Elizabeth Ann Sheridan (April 10, 1929 – April 15, 2022) was an American actress. While best known for her roles as the nosy neighbor, Mrs. Ochmonek, on the sitcom ALF (1986–1990), and Jerry's mother, Helen, in Seinfeld (1990–1998), her decades-long career was extensive and included work on the stage and on large and small screens.
Early life Sheridan was born Elizabeth Ann Sheridan in Rye, New York, on April 10, 1929. Her father, Frank Sheridan, was a classical pianist; her mother, Elizabeth Poole-Jones, was a concert singer. She was raised by her mother in Westchester County, New York, after her parents' separation. As a child, she was given the nickname "Dizzy", a shortened version of "Dizabeth", which is how her sister managed to pronounce her name when they were young.
Her father was of half Irish and half Ashkenazi Jewish (from Germany and England) descent. Her maternal grandparents were English immigrants.
Career Sheridan began her professional life as a nightclub dancer and singer in the 1950s, and spent much of her early career living and working in the Caribbean. In the late 1960s, back in New York City, she performed in one of Julius Monk's annual cabaret reviews at Plaza 9, located in the Plaza Hotel. She also appeared in plays and musicals on Broadway, co-starring with Meryl Streep and Christopher Lloyd in the 1977 musical, Happy End, before moving to Los Angeles. Working in Hollywood, she came to prominence in supporting roles in over a dozen feature films and 60 prime time network television movies, mini-series, and series including Kojak, Archie Bunker's Place, St. Elsewhere, Newhart, Moonlighting, The A-Team, Who's the Boss, Hill St. Blues, Cagney & Lacey, Family Ties, Murder, She Wrote, and Double Rush. Her first major role was playing the nosy neighbor Raquel Ochmonek on the NBC TV series ALF, from 1986 to 1990.
Following that she secured a long-lived role as Jerry's "protective, Florida-living mom", Helen, on Seinfeld. She appeared in all nine seasons, from 1990 to 1998, the only actor to do so apart from the four leads, and was the last surviving actress to play one of the parents of the Seinfeld main cast members.
In 2009, with Andy Griffith and Doris Roberts, Sheridan co-starred in the feature film Play the Game, a romantic comedy about a widowed grandfather who learns dating tricks from his serial romancer of a grandson. The film received attention for containing a sex scene between Sheridan and Griffith.
Personal life While working as a dancer in New York City nightclubs, Sheridan met the then-unknown James Dean. She wrote a book, Dizzy & Jimmy: My Life with James Dean: A Love Story, chronicling their time together in the early 1950s. In it, she describes them as each other's first romantic love. "We had great times... We didn't want to be apart. We found a place and lived together... before he really hit it big." At one point in their relationship, they found themselves traveling to Ohio with Major League Baseball player Clyde McCullough. During the trip, as they discussed baseball, she realized that if she and Dean were married she would be known as "Dizzy Dean", evoking thoughts of the baseball player of the same name.
Dean pursued work on the stage in New York City, with film roles in Hollywood soon to follow. Without sure footing or a serious plan, forging a future was not an option, thus bringing about the end of their relationship. "He was being hauled away into this career, and I couldn't follow him," she said in an interview.
Early in 1953, Sheridan departed New York City for the Virgin Islands. She lived for over a decade in St. Thomas and later Puerto Rico. She earned a living as a dancer and also by singing and playing piano. Together with a neighbor who had a dance troupe, she won a dance contest she choreographed for the first Carnival in St. Thomas. She also earned a $600 purse finishing first in a horse race, atop her stallion, Generalé.
After a brief engagement to Justus "Pancho" Villa, she realized she did not want to marry him, broke it off, and returned for a time to New York City. There, at a party, she again met Dean. Afterwards, in a cab, he told her, "Nothing's lost between us. It never will be. You're a part of me and I'm a part of you. I take you with me wherever I go." That was the last time she saw him.
Back in the Caribbean, she met jazz musician [William] Dale Wales (1917–2003) in Puerto Rico. They shared a life from 1960 until his death in 2003; they wed in 1985. Their daughter Stephanie is a photographer. Sheridan said, "I'm so unmotherly, I cannot tell you. I'm still a flower child somewhere. My daughter was more my friend than my daughter most of her life."
Sheridan and actress Elizabeth Montgomery were friends and were known as Dizzy and Lizzie. Montgomery only took on the nickname "Lizzie" following her performance in the Emmy Award-winning TV movie, The Legend of Lizzie Borden The pair adored horses and together they frequented the Santa Anita race track. Death Sheridan died on April 15, 2022, at the age of 93.
Filmography Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1982Jekyll and Hyde... Together AgainMrs. Larson1983Star 80Makeup Woman1984Nickel MountainReception Nurse1985Avenging AngelNurse1985School SpiritMrs. Kingman1986Legal EaglesJuror1987Who's That GirlNurse #11992Only YouMrs. Stein1992WishmanMs. Finger1993Brainsmasher... A Love StoryMa Molly1995Forget ParisWoman in Car1996Wedding Bell BluesMrs. Samuel Levine1996A&PHi-Ho LadyShort film1997Always Say GoodbyeMuriel Evans2002Now You KnowGrandma2004Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes 2007 The Blacksmith and the Carpenter God's Wife Voice Short film2009Play the GameEdna Gordon2010TrimHelen
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1977KojakRoseEpisode: "Kojak's Days: Part 1"1981The White ShadowRestaurant CustomerEpisode: "B.M.O.C."1981Archie Bunker's PlaceLadyEpisode: "Billie"1982World War IIINaomi GlassMiniseries1982Gimme a Break!Nurse WhalesEpisode: "The Emergency"1982In the Custody of StrangersCaseworkerTelevision film1982Tucker's WitchSecretaryEpisode: "Big Mouth"1983St. ElsewhereDr. Susan MauriEpisode: "The Count"1983Oh MadelineMrs. PhelpsEpisode: "Mummy Dearest"1983Scarecrow and Mrs. KingLydia LowellEpisode: "If Thoughts Could Kill"1983One Day at a TimeMrs. MullerEpisode: "The Dentist"1983, 1985The A-TeamHildegard Henderson / Tina Lavelle2 episodes1984Second Sight: A Love StoryMrs. CarlisleTelevision film1984Three's a CrowdMiss RockwellEpisode: "Daddy's Little Girl"1984The Cartier AffairMiss CarpenterTelevision film1984RiptideEveritt's SecretaryEpisode: "Father's Day"1985Sins of the FatherMiddle-Aged WomanTelevision film1985It's Your MoveEuniceEpisode: "A Woman Is Just a Woman"1985NewhartMrs. SpencerEpisode: "Look Homeward, Stephanie"1985MoonlightingSelmaEpisode: "Pilot"1985GenerationClaraTelevision film1985Santa BarbaraNurse Greta Bayley3 episodes1985BrothersZelda MarchEpisode: "Happy Birthday, Baby Brother"1985Who's the Boss?GertrudeEpisode: "Custody: Part 2"1985, 1986Remington SteeleGreta Swenson / Woman in Hallway2 episodes1986Hill Street BluesDorothy MiskinEpisode: "I Want My Hill Street Blues"1986Cagney & LaceyDr. VernonEpisode: "Sorry, Right Number"1986Kate's SecretEvelynTelevision film1986The Magical World of DisneyHostessEpisode: "Sunday Drive"1986A Year in the LifeLoisEpisode: "The First Christmas"1986–1990ALFRaquel Ochmonek34 episodes1987Warm Hearts, Cold FeetAmanda McPhersonTelevision film1988The Secret Life of Kathy McCormickMrs. Van AdamsTelevision film1988Family TiesGinny McCoyEpisode: "Heartstrings: Part 3"1989It's a LivingSophieEpisode: "Matchmaker, Matchmaker"1990Piece of CakeMrs. KatzTelevision film1990Good GriefWidow BlackwellEpisode: "Warren Learns to Fly"1990Dr. Ruth's HouseJessica DimmesdaleTelevision film1990, 1994Empty NestMrs. Coover / Elspeth2 episodes1990–1998SeinfeldHelen Seinfeld21 episodes1991ChangesMrs. HahnTelevision film1991Murder, She WroteRose TesslerEpisode: "Bite the Big Apple"1992Melrose PlaceWoman ShopperEpisode: "My Way"1994BlossomMrs. WalkerEpisode: "Blossom Gump"1994–1997Life with LouieMrs. Stillman7 episodes1995Double RushMargeEpisode: "Slamming Into a Car Isn't Good"1995SlidersMiss MillerEpisode: "Prince of Wails"1995Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna BuchananWendy PadisonTelevision film1995Cleghorne!Madame Bourreau2 episodes1997A Match Made in HeavenRuthie KleinTelevision film2005Complete SavagesMrs. O'HaraEpisode: "Crimes and Mini-Wieners"2005NumbersLandladyEpisode: "Bones of Contention"2007American Dad!Mrs. Rothberg (voice)Episode: "An Apocalypse to Remember"
Book Sheridan, Liz. (2000) Dizzy & Jimmy: My Life with James Dean: A Love Story. New York: HarperEntertainment.
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