Andrea Hope Elson (born March 6, 1969) is an American former child model and child actress, best known for her science fiction television roles as Alice Tyler on the CBS adventure series Whiz Kids and as Lynn Tanner on the NBC comedy series ALF, which garnered her two Youth in Film Award nominations in 1986 and 1989.
Early life Elson was born in New York City on March 6, 1969. She grew up in New York City with her parents and an older sister named Samantha (born circa 1966). While she was a child, the family moved to San Diego, California for four years before returning to Westchester County, New York.
Career Elson began her professional career as a child model and actress, appearing in a number of commercials, print advertisements and community theatre productions in San Diego.
In 1983, after relocating with her family to Los Angeles, Elson made her television debut at the age of 14 with a co-starring role on the CBS mystery-adventure series, Whiz Kids. She portrayed Alice Tyler, co-starring with Matthew Laborteaux, Todd Porter, and Jeffrey Jacquet as a group of teenage detectives who solve crimes and bring perpetrators to justice with the help of a talking computer.
Although Whiz Kids aired for only one season, Elson's role as Alice established the 14-year-old and her teenage co-stars as prominent fixtures in the various teen magazines of the era, including 16 magazine, Bop and Teen Beat, among others. The role also led to all the teenage Whiz Kids crossing over into a 1983 episode of Simon & Simon titled "Fly the Alibi Skies".
In 1986, Elson landed a co-starring role on the NBC science-fiction situation comedy ALF. She portrayed Lynn Tanner, the teenage daughter in a typical middle-class suburban family who adopt a friendly extraterrestrial, performed by puppeteer Paul Fusco. The series lasted four seasons and her portrayal earned her two Youth in Film Award nominations before the series' cancellation in 1990.
After the cancellation of ALF, Elson continued to appear in a variety of television roles, guest starring on a number of television series, including Who's the Boss?, Parker Lewis Can't Lose, ABC Afterschool Special, Married... with Children, Mad About You, Step by Step, and The Young and the Restless, as well as appearing in the television films Class Cruise and Frankenstein: The College Years.
Personal life Elson married former ALF stage manager Scott Hopper in 1993. They have a daughter, Claire, and a son, Dean. As of 2016, she owns and operates a yoga studio.
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 1983 Simon & Simon Alice Tyler Episode: "Fly the Alibi Skies" 1983–1984 Whiz Kids Alice Tyler 18 episodes 1985 Silver Spoons Kimberley Episode: "Promises, Promises"1986–1990ALFLynn Tanner100 episodes 1987 Wordplay Self - Celebrity Panelist 3 episodes 1989 The New Hollywood Squares Self - Panelist 1 episode Class Cruise Staci Poston Television film 1990 Who's the Boss? Melinda Episode: "One Flew Over the Empty Nest" Parker Lewis Can't Lose Denise Episode: "Musso & Frank" They Came from Outer Space Julie Carter Episode: "Trading Faces" 1991 ABC Afterschool Special Liz Episode: "The Less Than Perfect Daughter" Married People Madeline Episode: "Dance Ten, Friends Zero" Frankenstein: The College Years Andi Richmond Television film 1993 Married... with Children Heidi Episode: "Wedding Show" 1994 Mad About You Joanne Episode: "Cold Feet" 1996 Step by Step Bonnie Episode: "Forever Young" Kirk Episode: "Baby, You Can Drive My Car" 1997 Men Behaving Badly Girl #1 Episode: "It's Good to Be Dead" 1998 The Young and the Restless Debbie Thompson 2001 E! True Hollywood Story Herself Episode: "The Young and the Restless" 2002 I Love the '80s Herself TV Miniseries 2020 Forgotten TV Herself Episode: "The Whiz Kid Stars Speak" Podcast series
Video games Year Title Role 1994 Surgical Strike Co-Pilot
Soundtrack Year Production Notes 1986-1987 ALF TV SeriesEpisode: "A.L.F."performer: "Proud Mary" TV SeriesEpisode: "On the Road Again"performer: "99 Bottles of Beer" (uncredited) Episode: "Try to Remember: Part 2"performer: "Proud Mary" (uncredited)
Awards Year Award Category Work Result1986Youth in Film Award(now known as the Young Artist Award)Exceptional Young Actress in a New Television Comedy SeriesALF1989Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Comedy SeriesALF1989Bravo Otto AwardBest Female TV StarALF
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