Edie McClurg

Last updated

Edie McClurg
Annie Awards Edie McClurg.jpg
McClurg at the 34th Annie Awards, 2007
Born (1945-07-23) July 23, 1945 (age 79)
Alma mater University of Missouri–Kansas City (B.A.)
Syracuse University (M.S.)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • comedian
Years active1976–2022
Relatives Angelique Cabral (first cousin once removed)

Edie McClurg (born July 23, 1945) [1] is an American retired actress and comedian. She has played supporting roles in the films Carrie (1976), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), and Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), and bit parts in Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980), Mr. Mom (1983) Back to School (1986), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), A River Runs Through It (1992), Natural Born Killers (1994), Flubber (1997), and Air Bud: Spikes Back (2003).

Contents

On television, McClurg had a recurring role on WKRP in Cincinnati as Herb Tarlek's wife, Lucille. She regularly performed on The David Letterman Show , before playing Bonnie Brindle in Small Wonder (1985–1987) and Mrs. Patty Poole on The Hogan Family (1986–1991). As a one-off character, she appeared in Alice, Mr. Belvedere , Roseanne , Full House , Seinfeld , Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Malcolm in the Middle , Hannah Montana , Crashbox , and Portlandia. She has also appeared in numerous commercials.

As a voice actress, she played in The Secret of NIMH (1982), The Little Mermaid (1989), A Bug's Life (1998), the first two films of the Cars franchise (2006-2011), and Wreck-It Ralph (2012), as well as in Snorks (1984–1988), Life with Louie (1995–1998), and Violet Bleakman in Clifford the Big Red Dog (2000–2003).

Early life and education

McClurg was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, to Mac, a mailman, and Irene McClurg, [2] an FAA secretary. She had an older brother, Bob (Robert), who was an actor and comedian. She attended twelve years of Catholic elementary and high school, then the University of Missouri–Kansas City in the mid-1960s where she got her BA in 1967 and where she also taught radio for eight years. [3] She earned a master's degree from Syracuse University in 1970. [4]

At the University of Missouri–Kansas City, McClurg re-entered the entertainment field as a DJ, newswoman, and producer for the NPR affiliate KCUR-FM. There she portrayed John Ehrlichman in Conversation 26 of NPR's national broadcast of the Nixon Tape transcript. [3]

Career

"Visiting her actor brother (Robert McClurg) in San Francisco, she was asked to participate in an impromptu stage performance by the Pitschel Players. She soon joined the cast and moved to Los Angeles." [5] - Turner Classic Movies

After the Pitschel Players, she joined the Groundlings improv troupe. [6] She worked with fellow Groundling player Paul Reubens on his first play The Pee-wee Herman Show , in which she appeared in 1981 as "Hermit Hattie". She also appeared in the 1988 film Elvira: Mistress of the Dark with fellow Groundling player Cassandra Peterson, who appeared as her alter ego Elvira.[ citation needed ]

Early roles

McClurg's screen debut was as Helen Shyres in Brian De Palma's 1976 horror film Carrie starring Sissy Spacek. She was a comedy regular on the Tony Orlando and Dawn variety show (1976–1977) and then a cast member of The Kallikaks and The Richard Pryor Show . In 1980, McClurg regularly performed on The David Letterman Show [7] as Mrs. Marv Mendenhall. She went on to appear in almost 90 films and 55 television episodes, usually typecast as a middle-aged, somewhat stubborn, and dim-witted Midwesterner. [7]

Television

On television, she played Lucille Tarlek on WKRP in Cincinnati (1979-1980), [8] Willamae Jones in the television remake of Harper Valley PTA (1981), Mrs. Patty Poole on The Hogan Family (originally "Valerie") (1986–1991), Bonnie Brindle on Small Wonder (1985–1987), and Mrs. Beeker on 7th Heaven (1996-2006).

McClurg had numerous appearances on other television programs. She portrayed one of the wicked stepsisters in the Faerie Tale Theatre television production Cinderella . She portrayed a nurse nicknamed "Angel of Death" in an episode of The Golden Girls . She guest-starred in episodes of Alice, The Jeffersons , Diff'rent Strokes , Mr. Belvedere , Roseanne , Full House , Seinfeld , Melrose Place , Touched by an Angel , Married... with Children , Caroline in the City , Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Malcolm in the Middle , Portlandia, Rules of Engagement , and Two and a Half Men among others. She appeared in an episode of Hannah Montana as Cindy Merriweather. She guest starred as Barri's mother in an episode of Campus Ladies . McClurg also appeared on several game shows, including Match Game , The $25,000 Pyramid , Password Plus , and Super Password , and appeared in numerous commercials.

Film

McClurg also played in a number of films including Helen Shyres in Carrie (1976), Gloria's Mom in Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980), the check out lady in Mr. Mom (1983), Grace in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), Marge Sweetwater in Back to School (1986), the car rental agent in Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), Lynn in She's Having a Baby (1988), a secretary in Curly Sue (1991), Mrs. Burns in A River Runs Through It (1992), Heather Wilson in Natural Born Killers (1994), Martha George in Flubber (1997), Esther in Hanging Up (2000), Gram Gram in Air Bud: Spikes Back (2003), and Mrs. Gertrude in Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003).

Animation

McClurg is also known for a number of animated roles. She voiced Miss Right in The Secret of NIMH (1982), Barsa in Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), Carlotta in The Little Mermaid (1989), a nurse in The Rugrats Movie (1998), Dr. Flora in A Bug's Life (1998), Molly in Home on the Range (2004), Minny in Cars (2006) and Cars 2 (2011), Mary in Wreck-It Ralph (2012), and Gerda in Frozen (2013). She also voiced the offscreen "Polite Female Voice" in the Revolting Slob segments on Crashbox , Fran on Higglytown Heroes , the Dragon in the Nightmare Ned video game, Mrs. Claus in Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen, Grandma Taters in The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius , Violet Stimpleton in Rocket Power , Bea's mother in Fish Hooks , Winnie Pig in Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation , Mrs. Violet Bleakman on Clifford the Big Red Dog , Bobby's teacher in Bobby's World , and Trudi Traveler in an episode of Wander Over Yonder . McClurg contributed assorted voices for The Jetsons , The Snorks and Life with Louie .

Stage

Other roles

Continuing her passion for performing improvised comedy, McClurg studied improvisation with Viola Spolin, and became a player with Spolin Players. [6] On April 9, 2007, she made an appearance on Thank God You're Here .

In 2020, she made a cameo in the Family Guy episode "Holly Bibble" in a spoof of Ferris Bueller's Day Off. She appeared as 'Grace', personal assistant to [Carter as] Pontius Pilate. Immediately following the delivery of her lines, was the following acknowledgment by Carter/Pontius' character, "Wasn't that cool? That was really her! Edie McClurg. Thanks Edie!".

Personal life

In 2019, TMZ reported that family and friends of McClurg filed court documents requesting a conservatorship to manage her affairs. They said neurological tests provide evidence that McClurg is unable to live alone without assistance and is "especially vulnerable to undue influence, given her poor judgment and evident dementia". [9] TMZ further reported that a conservator, McClurg's cousin, Angelique Cabral, had been appointed. [10]

In August 2022, the lawyer for the conservatorship filed court documents alleging that McClurg had been abused by a man who had befriended her, moved into her home, and become a court-approved caregiver. The documents allege the man sexually assaulted her and a police report had been filed with the Los Angeles Police Department. They further allege that the man tried to remove her from the state to marry her. The judge for the conservatorship granted an order of protection at hearings in September 2022. [11] [10] [ needs update ]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1976 Carrie Helen ShyresFilm debut
1977 Cracking Up
1980 Cheech & Chong's Next Movie Gloria's Mom
Oh, God! Book II Mr. Benson's Secretary
1982 Eating Raoul Susan
Pandemonium Blue's Mom
The Secret of NIMH Miss RightVoice [12]
1983 Mr. Mom Check Out Lady
1984 Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers The Queen
1986 The Longshot Donna
Ferris Bueller's Day Off Grace
Back to School Marge Sweetwater
1987 Planes, Trains and Automobiles Car Rental Agent
1988 She's Having a Baby Lynn
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark Chastity Pariah
1989 Kiki's Delivery Service BarsaVoice, 1998 Disney English dub [12]
The Little Mermaid CarlottaVoice [12]
1991 Curly Sue Secretary
1992 Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation Winnie PigVoice, direct-to-video [12]
A River Runs Through It Mrs. Burns
1993 Stepmonster Dr. EmmersonDirect-to-video
Airborne Irene Metzner
1994 Natural Born Killers Mrs. Heather Wilson
1995 Under the Hula Moon Dolly
1996 Carpool Mrs. LaszloVoice
1997 Casper: A Spirited Beginning Librarian
Flubber Martha George
1998TedMother
Holy Man Laundry Lady #2
The Rugrats Movie NurseVoice [12]
A Bug's Life Dr. FloraVoice [12]
1999 Can't Stop Dancing Beverly McGuire
The Manor Mrs. Ellen FrenchBased on the play Ravenscroft
My Neighbors the Yamadas Noboru's teacherVoice, Disney English dub
2000 Hanging Up Esther
Meeting Daddy Dot
The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea CarlottaVoice, direct-to-video [12]
2002 Van Wilder Campus Tour Guide
Changing HeartsNurse Rollins
The Master of Disguise Mother Disguisey
Now You Know Pat
2003 Air Bud: Spikes Back Gram GramDirect-to-video
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Mrs. Gertrude
Fish Without a BicycleGreta
2004To Kill a MockumentaryEstelleDirect-to-video
Home on the Range Mollie the pigVoice
Breaking Dawn Nurse Olivia
Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas Santa's Workshop AnnouncerVoice, direct-to-video
2006 Cars MinnyVoice [12]
Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! Peggy Jones, Sea Salt SallyVoice, direct-to-video [12]
2007Simple ThingsMaggie Perkins
2009 Fired Up! Ms. Tanya Klingerhoff
2010Holyman UndercoverMartha
2011 Cars 2 MinnyVoice [12]
2012 Foodfight! Mrs. Butterworth
Wreck-It Ralph Mary
2013 Frozen Gerda
2014 A Long Way Off Mrs. Evelyn Grey
2016 Theresa Is a Mother Cloris McDermott
Zootopia ADR GroupVoice, uncredited
2022Eyes Upon WakingNurse Jane [13] Final film role

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1976 Tony Orlando and Dawn Regular
1977 The Kallikaks Venus Kallikak5 episodes
The Richard Pryor Show Various roles4 episodes (including 2 uncredited)
1978 ABC Afterschool Special Esther GreeneEpisode: "A Home Run for Love"
1979 Hello, Larry Episode: "The Trip"
Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Unknown episodes
1979–80 WKRP in Cincinnati Lucille Tarlek3 episodes
1981 Harper Valley PTA Willamae Jones12 episodes
The Incredible Hulk Sister Mary CatherineEpisode: "Sanctuary"
1982 Alice ImogeneEpisode: "Sharples vs. Sharples"
American Playhouse Switchboard OperatorEpisode: "Working"
No Soap, Radio Marion5 episodes
Madame's Place Solaria6 episodes
The Jeffersons Audrey BlumeEpisode: "Death Smiles on a Dry Cleaner"
1983The Lost SatelliteVarious rolesUnknown episodes
The Dukes 13 episodes
We Got It Made LouiseEpisode: "Am I Blue?"
1984 Snorks Mrs. Seabottom, Tara SeaworthyVoice, unknown episodes
1979–84 Diff'rent Strokes Betty2 episodes
1984 Trapper John, M.D. Kathleen WheelerEpisode: "Promises, Promises"
1985 The Jeffersons Woman on TVEpisode: "And Up We Go"
Faerie Tale Theatre BerthaEpisode: "Cinderella"
The Jetsons Episode: "Elroy in Wonderland"
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo Telula, SelmaVoice, 2 episodes
1986 Moonlighting Beauty Salon CustomerEpisode: "Camille"
Together We Stand FannieEpisode: "Pilot"
Mr. Belvedere Penny NicholsEpisode: "Reunion"
1985–87 Small Wonder Bonnie Brindle12 episodes
1990 Timeless Tales from Hallmark MathildaVoice, episode: "The Emperor's New Clothes"
Gravedale High Unknown episode(s)
1986–91 Valerie/The Hogan Family Mrs. Patty Poole88 episodes
1990–92 Tom & Jerry Kids Various rolesVoice, 2 episodes
1990–93 Bobby's World Aunt Ruth GenericVoice, 5 episodes
1991 Darkwing Duck Episode: "Trading Faces"
The Golden Girls Nurse DeFargeEpisode: "Beauty and the Beast"
The New WKRP in Cincinnati Lucille TarlekEpisode: "Lotto Fever"
1991–92 Drexell's Class Principal Marilyn Ridge17 episodes
Tiny Toon Adventures Winnie PigVoice, 2 episodes [12]
1992–93 The Addams Family Mrs. NormanmeyerVoice, 11 episodes [12]
1992 Roseanne HarrietEpisode: "Bingo"
Dinosaurs ShopperVoice, episode: "Power Erupts"
Goof Troop JeaVoice, episode: "Meanwhile, Back at the Ramp"
Full House Jungle JennyEpisode: "Radio Days"
1993 Seinfeld Mrs. OliverEpisode: "The Old Man"
Problem Child Unknown episode(s)
Getting By LilahEpisode: "The Pit Stop"
1994 Monty GodEpisode: "Death in Plain View"
The Mommies Nurse JudyEpisode: "Bringing Home Baby"
Adventures in Wonderland The Eye DoctorEpisode: "Those Tusks, Those Eyes"
L.A. Law Cille VonzelEpisode: "Whose San Andreas Fault Is it, Anyway?"
1995 A.J.'s Time Travelers Marie CurieEpisode: "Marie Curie"
Aaahh! Real Monsters MomVoice, episode: "Simon Strikes Back/The Ickis Box" [12]
Empty Nest Peggy ProckettEpisode: "Stand by Your Man"
1995–98 Life with Louie Ora AndersonVoice, 39 episodes [12]
1996 Night Stand with Dick Dietrick MabelEpisode: "Uniting Loved Ones"
Local HeroesMrs. Jen PennyEpisode: "Eddie's Secret"
Picket Fences Mother DinkleEpisode: "Snow Exit"
The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper Willa WinkleVoice, episode: "Three Ghosts and a Baby/I Wanna Be Rude/Leave It to Casper"
Homeboys in Outer Space DemilleEpisode: "A Man's Place is in the Homey, or The Stepford Guys"
1996–2006 7th Heaven Mrs. Beeker6 episodes
1997 Touched by an Angel LoaferEpisode: "Last Call"
Melrose Place Hilda Morris3 episodes
Married... with Children Mrs. Emy TotEpisode: "How to Marry a Moron"
Perversions of Science The Farmer's WifeEpisode: "Panic"
Nash Bridges Nurse DebbieEpisode: "One Flew Over the Cuda's Nest"
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Maw MawEpisode: "Witch Trash"
1998 The Lionhearts BettyVoice, episode: "But Some of My Best Friends are Clowns"
Columbo Mrs. Kate LerbyEpisode: "Ashes to Ashes"
Maggie Winters ArleneEpisode: "Suburban Myth"
1999 Mad About You RosieEpisode: "Uncle Phil Goes Back to High School"
1998–99 Caroline in the City Margaret Duffy3 episodes
1999 Cow and Chicken Sis, Lunch LadyVoice, episode: "Snail Boy/The Penalty Wheel" [12]
Nash Bridges BridgitEpisode: "Trade Off"
Oh Yeah! Cartoons Ms. Jane DavisVoice, episode: "Terry & Chris" [12]
1999–2000 Crashbox Female Polite VoiceRecurring role [12]
The Kids from Room 402 Mrs. Nadia McCoyVoice, 6 episodes
1999–2004 Rocket Power Violet StimpletonVoice, 21 episodes
2000 CatDog Mrs. Julie GrockVoice, episode: "A Dog Ate My Homework/The End" [12]
Batman Beyond Ms. MartelVoice, episode: "Zeta" [12]
Nash Bridges CrissyEpisode: "Manhunt"
2001 Providence Meryl RidleyEpisode: "Saved by the Bell"
Malcolm in the Middle JulieEpisode: "Book Club"
2002 Clifford the Big Red Dog Mrs. Violet Bleakman, Grandma EthelVoice, episode: "Who Moved My Bone?/Clifford the Pirate King" [12]
2003 Stuart Little Home of the Year Judge #1, Mrs. RemingtonVoice, episode: "Adventures in Housekeeping"
2004 The Batman June BrownVoice, episode: "Q&A" [12]
2004–05 Totally Spies! Myrna BeesbottomVoice, 4 episodes
2005 Fat Actress Nosy LadyEpisode: "Charlie's Angels"
American Dragon: Jake Long The Tooth FairyVoice, 3 episodes
2005–06 The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius Grandma TatersVoice, 2 episodes [12]
2005–07 Higglytown Heroes FranVoice, 6 episodes
2006 American Dragon: Jake Long BerthaVoice, episode: "The Hunted"
Nanaka 6/17 Yuriko1 episode
2007 Campus Ladies Episode: "We Are Family"
2008 Miss Guided Mrs. Dawn PoolEpisode: "Pool Party"
Hannah Montana Cindy MerriwetherEpisode: "Hannah in the Streets with Diamonds"
Curious George The DoorwomanVoice, episode: "Everything Old is New Again"
2008–12 The Life & Times of Tim HelenVoice, 17 episodes
2009 Days of Our Lives Airline Passenger2 episodes
Titan Maximum GammyVoice, episode: "Dirty Lansbury"
2011 Pair of Kings JuneEpisode: "Brady Battles Boo-Mer"
Elvira's Movie Macabre Bernadette, Mistress of the WindEpisode: "Untamed Woman"
Portlandia Mayor's SecretaryEpisode: "Mayor Is Missing"
Rules of Engagement SilviaEpisode: "The Last of the Red Hat Lovers"
2010–12 Fish Hooks Mrs. GoldfishbergVoice, 8 episodes [12]
2012 Desperate Housewives Connie ThomasEpisode: "Who Can Say What's True?"
Doc McStuffins Moo MooVoice, episode: "Blame It on the Rain"
2013 Two and a Half Men HelenEpisode: "The Unblessed Biscuit"
2014SketchyStellaEpisode: "Candy Crush Addiction"
2005–14 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Madge2 episodes
2014 TripTank DawnVoice, episode: "Roy & Ben's Day Off" [12]
Wander Over Yonder Trudi TravelerVoice, episode: "The Tourist" [12]
Ben 10: Omniverse Vera TennysonVoice, episode: "Clyde Five" [12]
Regular Show Muscle Man's MomVoice, episode: "Terror Tales of the Park IV" [12]
NCIS Mrs. Ruth PottsEpisode: "Grounded"
2015 Mike & Molly Paula MartinEpisode: "Cocktails and Calamine"
Bad ShortsGraceEpisode: "Ghost Lookers: The Haunting of Bueller House"
2016 Transformers: Robots in Disguise RealtorVoice, episode: "Strongarm's Big Score" [12]
2020 Family Guy GraceVoice, episode: "Holly Bibble"

Television films

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977 Once Upon a Brothers Grimm EsmereldaSegment: "Hansel and Gretel"
1983 Bill: On His Own Angela
1988 Crash Course Beth Crawford
Dance 'Til Dawn Ruth Strull
1990Menu for MurderPatsy Webber
1992Ring of the MusketeersTemp Agency AgentUncredited role
1996InhumanoidDra. Marianne Snow
1998Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery
2005 Everything You Want Mary Louise Morrison
2019LuckyMiss DorisVoice [12]

Additional credits

Theatre

References

  1. "Famous birthdays for July 23". United Press International . July 23, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2025. Actor Edie McClurg is 78
  2. "Irene McClurg — Genealogical Records". Ancestry.com . Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "They Have Touched Our Lives". University of Missouri–Kansas City. May 3, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  4. "Threads of Correspondence". T. Buckingham Thomas. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  5. "Edie McClurg". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Dunn, Gabrielle (June 10, 2011). "Edie (GRACE!) McClurg Talks 'Ferris Bueller''s 25th Anniversary, On-Set Friendships and John Hughes' Genius". Moviefone. Archived from the original on October 5, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Edie McClurg biography". Yahoo Movies. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  8. Kassel, Michael B. (June 15, 1993). America's Favorite Radio Station: WKRP in Cincinnati. Popular Press. p. 142. ISBN   978-0-8797-2584-6 . Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  9. "'Ferris Bueller' Actress Edie McClurg Suffering Dementia, Family Wants Conservatorship". TMZ . February 1, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  10. 1 2 "'Ferris Bueller' Star Edie McClurg Allegedly Elder Abuse Victim". TMZ. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  11. "'Ferris Bueller' actor Edie McClurg is an elder abuse victim, cousin alleges". Los Angeles Times . August 3, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 "Edie McClurg (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 21, 2023. 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.
  13. "Eyes Upon Waking". The A.V. Club . Retrieved June 28, 2023.