretchen
1996 MURDER and murder Alice
1997 The Amazing Feats of Young Hercules The Gorgon (voice) Video
1999 Doug's 1st Movie Beebe Bluff / Elmo (voice)
1999 Pioneer 12 Mother
2003 A Very Wompkee Christmas Buster (voice) Video
2007 Oy Vey! Hannah Short
2009 Hidden Treasure of Wompkee Wood Buster (voice) Video
2009 The Rebound Sensei Dana

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1975 The Lost Saucer Alice Main role
1975 Really Rosie Alligator (voice) TV film
1976 That's Cat Alice Main role
1978 Disco Beaver from Outer Space Various HBO production
1980 The Pirates of Penzance Edith Stanley TV film
1984 Rescue at Midnight Castle Baby Lickety-Split (voice) TV film
1985 My Little Pony: Escape from Catrina Baby Moondancer (voice) TV film
1991 Monsters Violet Mitla "The Moving Finger"
1991–94, 1996–1999 Doug Beebe Bluff (voice)
Elmo (voice)
Larry (in "Doug Rocks the House") 		Recurring role
1992 Ghostwriter Parrot (voice) "Ghost Story: Parts 3 & 5"
1994 The Cosby Mysteries Oona Dowd TV film
1997 Remember WENN Jane Smith (voice) "Caller I.D."
1998 New York Undercover Homeless Woman "Spare Parts"
1999 Frasier Bonnie "Our Parents, Ourselves", "Shutout in Seattle: Parts 1 & 2"
2001 Third Watch Sandy "The Self-Importance of Being Carlos"
2001 Law & Order Dog Walker "Who Let the Dogs Out?"
2001 The Education of Max Bickford Mrs. Lynch "A Very Great Man"
2005 As the World Turns Mrs. Lovejoy 2 episodes
2005 The Buzz on Maggie Dawn's Lackey Episode: Scum Bites
2006 The Book of Daniel Francesca "Acceptance", "Assignation"

Awards and honors[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Holden, Stephen (June 26, 2011). "Alice Playten, an Actress of Small Frame, Big Voice, Dies at 63". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011.
  2. ^ "Tiny Alice Playten Explains It for You". New York Daily News. July 25, 1982. p. 144. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  3. ^ Seligsohn, Leo (August 4, 1970). "Her Menu: Dumplings and Aka-Seltzer". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 32. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  4. ^ "'On a Clear Day' Opening at Corning Theater Tuesday". Elmira Star-Gazette. July 28, 1968. p. 13. ProQuest 2348985628. Alice Playten and Jay Stuart will play leading roles in the production. Miss Playten last appeared on Broadway in 'Henry Sweet Henry,' earning the Theatre World Award, the Philadelphia and New Jersey Drama Critics Award and a nomination for the Antoinette Perry Award.
  5. ^ "1972–1973 Obie Awards". infoplease.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
  6. ^ "Drama desk Shelves Musical Theatre Award Categories (continued from page 32)". Back Stage. May 12, 1989. p. 34A. ProQuest 962889274. Featured Actress/Play—Joanne Camp ('Heidi Chronicles'); Margarte Colin ('Aristocrats'); Tovah Feldshuh ('Lend Me a Tenor'); Penelope Ann Miller ('Our Town'); Alice Playten ('Spoils of War'); and Holland Taylor ('Cocktail Hour')

External links[edit]


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