She’ll forever be known George Constanza’s overbearing mother but to me Estelle was a great pairing with Don Rickles for Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head in the Toy Story flicks. There’s also Professor Farnsworth’s mother Velma from Futurama. That screeching and indignation is what really sold the characters she played. We all know her, either as our own mothers, grandmothers or an aunt at various times in our lives.
After and during Seinfeld it was nice to see her get plenty of work in so much else throughout the Nineties and Aughts, namely voice work and kid shows. Her obituary in The Guardian was quite interesting too. Estelle started out in acting but put it aside to raise her three children and when they were old enough, back into it she went from 1977 on. Not a bad second or third act in life.
Thanks for everything Mrs. Harris! You were great at being George’s mom but proved you were capable of much more. You weren’t a one-note actress.