Anne Schedeen, Actress Who Played Mom on “ALF”, Dies at 77: 'She Was a Force,' Says Family
Anne Schedeen, Actress Who Played Mom on “ALF”, Dies at 77: 'She Was a Force,' Says Family
Brenton BlanchetMon, June 15, 2026 at 2:50 PM UTC
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Anne Schedeen in 'ALF'Credit: Nbc/Kobal/Shutterstock -
Anne Schedeen, who played mom Kate Tanner in the series ALF, has died
Schedeen starred in all four seasons of the extraterrestrial '80s sitcom
She was 77
Anne Schedeen, the actress best known for her role as mother Kate Tanner on '80s phenomenon ALF, has died. She was 77.
Schedeen's family announced the news on Facebook on Sunday, June 14, sharing that she "passed peacefully." A cause of death was not provided.
"She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of creative energy, whip smart humor, delight in her family, adoration for little dogs, burning hatred for [Donald] Trump, passion for second-hand thrifting, and love for a good story," her family wrote. "We are bereft without her. We loved her so so much, as did all who met her."
"She was a force," the message continued. "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."
Anne Schedeen, Max Wright, Andrea Elson and Benji Gregory for 'ALF'Credit: ITV/Shutterstock
Schedeen, full name Luanne Ruth Schedeen, was born in Portland in 1949 and got her start studying acting at the Portland Civic Theatre. Eventually, she moved to New York City and then Los Angeles to pursue the craft.
Her earliest roles in TV came in the '70s with stints on The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Three's Company and The Incredible Hulk. Her earliest films included 1976's Embryo, 1977's Exo-Man and 1979's Champions: A Love Story.
In 1986, she made her debut as family matriarch Kate Tanner on NBC's ALF (short for alien life form), which followed an unsuspecting California family who houses an extraterrestrial after he crash landed into their garage.
"I did a lot of pilots before ALF came along. Some of them ran for a year, a year and a half. Some of them ran for 12 episodes," Schedeen told HolidayHeroes BG in 2015. "But this one really caught on. It really caught on. It was fun."
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The series, which ran for four seasons until 1990, starred Schedeen alongside Paul Fusco (voice of ALF, who Mihaly "Michu" Meszaros portrayed in costume), Max Wright (TV husband Willie Tanner), Andrea Elson (daughter Lynn Tanner) and Benji Gregory (son Brian Tanner). Wright died in 2019 at 75, while Gregory died in 2024 at age 46.
Speaking with PEOPLE in June 2000, she described the making of the show as a "technical nightmare, extremely slow, hot and tedious."
"If you had a scene with ALF, it took centuries," she said at the time. "A 30-minute show took 20, 25 hours to shoot."
ALF was a hit during its early years, eventually spawning plenty of merchandising, home-media releases, the two-season ALF: The Animated Series and a 2004 talk show (ALF's Hit Talk Show on TV Land).
"When I left the room after the audition, I turned back to Paul Fusco, who's one of the creators — and ALF — and I said, and I spoke to the puppet, 'I think you are gonna be a big, big star.' And I nailed it, he was," she told HolidayHeroes. "And I got to go along for that ride."
Anne Schedeen in 1988Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Schedeen is survived by her husband of 55 years Christopher Barrett, daughter Taylor Barrett, daughter-in-law Hilary Flynn, sister Sarabeth Schedeen, niece Minnie Schedeen, brother Roland "Tony" Schedeen, sister in-law Julieann Schedeen and her rescue dogs Roo and Red, her family said.
Those who wish to pay their respects are encouraged to donate to Habitat for Humanity, which her loved ones called "one of her favorite causes."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
