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 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. 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.
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.
Personal life and death Playten was married to director Joshua White from no later than July 1982 until her death."Tiny Alice Playten Explains It for You". New York Daily News. July 25, 1982. p. 144. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
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.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1963Ladybug LadybugHarriet1971Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name?Della Isador1978PetronellaPrincess / Queen (voice)1979California DreamingCorrine1981Heavy MetalGloria (voice)Segment: "So Beautiful and So Dangerous"1982Amityville II: The PossessionDeamons' voice (voice)1985LegendBlix, Gump (voice)1986My Little Pony: The MovieBaby Lickety-Split (voice)1987Una (voice)1988Felix the Cat: The MoviePearl / Poindexter (voice)1993For Love or MoneyMrs. Prissilla Bailey1994I.Q.Gretchen1996MURDER and murderAlice1997The Amazing Feats of Young HerculesThe Gorgon (voice)Video1999Doug's 1st MovieBeebe Bluff / Elmo (voice)1999Pioneer 12Mother2003Buster (voice)Video2007Oy Vey!HannahShort2009Hidden Treasure of Wompkee WoodBuster (voice)Video2009Sensei DanaFinal role
Television Year Title Role Notes1975AliceMain role1975Really RosieAlligator (voice)TV film1976That's CatAliceMain role1978Disco Beaver from Outer SpaceVariousHBO production1980Edith StanleyTV film1984Rescue at Midnight CastleBaby Lickety-Split (voice)TV film1985My Little Pony: Escape from CatrinaBaby Moondancer (voice)TV film1991MonstersViolet Mitla"The Moving Finger"1991–94, 1996–1999DougBeebe Bluff (voice)Elmo (voice)Larry (in "Doug Rocks the House")Recurring role1992GhostwriterParrot (voice)"Ghost Story: Parts 3 & 5"1994Oona DowdTV film1997Remember WENNJane Smith (voice)"Caller I.D."1998New York UndercoverHomeless Woman"Spare Parts"1999FrasierBonnie"Our Parents, Ourselves", "Shutout in Seattle: Parts 1 & 2"2001Third WatchSandy"The Self-Importance of Being Carlos"2001Law & OrderDog Walker"Who Let the Dogs Out?"2001Mrs. Lynch"A Very Great Man"2005As the World TurnsMrs. Lovejoy2 episodes2005The Buzz on MaggieDawn's Lackey (voice)Episode: Scum Bites2006Francesca"Acceptance", "Assignation"
Awards and honors 1968 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Henry, Sweet Henry)Seligsohn, Leo (August 4, 1970). "Her Menu: Dumplings and Aka-Seltzer". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 32. Retrieved September 5, 2023. 1968 Theatre World Award (Henry, Sweet Henry) 1973 Obie Award for Distinguished Performance (National Lampoon's Lemmings) 1989 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Spoils of War) 1994 Obie Award (First Lady Suite)
References
External links
Alice Playten Passes Away at 63