Rae Julia Theresa Abruzzo (July 3, 1926 – April 6, 2022), professionally known as Rae Allen, was an American actress of stage, film and television. Her career spanned some seventy years and eight decades.[1][2]
Rae Allen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Rae Julia Abruzzo July 3, 1926 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 6, 2022 (aged 95) |
| Education | HB Studio American Academy of Dramatic Arts New York University (MFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1941−2011[1] |
| Spouses | |
Allen started her career in theatre in 1941 in a production of Gilbert and Sullivan and made her debut on Broadway in 1948, moving to television and film roles in 1958, making her screen debut in Damn Yankees. She appeared in numerous guest roles in TV shows, but she was best known of recurring parts in sitcom All in the Family (1972-1973) and in The Sopranos. Her film roles included A League of Their Own (1992) and Stargate.[1]
Early life
editAllen was born as Rae Julia Theresa Abruzzo in Brooklyn, New York City on July 3, 1926,[3] to Julia (née Riccio), a seamstress and hairdresser and Joseph Abruzzo, an opera singer and chauffeur, whose brothers acted in vaudeville.[4]
At the age of 25, she played Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore.[5] Rae Allen trained at the HB Studio[6] in New York City's Greenwich Village. She graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1947.[2] She was first married to John M. Allen and then divorced; and later married and divorced, politician Herbert Harris.[4]
Death
editAllen died in her sleep on April 6, 2022, at the age of 95 at the Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement community in Woodland Hills, California. She is survived by her four nieces: Nadine (McCann), Laura, Deborah, and Betty Cosgrove. [4][2]
Theatre
editAllen was nominated for the Tony Award three times: for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Damn Yankees in 1956, and for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Traveller Without Luggage in 1965 and And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little in 1971, winning for the latter. In 1958, she recreated her role as the nosy reporter Gloria in Damn Yankees in the film adaptation, in both of which she introduced the song "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo."[2]
Film and television
editAllen appeared in such films as Reign Over Me, A League of Their Own, Stargate, and Where's Poppa?[2] On television, she appeared on two consecutive episodes of Seinfeld as unemployment counselor Lenore Sokol, who must deal with George Costanza, who tries to get her to approve an extension of his benefits by dating her homely daughter, who ends up rejecting him.[2] She also made appearances on television shows such as The Patty Duke Show, Hill Street Blues, All in the Family, Car 54 Where Are You, Head of the Class, Remington Steele, The Sopranos, and Grey's Anatomy.[2]
Broadway theatre
editSelected roles
edit- Damn Yankees (1954–1955)[2]
- The Pajama Game (1954–1956)
- Oliver! (1963-1964)
- On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965)
- Fiddler on the Roof
- And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little (for which she won the 1971 Tony Award for Supporting Actress)[2]
- Dude (1972)
Filmography
editFilm and television
edit| Title | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Damn Yankees (film) | 1958 | Gloria Thorpe[2] |
| The Untouchables (TV series) | 1962 | Sarro's Daughter (guest role) episode: The Economist |
| Car 54, Where Are You? (TV series) | 1963 | Miss Thelma Eisenberg (uncredited) guest role in Episode: Joan Crawford Didn't Didn't Say No |
| Profiles in Courage (TV series) | 1964 | Miss Darvon (guest role, episode: Mary S. McDowell |
| The Patty Duke Show (TV series) | 1964 | Miss McClintock (guest, episode: Can Do Patty) |
| The Tiger Makes Out (film) | 1967 | Beverly |
| Where's Poppa? (film) | 1970 | Gladys Hocheiser |
| Taking Off (film) | 1971 | Mrs. Divito |
| All in the Family (TV series) | 1972−1973 | Amelia/Amelia DeKuyper[2] |
| Acts of Love and Other Comedies (TV film) | 1973 | Jeffreys' Wife |
| Madigan_(TV_series) (TV series) | 1973 | Verna Bennerman |
| Medical Center (TV series) | 1973 | Rose |
| CBS Daytime 90 (TV series) | 1974 | Dommy (episode: Legacy of Fear)[2] |
| Ace (TV movie) | 1976 | Gloria Ross |
| Phyl & Mikhy (TV series) | 1980 | Gwyn |
| Soap (TV series) | 1980 | Judge Betty Small |
| The Greatest American Hero (TV series) | 1981 | Edith Morabito |
| Lou Grant (TV series) | 1982 | Helen Paterson |
| Remington Steele (TV series) | 1982 | Kay Letrell (episode: Steele Water Run Deep) |
| Hill Street Blues | 1982 | Gloria Currie episode: Little Boil Blue |
| Scarecrow and Mrs. King (TV series) | 1984 | Sergeant Magovich |
| Faerie Tale Theatre (TV series) | 1986 | Aladdin's Mother[2] |
| Moving (film) | 1988 | Dr. Phyllis Ames |
| Far Out Man (film) | 1990 | Holly |
| Equal Justice (TV series) | 1990 | Judge Cythia Russell |
| Head of the Class (TV series) | 1990 | Sofia |
| She Said No (TV film) | 1990 | Judge Gordon |
| Keeping Secrets (TV film) | 1991 | unknown |
| Face of A Stranger (TV film) | 1991 | Ruthie |
| Seinfeld (TV series) | 1992 | Mrs. Sokol |
| A League of Their Own (film) | 1992 | Ma Kellor |
| Brooklyn Bridge (TV series) | 1993 | Cousin Ruth |
| Calendar Girl (film) | 1993 | Mrs. McDonald |
| Angie (film) | 1994 | Aunt Violetta |
| Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills (TV film) | 1994 | Female Judge |
| Stargate (film) | 1994 | Barbara Shore, PhD |
| Hudson Street (TV series) | 1995 | Fran Canetti |
| L.A. Doctors (TV Series) | 1998 | Mildred Cattano |
| The Fearing Mind (TV series) | 2000−2001 | Lucy Fearing |
| Providence (TV series) | 2002 | Dr. Hallstrom |
| Borderline (TV film) | 2002 | Dr. Alma Burke |
| The 4th Tenor (film) | 2002 | Italian Lady |
| The Sopranos (TV series) | 2004 | Aunt Quintina Blundetto |
| Joan of Arcadia (TV series) | 2004 | Fortune Teller God |
| NYPD Blue (TV series) | 2004 | Bertha Kunitz |
| Love for Rent (film) | 2005 | Gwen |
| Grey's Anatomy (TV series) | 2006 | Ruth |
| The Hard Easy (film) | 2006 | Freddie |
| Reign Over Me (film) | 2007 | Adell Modell |
| The Meant to Be's (TV film) | 2008 | Eleanor Roosevelt[2] |
| How to Be a Better American (TV film) | 2010 | Ruth |
| Vampire Mob (TV series) | 2011 | Carlina Grigiono |
References
edit- ^ a b c Sandomir, Richard (April 8, 2022). "Rae Allen, Tony Winner and TV Mainstay, Dies at 95". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Tapp, Tom (April 6, 2022). "Rae Allen Dies: Tony Award-Winning 'Damn Yankees', 'Sopranos', 'All In The Family' Actress Was 95". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ Benjamin, Ruth; Rosenblatt, Arthur (2006). Who Sang what on Broadway, 1866–1996: The singers (A–K). McFarland. p. 15. ISBN 9780786421893. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- ^ a b c Sandomir, Richard (April 8, 2022). "Rae Allen, Tony Winner and TV Mainstay, Dies at 95". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- ^ Sandomir, Richard (April 8, 2022). "Rae Allen, Tony Winner and TV Mainstay, Dies at 95". The New York Times.
- ^ HB Studio alumni, hbstudio.org. Accessed April 7, 2022.
