Liz Sheridan Passes On

Liz Sheridan, who played nosy neighbour Mrs. Ochmonek on ALF and Jerry's mother Helen on Seinfeld, died on April 15 at the age of 93.

Liz Sheridan was born on April 10 1929 in New York City. Her father was classical pianist Frank Sheridan. Her mother was concert singer Elizabeth Poole-Jones. She grew up in the suburb of Larchmont. As a young woman she made a living as a dancer. She later moved to the West Indies where she sang and played pianos at various bars. She spent 15 years in the West Indies before returning to New York City.

It was in 1971 that she made her debut on Broadway in Frank Merriwell. In the Seventies she appeared in the Broadway productions Hurry, Harry; Something's Afoot; Best Friend; Happy End; Ballroom; and Once a Catholic. She made her television debut in 1977 in an episode of Kojak.

In the Eighties she played the recurring role of Raquel Ochmonek on ALF. She guest starred on the shows The White Shadow, Archie Bunker's Place, Gimme a Break!, Tucker's Witch, St. Elsewhere, Oh Madeline, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, One Day at a Time, Three's a Crowd, Riptide, It's Your Move, Newhart, Moonlighting, Santa Barbara, Brothers, The A-Team, Who's the Boss, Hill Street Blues, Remington Steele, Cagney & Lacey, Easy Street, The Disney Sunday Movie, Throb, Family Ties, It's a Living, and Good Grief. She made her movie debut in Jekyll and Hyde...Together Again in 1982. In the Eighties she appeared in the movies Star 80 (1983), Nickel Mountain (1984), Avenging Angel (1985), School Spirit (1985), Legal Eagles (1986), and Who's That Girl (1987).

In the Nineties Liz Sheridan played Helen Seinfeld on the classic sitcom Seinfeld. She was the voice of Mrs. Stillman on the animated series Life with Louie. She guest starred on the shows Equal Justice; Murder, She Wrote; Herman's Head; Melrose Place; Empty Nest; Tom; Blossom; Double Rush; Sliders; Cleghorne!; and Noah Knows Best. She was a guest voice on the animated show The Itsy Bitsy Spider. She appeared in the movies Only You (1992), Wishman (1992), Forget Paris (1995), Wedding Bell Blues (1996), Always Say Goodbye; and Closing the Deal (2000).

In the Naughts she guest starred on the shows Complete Savages and Numb3rs. She was a guest voice on the animated show American Dad. She appeared in the movies Now You Know (2002), Play the Game (2009), and Trim (2010).

Liz Sheridan was a remarkable actress. Chances are very good that she will always be remembered as Mrs. Ochomonek on ALF and Jerry's mother on Seinfeld, but she played a large variety of roles on other shows. She appeared as a doctor on an episode of St. Elsewhere and as a judge on Equal Justice. She could play a number of different roles from nosy neighbours to an overprotective mother to various professionals. What is more, she always gave a good performance.