Elmarie Louise Wendel (November 23, 1928 – July 21, 2018)On April 11, 1930, in New Ogen Township, Howard County, Iowa, Elmarie L. Wendel's age is given for the census as "1 3/12" (i.e. 1 year and 3 months = 15 months); in the 1940 census in Cresco, Howard County, Iowa on April 10, 1940, her age is given as 11. Given her November birthdate this means she was born in 1928, not 1932.Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: New Oregon, Howard, Iowa; Roll: 659; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0014; Image: 159.0; FHL microfilm: 2340394. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.Source Citation: Year: 1940; Census Place: Cresco, Howard, Iowa; Roll: T627_1167; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 45-19. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls. was an American actress and singer best known as Mamie Dubcek on the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun.
Early life Born on a farm in Howard County, Iowa, one of five siblings, Wendel spent her childhood travelling with her musical parents and dancing with her sisters in and around the Midwest in club and concert hall venues, including the Grand Ole Opry. She eventually made her way to New York City where she appeared in, among other productions, the original 1959 off-Broadway production of Little Mary Sunshine, starring Eileen Brennan and John McMartin. Wendel is of German descent.
Career A national touring company of Annie took her to Los Angeles, where she made a successful transition into film and television. She garnered the role of the eccentric Mrs. Dubcek on 3rd Rock from the Sun. From 1996 to 2001, she appeared in about 70 episodes of the show. She made appearances on such shows as Seinfeld, Love & War, Murphy Brown, Murder, She Wrote, and Empty Nest. She appeared in And the Band Played On and Far from Home. She had a recurring role as Gina, a lascivious assembly line co-worker of the title character on George Lopez. In 2008, she appeared on General Hospital in the recurring role of Peg. Her musical theatre credits include Wonderful Town, Cole Porter Revisited, Little Mary Sunshine and Gigi.
Personal life and death Wendel's daughter, J.C. Wendel, is also an actress. Her death was announced on her daughter's Instagram on July 21, 2018. No cause or place of death was given but Wendel had resided in Studio City, California, at the time of her death.
Filmography Film Year Title RoleNotes 1961 A Bowl of Cherries Daphne Short comedy film written and directed by William Kronick 1990 The Immortalizer Agnes 1991 Going Under Sonar Comedy film directed by Mark W. Travis 1995 Rumpelstiltskin Gypsy Woman Comedy fantasy horror film directed by Mark Jones 2000 Attraction Beehive Waitress Drama romantic thriller film directed by Russell DeGrazier 2011 A Bag of Hammers The Mark Comedy drama film directed by Brian Crano and written by Crano and Jake Sandvig 2012 The Lorax Aunt Grizelda
Television Year Title RoleNotes 1982 Crisis Counselor Episode: "Aging Woman" 1982 Knight Rider Woman Episode: "No Big Thing" 1985 The Jeffersons Mrs. Pardella Episode: "State of Mind" 1987 The Facts of Life Jackie Episode: "Sweet Charity" 1990 Sugar and Spice Bag Lady Episode: "Breaking in Is Hard to Do" She Said No Television film directed by John Patterson concerning acquaintance rape 1991 Babes Sister Katherine Episode: "All Bummed Out" Murphy Brown Mrs. Beale Episode: "Everytime It Rains... You Get Wet" Major Dad Mona Episode: "On the Line" 1992 Empty Nest Vivian Episode: "Charley for President" Seinfeld Helene Episode: "The Trip" Santa Barbara Landlady Episode: "Ep 2,053" 1993 Murder, She Wrote Nurse Receptionist Episode: "The Petrified Florist" Love & War Maude Episode: "They Can't Take That Away from Me" The Pink Panther Episode: "Pilgrim Panther/That Old Pink Magic" 1994 Empty Nest Agnes Episode: "The Ballad of Shady Pines" Weird Science Mrs. Wilder Episode: "She's Alive" (Pilot) 1996–2001 3rd Rock from the Sun Mrs. Dubcek 1998 Jenny Doris Episode: "A Girl's Gotta Merger" 2000 The Angry Beavers Doris Rabbit Voice, episode: "Driving Misses Daggett/Big" 2001–2002 NYPD Blue Susan Hornby Recurring role, 4 episodes 2003–2007 George Lopez Gina Sorenstam Recurring role, 12 episodes 2008 General Hospital Peg 2011 American Dad! Beverley Billingsley Voice, episode: "Stanny Boy and Frantastic" Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior Paula Episode: "Devotion" 2014 The Exes Ruthie Episode: "The Old Man and the Holly"
Video games Year Title RoleNotes 2015 Fallout 4 Mandy Stiles / Cathy / Pulowski Preservation Shelter 2018 Fallout 76 Pulowski Preservation Shelter Posthumous release
References
External links