Elsa Rabinowitz (September 21, 1929 – November 2, 2020), known professionally as Elsa Raven, was an American character actress, perhaps best known for her two years (1988–1990) on the sitcom Amen and playing the mother of Vincent Terranova (Ken Wahl) on the TV series Wiseguy.
Raven is also known for her small but memorable role in Back to the Future (1985) as the clock tower lady with her phrase "Save the clock tower!" while gathering local donations to preserve the clock, whose complimentary leaflet later proves invaluable in the past. She played Ida Straus in the 1997 film Titanic along with Lew Palter, who played Isidor Straus, and had a voice role in the 1981 animated film American Pop.
Raven adhered to Judaism. Raven died on November 2, 2020, in Los Angeles, at the age of 91. Upon her death, she was cremated and her ashes returned to her family.
Filmography Film appearances Year Title Role Notes1970 The Honeymoon Killers Matron 1971 Such Good Friends Transfusion donor nurse UncreditedThe Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight Mrs. Water BuffaloLady LibertyPolicewoman UncreditedSouth of Hell Mountain 1972 A Fan's Notes Deborah 1979 The Cracker Factory Tourist The Amityville Horror Mrs. Townsend 1980 Fatso Phil's Wife 1981 American Pop Hannele VoiceThe Postman Always Rings Twice Matron Paternity Pre-natal Nurse 1983 Second Thoughts Large Nurse Twilight Zone: The Movie Nurse No. 2 Segment "Kick the Can"1985 Back to the Future Clocktower Lady Creator Mrs. Mallory 1988 The Moderns Gertrude Stein1991 Another You Volunteer 1993 Indecent Proposal Citizenship Student In the Line of Fire Booth's Landlady Fearless Grey Haired Lady 1995 One Night Stand Mrs. Salvatore 1997 Titanic Ida Straus 2001 Face to Face Grandma 2002 The 4th Tenor Mama2005 The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green Senior Lady The Cutter Mrs. Rosen Laying Down Arms Ester Short movie2006 Miriam Aunt Levya 2009 Dead Game Boogie Short movie2011 They're with MeGreat Great Grandma Fanny FeinerShort movieAnswers to Nothing Mrs. Harrison
TV appearances Year Title Role Notes1982Million Dollar InfieldDr. Isabel Armen1978-1982Quincy, M.E.Miss Beck, Miss Coroner Judge, Nurse Angela Davenport1983-1984The A-TeamClara Dickerson, Dr. Marian Ericson1985Highway to HeavenMs. Zabenko1986Family TiesMildred Atkins1986General HospitalTessie1988Freddy's NightmaresMrs. Wildmon1989-1990AmenInga1987-1990WiseguyCarlotta Terranova Aiuppo1991Get a LifeMarta1992The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirIda Pollock1993Murphy BrownMrs. Kobolakis1993SistersMadam Sophie1994SeinfeldMom19993rd Rock from the SunAunt Florence2004Everybody Loves RaymondMrs. Lopman2008ERRosemary Smalls
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