Edie McClurg (born July 23, 1945) is a retired American actress and comedian. She is known for her red hair and often playing a middle aged, dim-witted Midwesterner with a cheery accent.
On Married... with Children, she appears as Pearl Tot, the mother of Lonnie Tot, the heir to the Weenie Tots company and Kelly Bundy's fiancée in the Season 11 episode, "How to Marry a Moron (Part 2)".
Early Life[]
McClurg was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, to Mac, a mailman, and Irene McClurg, an FAA secretary. She had an older brother, Bob (Robert), who was an actor and comedian. She attended twelve years of Catholic elementary and high school, then the University of Missouri–Kansas City in the mid-1960s where she got her BA in 1967 and where she also taught radio for eight years. She earned a master's degree from Syracuse University in 1970.
At the University of Missouri–Kansas City, McClurg re-entered the entertainment field as a DJ, newswoman, and producer for the NPR affiliate KCUR-FM. There she portrayed John Ehrlichman in Conversation 26 of NPR's national broadcast of the Nixon Tape transcript.
Career[]
A talented character actress, he has performed in nearly 90 movies and 55 TV episodes. After the Pitschel Players, she joined the Groundlings improv troupe. She worked with fellow Groundling player Paul Reubens on his first play The Pee-wee Herman Show, in which she appeared in 1981 as "Hermit Hattie". She also appeared in the 1988 film Elvira: Mistress of the Dark with fellow Groundling player Cassandra Peterson, who appeared as her alter ego Elvira.
Television Acting[]
During the 1980s, she had a recurring roles on the sitcoms, The Hogan Family and Small Wonder. On both shows, she played the neighbor to the main family.
Other shows that she appeared in the during the 1980s and 1990s include Harper Valley P.T.A., The Jeffersons,WKRP in Cincinnati (and its spinoff, The New WKRP in Cincinnati), Mr. Belvidere, Drexel's Class, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, Melrose Place, and Sabrina, the Teenage witch.
McClurg performed in an episode of Hannah Montana as Cindy Merriweather.
McClurg also appeared on several game shows, including Match Game, The $25,000 Pyramid, Password Plus, and Super Password, as well as in numerous commercials.
Movie Acting[]
One of her most well known movie roles to date was playing Grace, the school secretary in the 1986 teen comedy film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. She also played a school secretary in the film Back to School, which also opened in theaters the same day as Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Another memorable role of hers was in the 1987 film, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, playing the car rental agent.
Other films that she appeared in the during the 1980s and 1990s include Mr. Mom, Natural Born Killers (reuniting her with her Back to School co-star, Rodney Dangerfield), A River Runs Through It, and Flubber.
Her last acting role was in the 2022 film, Eyes Upon Waking playing a nurse.
Voice Acting[]
Edie has also performed voice acting in numerous animated Disney productions. She contributed the voice of Fran the squirrel on Higglytown Heroes, She contributed the voices of the nurse of Ant Island and member of the council in A Bug's Life, and Minny in the animated film Cars and the sequel Cars 2. She is the voice of Carlotta in The Little Mermaid and The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea and voiced the storytelling Dragon in the Nightmare Ned video game. She is the voice of Barsa in the Disney dub of Kiki's Delivery Service. She is the voice of Fran the squirrel on Higglytown Heroes on The Disney Channel and Bea's mother and Mrs. Goldfishberg in Fish Hooks.
She contributed various voices in TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck, Home on the Range and Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas, as well as the voice of Jean in the Goof Troop episode "Meanwhile, Back at the Ramp", Gram Gram in Air Bud: Spikes Back, the Tooth Fairy, Bertha, Giantess and Hunchback in American Dragon: Jake Long, June in Pair of Kings and Mary in Wreck-It Ralph. She also voiced the Senior Witch in Kiki's Delivery Service and Winnie Pig in Tiny Toons Adventures: How I Spent my Vacation.
One of her last voice acting roles was on the FOX animated series, Family Guy playing herself in the 2020 episode, "Holly Bibble".
Personal Life[]
In 2019, TMZ reported that family and friends of McClurg filed court documents requesting a conservatorship to manage her affairs. They said neurological tests provide evidence that McClurg is unable to live alone without assistance and is "especially vulnerable to undue influence, given her poor judgment and evident dementia". TMZ further reported that a conservator, McClurg's cousin, actress Angelique Cabral, had been appointed.[1]
In August 2022, the lawyer for the conservatorship filed court documents alleging that McClurg had been abused by Michael L. Ramos, a man who had befriended her, moved into her home, and become a court-approved caregiver. The documents allege the man sexually assaulted her and a police report had been filed with the LAPD. They further allege that the man tried to remove her from the state to marry her. The judge for the conservatorship granted an order of protection at hearings in September 2022.[2][3]
External links[]
- Edie McClurg article at Wikipedia
Edie McClurg at the Internet Movie Database- Back to School (1986) - Marge Takes Notes Scene (9/12) | Movieclips
- Ferris Bueller's Day Off (2/3) Movie CLIP - He's a Righteous Dude (1986) HD
- Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) - A F***ing Car Scene | Movieclips
- Backstage Interview: Edie McClurg at the WIC Festival
- Chad Interviews Edie McClurg at the Jameson's First Shot!
- Super Password (Episode 109) (2-25-1985) (Day 1) (Charles Siebert & Edie McClurg)
References[]
- ↑ 'Ferris Bueller' Actress Edie McClurg Suffering Dementia, Family Wants Conservatorship. TMZ (February 1, 2019). Retrieved on November 23, 2024.
- ↑ ‘Ferris Bueller’ actor Edie McClurg is an elder abuse victim, cousin alleges. Los Angeles Times (Aug. 2, 2022). Retrieved on November 23, 2024.
- ↑ 'Ferris Bueller' Star Edie McClurg Allegedly Elder Abuse Victim. TMZ (Aug. 2, 2022). Retrieved on November 23, 2024.