Anne Schedeen
Schedeen in 1979
Born
Luanne Ruth Schedeen

(1949-01-08)January 8, 1949
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Died June 14, 2026(2026-06-14) (aged 77)
Occupation Actress
Years active 1974–2014
Spouse
Christopher Barrett
​
(m. 1982)​
Children 1

Luanne Ruth Schedeen (January 8, 1949 – June 14, 2026), known professionally as Anne Schedeen, was an American actress, who worked primarily in television. She appeared in numerous guest-starring television roles in the 1970s before portraying the lead role of Kate Tanner on the series ALF from 1986 until 1990.

Schedeen began her career in 1974, appearing in small television roles, and was cast in a supporting part in the sci-fi horror film Embryo (1976). She subsequently had recurring roles on Emergency! and Three's Company in the mid-to-late 1970s. In 1984, she was cast on the short-lived series Paper Dolls opposite Lloyd Bridges and Lauren Hutton. She appeared as Emily Phillips in the second season of the sitcom Cheers, before appearing in all four seasons of ALF. She later appeared in a recurring role on the series Judging Amy in 2001.

Early life

Luanne Ruth Schedeen was born January 8, 1949, in Portland, Oregon.[1] Her mother, Betty Jane (née Moore) was also a native of Portland.[1] Her father was Roland E. 'Poly' Schedeen, a farmer and former Oregon State Senator[2] of Swedish descent.[3] Her family name, prior to its Anglicization, was Sjödin.[3] Schedeen has two younger siblings: a sister, Sarabeth, and brother Tony; as well as one elder half-brother, Brinkley (1946–2009),[2] from her mother's first marriage.[1]

Schedeen described herself as an introverted child: "I was so introverted as a little girl I would hide under the skirts of the dining room table and just listen to the adults."[4] Due to her extreme shyness, Schedeen's mother enrolled her in youth drama classes to help her become "more comfortable with the world."[4] Schedeen studied and performed with the Portland Civic Theatre.[3] Schedeen grew up on a farm[3] outside Gresham, Oregon, and attended Gresham High School,[5] graduating in 1967. After high school, Schedeen studied at Portland State University, and later, Fort Wright College in Toppenish, Washington.[3] Her first professional acting job was performing with a dinner theater on the Kauai island of Hawaii.[3] She subsequently relocated to New York City to pursue an acting career.[3]

Career

Early roles

Schedeen and George Kennedy in Never Say Never (1979)

In New York, Schedeen first worked in summer stock theatre and commercials before signing an acting contract with Universal Pictures,[3][6] after which she moved to Los Angeles. From 1974 to 1976, Schedeen appeared in a recurring role as Carol on the NBC TV series Emergency!,[6] and guest-starred as Doctor Marcus Welby's daughter, Sandy Porter, in 12 episodes of the medical drama Marcus Welby, M.D..[7] In 1976, she was cast in a supporting part in the sci-fi horror film Embryo, co-starring with Rock Hudson and Diane Ladd, in which she played the daughter-in-law of a doctor (Hudson) who uses growth hormones to begin growing humans.[8]

In 1979, she had a supporting role in the television drama Champions: A Love Story,[9] and from 1977 to 1982 guest-starred on several episodes of the comedy series Three's Company.[7] Schedeen also had a supporting role on the short-lived series Paper Dolls (1984),[4] co-starring with Lauren Hutton and Morgan Fairchild.[7]

ALF and later work

Schedeen with an ALF toy in 2019

Schedeen is best known for her role as Kate Tanner on the NBC sitcom ALF,[10] which ran from 1986 to 1990, and in which she portrayed a mother who takes an alien into her home. ALF was a commercial success, and brought Schedeen international attention.[6] After the series' conclusion, she appeared in Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster (1991), followed by supporting roles in the television film Praying Mantis (1996) and the thriller Heaven's Prisoners (1996), starring Alec Baldwin and Kelly Lynch.

In 2001, Schedeen had a recurring guest-starring role on the legal drama series Judging Amy.[7]

Personal life and death

Schedeen met her husband, talent agent Christopher Barrett,[11] in 1972 when they appeared together in a stage play.[4] The two married in 1982 on the tenth anniversary of their first date.[4] The couple have a daughter.[12]

In 2015, Schedeen became an ambassador for Holiday Heroes, a Bulgarian non-profit organization assisting disadvantaged families.[13]

Schedeen died on June 14, 2026, at the age of 77.[14][15]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1974 Aloha Means Goodbye Stewardess Television film
1975 You Lie So Deep, My Love Ellen Television film
1976 Embryo Helen Holliston
1977 Flight to Holocaust Linda Michaels Television film
1977 Exo-Man Emily Frost Television film
1978 Almost Heaven Margie Television film
1979 Champions: A Love Story Diane Kachatorian Television film
1979 Never Say Never Dr. Sarah Keaton Television film
1982 Little Darlings Camp Counselor Television film
1983 Second Thoughts Janis [7]
1985 Braker Lieutenant Polly Peters Television film
1986 Slow Burn Mona Television film
1989 Cast the First Stone Elaine Stanton Television film
1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster Paula Barrett Television film
1993 Praying Mantis Karen
1996 Heaven's Prisoners Jungle Room Patron

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1974 Get Christie Love! Gloria Episode: "Market for Murder"
1974 Ironside Vicki Episode: "Speak No Evil"
1974 Lucas Tanner Flight Attendant Carolyn Episode: "Merry Gentlemen"
1974 The Six Million Dollar Man Tina Larson Episode: "Burning Bright"
1975 McCloud Tina Episode: "Park Avenue Pirates"
1975 Three for the Road Episode: "Trail of the Bigfoot"
1974–1976 Emergency! Carol 6 episodes [7]
1974–1976 Marcus Welby, M.D. Sandy Porter 12 episodes [7]
1976 The Bionic Woman Milly Wilson Episode: "The Jailing of Jaime"
1975–1978 Switch Keelie Blair 2 episodes
1977 Family Susie 2 episodes [7]
1977 Kingston: Confidential Melanie Episode: "Seed of Corruption"
1977 Lanigan's Rabbi Barbara James Episode: "The Cadaver in the Clutter"
1978 Baretta Linda Episode: "Why Me?"
1978 Project U.F.O. Helen McNair Episode: "Sighting 4001: The Washington D.C. Incident"
1978–1982 Three's Company Linda / Louise Prescott / Lisa Page 5 episodes [7]
1979 The Incredible Hulk Kimberly Dowd Episode: "My Favorite Magician" [7]
1979 Friends Alice Price 2 episodes [7]
1980 Semi-Tough Amanda Episode: "One Bad Apple"
1984 Cheers Emily Phillips Episode: "Norman's Conquest" [7]
1984 E/R Karen Sheridan Episode: "The Sister"
1984 Paper Dolls Sara Frank 13 episodes [7]
1982–1985 Simon & Simon Bailey Randall 2 episodes [7]
1986 If Tomorrow Comes Charlotte Miniseries
1986 Magnum, P.I. Audrey Gilbert Episode: "I Never Wanted to Go to France, Anyway"
1986 Murder, She Wrote Julia Granger Episode: "If the Frame Fits"
1986–1990 ALF Kate Tanner 102 episodes [7]
2001 Judging Amy Det. Peggy Fraser 3 episodes [7]
2014 Tiny Nuts Anne Episode: "BFF"

References

  1. ^ a b c Keen, Ray Albert; Keen, Dorothy (1985). Rand Ramblings: From the arrival of Francis Rand, Strawbery Banke, NH, 1630, to the 90th birthday anniversary of Margaret Rand Keen, Topeka, KS, 1985. Manhattan, Kansas: R. & D. Keen. p. 226. OCLC 608610411.
  2. ^ a b Hall, Calvin (May 30, 2009). "Obituaries: Brinkley James Schedeen". The Gresham Outlook. Retrieved May 26, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Buck, Jerry (June 17, 1988). "Fame's alien to "ALF"'s mom". Corvallis Gazette-Times. p. 46 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e DuBois, Stephanie (June 26, 1988). "Actress enjoying status of stardom". Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Retrieved February 25, 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ Munhinotu 1966. Gresham High School. 1966. p. 154. (School yearbook).
  6. ^ a b c Buck, Jerry (July 10, 1988). "ALF's mom enjoys success in hit series". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Anne Schedeen Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved February 25, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ^ "Review: Embryo". Cinefantastique. Vol. 5. 1976. p. 21. ISSN 0145-6032.
  9. ^ "Champions: A Love Story". British Film Institute. Retrieved February 25, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ^ "The recognition factor hits home for Anne Schedeen of 'ALF' Series". St. Petersburg Times. July 31, 1988. Retrieved June 16, 2011. A man says, 'You're the woman on ALF.' I'd never been recognized before. The recognition came when the show started hitting the Top 10 in the ratings."{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ Elias, Thomas D. (January 5, 1989). "'ALF' Will Get Babied a Little Bit". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 25, 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (June 15, 2026). "Anne Schedeen, Actress Who Played the Mom on 'ALF,' Dies at 77". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  13. ^ "What ever happened to the cast of 'ALF'?". MeTV. June 12, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ^ gherbert@syracuse.com, Geoff Herbert | (June 15, 2026). "'80s TV star dies at 77, leaves behind a 'burning hatred for Trump'". syracuse. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  15. ^ Garner, Glenn (June 15, 2026). "Anne Schedeen Dead: 'ALF' Actress Was 77". Deadline. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
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