Estelle Harris

Though she only appeared in 27 of the long-running series's 180 episodes, her performance as the ne plus ultra of crazy sitcom mothers made an indelible impact.

Don Rickles voiced Mr. Potato Head solo in the first film, but she joined for the second, third, fourth, and numerous short films. And that’s just the beginning of the scene. A production of Come Back, Little Sheba on Long Island led to an agent.

Harris hollered her way into TV history as George Costanza's short-fused mother on "Seinfeld" and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the "Toy Story" franchise.

After "Seinfeld" ended, she would go on to voice Mrs. Potato Head in the Toy Story franchise and played the recurring character Muriel in the Disney Channel sitcom "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody." Harris spent decades on stage and screen before making her "Seinfeld" debut as Estelle Costanza, partnering with Jerry Stiller as the parents of George Costanza on "a show about nothing." Estelle Harris, who made TV history as George Costanza's mother on "Seinfeld" and provided the voice of Mrs. Potato Head in the Toy Story franchise, has died at age 93.

Estelle passed away Saturday at her home in Palm Desert, CA, just outside of Palm Springs. Her son Glen says she died from natural causes, adding, "It is with ...

And, speaking of story ... Estelle played Mrs. Potato Head in the 3 most recent 'Toy Story' flicks. Short story ... she was hysterical! Glen went on to say, "Her kindness, passion, sensitivity, humor, empathy, and love were practically unrivaled, and she will be terribly missed by all those who knew her."

Best known as George Costanza's mother on "Seinfeld," she also voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the "Toy Story" movies.

She started tapping her comedic talents in high school productions, where she realized she “could make the audience get hysterical,” as she told People magazine in 1995.After the nine-season run of “Seinfeld” ended in 1998, Ms. Harris continued to appear on stage and screen. “I just go with what I got, and she goes back at me the same way.”Still, Ms. Harris saw a sympathetic undertone to her character, often saying Estelle fumed out frustration at her bumbling mate and scheming slacker of a son.Viewers, she told an interviewer in 1998, “just look at her as being funny, cute and a loudmouth. Estelle Harris, who played cranky mother on ‘Seinfeld,’ dies at 93Estelle Harris, best known for her role as George Costanza's mother in “Seinfeld,” also voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” films. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)Estelle Harris, who hollered her way into TV history as George Costanza’s short-fused mother on “Seinfeld” and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” franchise, died April 2 in Palm Desert, Calif. She was 93. Born April 22, 1928, in New York City as Estelle Nussbaum, Ms. Harris grew up in the city and later in the Pittsburgh suburb of Tarentum, Pa., where her father owned a candy store. With her high-pitched voice and humorously overbearing attitude, she was an archetype of maternal indignation.Trading insults and absurdities with her on-screen husband, played by Jerry Stiller, Ms. Harris helped create a parental pair that would leave even a psychiatrist helpless to do anything but hope they’d move to Florida — as their son, played by Jason Alexander, fruitlessly encouraged them to do.Jerry Stiller, comedian who played crotchety Frank Costanza on ‘Seinfeld,’ dies at 92Viewers of all backgrounds would tell her she was just like their own mothers, Ms. Harris often said.“She is the mother that everybody loves, even though she’s a pain in the neck,” she told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 1998.The career-defining role came after decades on stage and screen.

Estelle Harris is remembered for her recurring role as George Costanza's (Jason Alexander) mother on sitcom "Seinfeld."

But it was comically grating Estelle Constanza on Seinfeld that lifted her to great notoriety. While recurring on Seinfeld, Harris made appearances on TV shows like Star Trek: Voyager, The Tick, Living Single and Cybill. In 1999, she provided the voice of Mrs. Potato Head in Toy Story II and would continue to reprise the role for the franchise in the third and fourth isntallments. Born Estelle Nussbaum on April 4, 1928 in Manhattan, New York, Harris began her career in amateur productions and in dinner theater.

Estelle Harris, best known for her role as Estelle Costanza on 'Seinfeld,' has died at the age of 93 — read her obituary.

She appeared in a total of 27 episodes and became beloved for her character’s constant screaming at her family and hilariously overbearing nature. Other voice work included Kim Possible, Dave the Barbarian, Mickey Mouse Works and House of Mouse. She also voiced one-off characters on Family Guy, American Dad! and Futurama. In 1992, she began her most famous role as George Costanza’s mom on the hit sitcom Seinfeld, first appearing in the Season 4 episode “The Contest” and recurring on the series through the end of its run.

Estelle Harris, the actress known for playing Mrs. Potato Head in the "Toy Story" franchise and George Costanza's mom on "Seinfeld," has died at 93.

On Disney Channel's "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody," she played apathetic hotel housekeeper Muriel, whose catchphrase was "I'm not cleaning that up." "In the last year or two, all of a sudden these youngsters recognize me as Mrs. Costanza, Estelle Costanza," Harris told The Canadian Press in 2012. We all have to face death, so the easier we can make it for one another the better." I think 'Seinfeld,' because of the writing and the right cast, will go on for years and years." The actress' son Glen Harris told Deadline and Forbes she died Saturday evening. With a nasally, high-pitched voice that was instantly recognizable, Harris had more than 100 acting credits across her 45-year film and TV career.

NEW YORK (AP) — Estelle Harris, who hollered her way into TV history as George Costanza's short-fused mother on “Seinfeld” and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in ...

“Estelle is a born performer,” Stiller told The Record of Bergen County, N. J., in 1998. After the nine-season run of “Seinfeld” ended in 1998, Harris continued to appear on stage and screen. She started tapping her comedic talents in high school productions where she realized she “could make the audience get hysterical,” as she told People magazine in 1995. I play her with misery underneath.” But it’s not how I play her. The career-defining role came after decades on stage and screen.

Estelle Harris, known as George Costanza's mom on Seinfeld, also voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the Toy Story franchise.

Living on Long Island with her husband, Sy Harris, she raised three children before determining to make a living as an actor. (She said she once did 27 national commercials in one year alone.) Having never watched the show before her tryout, Harris first appeared as Mrs. Costanza on the infamous fourth-season Seinfeld episode “The Contest.” She ends up in the hospital after catching George masturbating, which leads the four main characters to make a bet as to who can go without the longest. Though she held a lifelong interest in performing, Harris did not begin her professional career until later in life, making her screen debut in a small role in Looking Up (1977) when she was approaching 50. (She noted that the character was named Estelle before she auditioned.) I mean, she had everything bad!

One of Estelle Harris' signature roles was playing George Costanza's (Jason Alexander) mother Estelle on the classic NBC sitcom Seinfeld.

One of my favorite people has passed – my tv mama, Estelle Harris. The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. Serenity now and always. “One of my favorite people has passed – my tv mama, Estelle Harris,” Alexander wrote on Twitter. “The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat.”

Estelle Harris, the actress known for playing George Costanza's mother on "Seinfeld," died Saturday, her agent told CNN. She was 93.

She later found success on Madison Avenue as she appeared in as many as 25 national television commercials in a single year, earning her the nickname "Queen of Commercials," the statement said.Harris voiced the role of Mrs. Potato Head in the "Toy Story" franchise as well as other animated characters, including in "Tarzan II," "Brother Bear," and "Teacher's Pet.""She always adored meeting and greeting children of all ages everywhere she went -- and of course making them laugh. Estelle Harris, known for role on 'Seinfeld,' has died at 93 Estelle Harris, the actress known for playing George Costanza's mother on "Seinfeld," died Saturday, her agent told CNN. She was 93. She married and had three children after moving back to New York. Harris began acting in community theaters before moving on to regional theaters and summer stock productions across the country.

Estelle Harris, who hollered her way into TV history as George Costanza's short-fused mother on Seinfeld and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the Toy Story ...

"Estelle is a born performer," Stiller told The Record of Bergen County, N. J., in 1998. After the nine-season run of Seinfeld ended in 1998, Harris continued to appear on stage and screen. She started tapping her comedic talents in high school productions where she realized she "could make the audience get hysterical," as she told People magazine in 1995. She seethed over snubbed paella, screeched about George's hanky-panky in the parental bed and laid out the spread for screen husband Frank's idiosyncratic holiday, Festivus. But it's not how I play her. The career-defining role came after decades on stage and screen.

Estelle Harris, who played George Costanza's mother Estelle on 'Seinfeld,' died today, aged 93.

One of my favorite people has passed – my tv mama, Estelle Harris. The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. Boasting comedic gifts and a unique voice, Harris was at one point known on Madison Avenue as the “Queen of Commercials,” having been known to book as many as 25 national TV spots in a single year. Harris is also known for voicing Mrs. Potato Head in three installments of Pixar’s Toy Story franchise (2, 3 and 4) and a number of additional shorts.

Estelle Harris has died due to natural causes in Palm Desert, Calif., PEOPLE confirms. She was 93. The actress' family announced her death in a statement to ...

"It is with the greatest remorse and sadness to announce that Estelle Harris has passed on this evening at 6:25 p.m.," her son Glen Harris shared. Harris was famous for playing Jason Alexander's character's mother Estelle Costanza on Seinfeld, as well as Mrs. Potato Head in the latter three Toy Story films. Estelle Harris most recently reprised her role of Mrs. Potato Head in Toy Story 4 in 2019 Estelle Harris has died due to natural causes in Palm Desert, Calif., PEOPLE confirms.

NEW YORK (AP) — Estelle Harris, who hollered her way into TV history as George Costanza's short-fused mother on “Seinfeld” and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in ...

FILE - Estelle Harris arrives at the world premiere of "Toy Story 3," Sunday, June 13, 2010, at The El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles. Harris, who hollered her way into TV history as George Costanza’s short-fused mother on TV’s “Seinfeld” and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” franchise, has died. Harris’ agent Michael Eisenstadt confirmed the actor’s death in Palm Desert, Calif., late Saturday, April 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Katy Winn, File)

Harris played middle-class matron Estelle Costanza, putting a memorable stamp on her recurring role in the '90s sitcom.

“Estelle is a born performer,” Stiller told The Record of Bergen County, N. J., in 1998. After the nine-season run of Seinfeld ended in 1998, Harris continued to appear on stage and screen. She started tapping her comedic talents in high school productions where she realized she “could make the audience get hysterical,” as she told People magazine in 1995. I play her with misery underneath.” But it’s not how I play her. The career-defining role came after decades on stage and screen.

Harris hollered her way into TV history as George Costanza's short-fused mother on "Seinfeld" and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the "Toy Story" franchise.

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The beloved character actor, who held her own against Jerry Stiller and Don Rickles, has died.

That’s to say nothing of the fact that she held her own against the incredible Jerry Stiller, with the duo’s screaming matches (punctuated with Harris’ instantly memorable cries like “You’re killing him!”) solidifying their place as two of the funniest sitcom actors of all time. Estelle Harris, a beloved character actor best known in live-action for playing George Constanza’s easily frustrated mother on Seinfeld and best known in animation for playing devoted toy matriarch Mrs. Potato Head in the Toy Story series, has died. She was also in Once Upon A Time In America, NightCourt, Married… With Children, a Law & Order episode, and Mad About You.

Estelle Harris, star of Seinfeld and the Toy Story franchise, has died at the age of 93, her family confirmed on Saturday.

This password will be used to sign into all New York sites. This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. This password will be used to sign into all New York sites. This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. This password will be used to sign into all New York sites. This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. One of my favorite people has passed - my tv mama, Estelle Harris. The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. Harris guest-starred on Seinfeld for 27 episodes as the shrill Estelle Costanza, opposite Jerry Stiller as George’s father, Frank Costanza. Following the news of Harris’s passing on Sunday, Jason Alexander wrote on Twitter, “One of my favorite people has passed — my tv mama, Estelle Harris. The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. One of my favorite people has passed - my tv mama, Estelle Harris. The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. One of my favorite people has passed - my tv mama, Estelle Harris. The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. Harris guest-starred on Seinfeld for 27 episodes as the shrill Estelle Costanza, opposite Jerry Stiller as George’s father, Frank Costanza. Following the news of Harris’s passing on Sunday, Jason Alexander wrote on Twitter, “One of my favorite people has passed — my tv mama, Estelle Harris. The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. One of my favorite people has passed - my tv mama, Estelle Harris. The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat.

Estelle Harris, who hollered her way into TV history as George Costanza's short-fused mother on “Seinfeld” and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” ...

Estelle Harris, at right, and Don Rickles arrive at the world premiere of “Toy Story 3,” Sunday, June 13, 2010, at The El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles. Harris, who hollered her way into TV history as George Costanza’s short-fused mother on TV’s “Seinfeld” and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” franchise, has died. Estelle Harris, at right, and Don Rickles arrive at the world premiere of “Toy Story 3,” Sunday, June 13, 2010, at The El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles. Harris, who hollered her way into TV history as George Costanza’s short-fused mother on TV’s “Seinfeld” and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” franchise, has died. “Estelle is a born performer,” Stiller told The Record of Bergen County, N. J., in 1998. After the nine-season run of “Seinfeld” ended in 1998, Harris continued to appear on stage and screen. She started tapping her comedic talents in high school productions where she realized she “could make the audience get hysterical,” as she told People magazine in 1995. Thanks to you all for your kind and sweet messages and remembrances of #EstelleHarris. She would be so touched.

Estelle Harris, the Jewish actress who played George Costanza's mother on the sitcom Seinfeld, died Saturday at the age of 93. Harris played the role of ...

One of my favorite people has passed – my tv mama, Estelle Harris. The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. She quickly to turning to the theatre, aided by elocution lessons, and found her calling. According to Deadline, the character of George’s mother was named Estelle before Harris landed the part — but her name wasn’t the only thing Harris shared with her onscreen character.