Estelle Harris, of ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Toy Story’ fame, dead at 93

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Accomplished character actress Estelle Harris, best known as character George Costanza’s mother on “Seinfeld” and the voice of Mrs. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” franchise, has died at the age of 93.

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Harris died Saturday of natural causes at home in Palm Desert, California, her son Glen Harris confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

“It is with the greatest remorse and sadness to announce that Estelle Harris has passed on this evening at 6:25pm,” Glen Harris wrote in a statement obtained by Forbes, which noted that her death came two days shy of her 94th birthday.

“Her kindness, passion, sensitivity, humor, empathy and love were practically unrivaled, and she will be terribly missed by all those who knew her,” he added.

Harris also played Aunt Harriet in Nora Ephron’s 1992 directorial debut “This Is My Life” and appeared opposite Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in two films: 1977′s “Out to Sea” and 1988′s “The Odd Couple II,” according to THR.

Her recurring role as Muriel, the lazy maid at The Tipton Hotel, on the 2005-08 Disney Channel series “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” introduced an entirely new generation to Harris’ talents, THR reported.

Born Estelle Nussbaum on April 4, 1928, in Manhattan, New York, Harris launched her career in amateur productions and dinner theater before making her film debut in 1977′s “Looking Up,” Forbes reported.

Harris’ other film credits included “Promoted,” “CBGB,” “Playing Mona Lisa,” “Dancing in September,” “What’s Cooking?,” “Lost & Found,” “My Giant,” “Chairman of the Board,” “Downhill Willie,” “Perfect Alibi,” “This Is My Life,” “Stand and Deliver,” “Once Upon a Time in America” and “Summerdog,” the magazine reported.

Harris is survived by her children Eric, Glen and Taryn, as well as three grandsons and a great-grandson.

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