Randee Heller (born Randee Antzis; June 10, 1947) is an American television and film actress. Her first high-profile role was as Alice in the 1970s sitcom Soap, portraying one of television's first lesbian characters.

Heller is also known for her portrayal of Lucille LaRusso in the films The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part III and in the streaming series Cobra Kai, as well as her appearances as Bert Cooper's and Don Draper's elderly secretary Ida Blankenship on the series Mad Men, for which she was nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

Early life Heller was born on June 10, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York City, and grew up in West Hempstead, New York, on Long Island, of Russian Jewish heritage.Hochberg, Mina. "Q&A with Randee Heller" , AMCtv.com, 19 September 2010. After initially attending Emerson College in Boston, she returned to Long Island to graduate in 1969 from Adelphi University, where she studied theater.

Career The summer after graduation, Heller was cast in an Off-Broadway production of Godspell. She assumed the role of Rizzo in the Broadway musical production of Grease.Jim Kershner. "Sandpoint schedule shaping up." The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington), May 13, 2001, p. F3 In 1978, Heller moved from New York to California to pursue film and television work.

Heller's role as Alice, one of the television's first lesbian characters, on the TV series Soap received mixed reviews, with criticism primarily directed not at her acting but at the stereotyping of her character.Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Television Characters (1971-1980)Clifford Pugh. "Much ado about Ellen/Houstonians plan parties to watch tonight's controversial episode", Houston Chronicle, April 30, 1997, Houston section, page 1."Gay TV history", The Orlando Sentinel, April 30, 1997, page E1.Taylor Cole Miller. "Don't Drop the Soap: American Television's Long-Lost Lesbian", The Huffington Post, May 28, 2013. The Boston Herald said that the characterization shows how "the networks have generally depicted lesbians either as suicidal losers or sexual predators." For example, it identifies Alice as "TV's first recurring lesbian character," noting that she "first tries to throw herself off a bridge, then falls for Jodie (Billy Crystal), a confused gay man, and finally runs off."Mark A. Perigard. "Networks' record shows gay stereotyping", Boston Herald April 30, 1997, page 44. Ahead of filming, producers ordered Heller's newly permed hair straightened at the network's insistence. Of a later episode in which Alice introduces her girlfriend, Heller said, "I went to kiss her in rehearsals and they said, 'No no no … you can’t do that.' I said, 'But she’s my girlfriend!' 'No, no no no, we can’t do that, we just cannot do that.' So it was so careful, it was so delicate in those days that you couldn’t really do your thing. … They wanted me to be a heterosexual homosexual." Heller would appear as a lesbian character again in a 2010 episode of Grey's Anatomy "Almost Grown," playing the partner of a female patient with a brain tumor.

Film career

After leaving Soap, Heller gained the role of Lucille LaRusso, the mother of Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), in the Karate Kid movie series, appearing in the first and, as a cameo, third installments, to positive notices from critics.George Williams. "'The Karate Kid' doesn't have to fight to be a winner", Sacramento Bee, June 22, 1984, Scene section, page D. Reviewer Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune noted her absence from the second film, "Heller's honest portrayal of a single parent trying to raise an adolescent was one of the genuine pleasures of the original film."Gene Siskel. "In 'The Karate Kid Part II', Daniel and Miyagi are in the wrong fight", Chicago Tribune, June 20, 1986, p. 29 Ralph Macchio also "argued for her [inclusion]. Those scenes with her were some of my favorites in the original – they had some real emotion – and I honestly don't know why she isn't there."Gene Siskel. "Ralph Macchio's baby face can't mask maturing talent", Chicago Tribune, June 15, 1986, Arts section, p. 10 Heller was also the voice that says "Hey Rock, you're a bum" in the first Rocky movie.

Other films include Fast Break (1979), Bulworth (1998), Monster-in-Law (2005), and Crazylove (2005).

Television guest appearances Heller had a starring role as Carol in the 1979 TV movie Can You Hear the Laughter? The Story of Freddie Prinze. She has made guest appearances in television series including Murder, She Wrote, Less Than Perfect, ALF, Nip/Tuck, Judging Amy, Felicity, the children's series Drake & Josh, Night Court, Fame, and The White Shadow. Heller was a regular on the one-season program Husbands, Wives & Lovers (1978). She played leading roles in three short-lived sitcoms: Mama Malone (1984), 1986's Better Days (TV series), and Second Chance (1987). Heller's TV-movie appearances include Can You Hear the Laughter? The Story of Freddie Prinze and And Your Name is Jonah (both 1979). She had a recurring role in the fourth season (2010) of AMC's Mad Men as Bert Cooper's and Don Draper's elderly secretary Ida Blankenship. For this role, Heller received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. Additionally, she played the recurring role of Ryan's neighbor Margot on the American version of Wilfred in the 2010s.

Since 2018, Heller has reprised the role of Lucille LaRusso in the streaming show Cobra Kai.

Stage career Heller has appeared in such theater productions as Bermuda Avenue Triangle,Jeff Murphy. "Walk down this 'Avenue' for a raucous night out", The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware), January 21, 2006, p. D3 The Tale of the Allergist's Wife,Paul Hodgins. "'Allergist's Wife' finds sea legs - After a wobbly start, the comedy about Manhattan manners gathers steam and heads into a strong finale" (review), The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, California), May 30, 2005, p. A and Cabaret. Of her role in Cabaret, with one reviewer remarked that:

Heller also played the role of Barbra Streisand's mother in the stage performances of Streisand's Timeless concerts in 2000. She performed the role after having been diagnosed with breast cancer the year before and undergoing a double mastectomy and chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Personal life Heller has been in a long-term relationship with TV writer-producer and former mime Robert Griffard and has two daughters.

Filmography Film

Year Title Role Directed by Notes 1979 Fast Break Jan Jack Smight Film debut 1984 The Karate Kid Lucille LaRusso John G. Avildsen 1986 The Ladies Club Harriet Janet Greek 1989 The Karate Kid Part III Lucille LaRusso John G. Avildsen 1993 The Baby Doll Murders Mrs. Maglia Paul Leder 1994 Frame-Up II: The Cover-Up Ruth Epstein Paul Leder Alternatively titled "Deadly Conspiracy" 1997 Matter of Trust Stoddard Joey Travolta 1998 Bulworth Mrs. Tannenbaum Warren Beatty 2005 Monster-in-Law Beverly Hills Dog Owner Robert Luketic 2005 Better Days Harriet Winners Raul Ingils 2005 Crazylove Principal Gail Ellie Kanner 2009 Coma Doug's Mother Drew Antzis Voice Role 2017 A Crooked Somebody Phylis Trevor White2024 Destroy All NeighborsEleanor Prescott Josh Forbes 2024Murder at Hollow Creek Glenda David Lipper

Television