Anne Ramsey

Not to be confused with Anne Ramsay.

Anne Ramsey
Ramsey at the 60th Academy Awards, in 1988, four months before her death
Born(1929-03-27)March 27, 1929[1]
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
DiedAugust 11, 1988(1988-08-11) (aged 59)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1952–1988
Spouse
​
(m. 1954)​

Anne Ramsey-Mobley (March 27, 1929 – August 11, 1988) was an American actress. She was best known for her film roles as Mama Fratelli in The Goonies (1985) and as Mrs. Lift in Throw Momma from the Train (1987), the latter of which earned her nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

Early life

Ramsey was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the daughter of Eleanor (née Smith), the former national treasurer of the Girl Scouts of the USA, and Nathan Mobley, an insurance executive.[2][3] Her mother was a descendant of the Pilgrims (William Brewster), and her uncle was U.S. Ambassador David S. Smith.[2][4] Ramsey was raised in Great Neck, New York and Greenwich, Connecticut.[2] She attended prestigious Rosemary Hall in Greenwich, CT and matriculated to Bennington College where she became interested in theatre. She performed in several Broadway productions in the 1950s and married actor Logan Ramsey in 1954.[5] They moved to Philadelphia where they formed the Theatre of the Living Arts.[citation needed]

Career

In the 1970s, Ramsey began a successful Hollywood career in character roles and appeared in such television programs as Little House on the Prairie, Wonder Woman, Three's Company and Ironside. She appeared with her husband in seven films, including her first, The Sporting Club (1971), and her last, Meet the Hollowheads (1989). In 1988, Ramsey was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for her performance in Throw Momma from the Train (1987), with Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito. The film also earned her a second Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress; she had received her first for The Goonies (1985).[citation needed] In February 1988, she guest-starred on an episode of ALF broadcast six months before her death. She had a cameo part in Scrooged shortly before her death. Six further films in which she appeared were released in the two years following her death.

Death

Ramsey's somewhat slurred speech, a trademark of her later performances, was caused in part from having had some of her tongue and her jaw removed during surgery for esophageal cancer in 1984.[citation needed]

In 1988, Ramsey's cancer returned. She died on August 11 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California.[6][7] Ramsey is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in North Omaha, Nebraska.[citation needed]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1971 The Sporting Club Scott's wife
1972 The New Centurions Wife of crazy man Uncredited
Up the Sandbox Battleaxe
1973 The Third Girl from the Left Madelaine Television movie
1974 Rhinoceros Woman with cat
For Pete's Sake Telephone lady
The Law Eleanor Bleisch Television movie
1976 From Noon till Three Massive woman
Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway Librarian Television movie
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble Rachel
1977 Fun with Dick and Jane Employment Applicant
1978 Goin' South Spinster #2
The Gift of Love Maeve O'Hollaran Television movie
1979 When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder? Rhea Childress
1980 White Mama Heavy Charm Television movie
The Black Marble Bessie Callahan
Any Which Way You Can Loretta Quince
1981 Honky Tonk Freeway TV Chef Uncredited
A Small Killing Doris Television movie
1982 Marian Rose White Teacher
National Lampoon's Class Reunion Mrs. Tabazooski
1983 I Want to Live! Matron Television movie
Herndon Miss Helter
1984 The Seduction of Gina Woman on bus
Getting Physical Lady at Police Station
The Killers First Ragpicker
1985 The Goonies Mama Fratelli Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress
1986 Say Yes Major
Deadly Friend Elvira Parker
1987 Love at Stake Old Witch
Weeds Mom Umstetter
Throw Momma from the Train Momma Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
1988 Dr. Hackenstein Ruby Rhodes
Good Old Boy: A Delta Boyhood The Hag Television movie
Released posthumously
Scrooged Woman in shelter Released posthumously
1989 Meet the Hollowheads Babbleaxe
Another Chance Leadlady
Homer and Eddie Edna

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1972 Ironside Motel Manager Episode: "Riddle Me Death"
Banyon Mrs. Hendricks Episode: "Just Once"
1975 Wonder Woman Taxi Cab Driver Episode: "The New Original Wonder Woman"
1976 Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Sister Bernadette Episode: "1.24"
Delvecchio Mrs. Bellows Episode: "The Silent Prey"
Charlie's Angels Henry's wife Episode: "Hellride"
1977 Wonder Woman Connie Episode: "Mind Stealers from Outer Space: Part 1"
1978 Little House on the Prairie Mrs. Schiller Episode: "As Long As We're Together: Part 1"
ABC Afterschool Specials Nurse Episode: "A Home Run for Love"
1979 Laverne & Shirley Lady Episode: "Fire Show"
CHiPs Nurse Betty Jo Episode: "Hot Wheels"
1982 Laverne & Shirley Killer Episode: "Death Row: Part 2"
1983 Three's Company Woman at ATM Episode: "The Money Machine"
1984 Murder, She Wrote Bag Lady Episode: "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes"
Family Ties Mrs. Warfield Episode: "Help Wanted"
1985 Hill Street Blues Mrs. Scalisi Episode: "Blues in the Night"
Night Court Edna Sneer Episode: "Halloween, Too"
1986 Knight Rider Crossing Guard Episode: "Killer K.I.T.T."
1988 ALF Ethel Buttonwood Episode: "You Ain't Nothin' but a Hound Dog"

References

  1. ^ "California Deaths, 1940 - 1997". Familytreelegends.com. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Toepfer, Susan. "Throw Momma Finally Lands Anne Ramsey on the Fast Track". People.com. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  3. ^ "Mrs. Nathan Mobley Dies at 58 - I Girl Scouts' National Treasurer - Obituary". The New York Times. Greenwich, Connecticut (published December 24, 1964). December 23, 1964. p. 19. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  4. ^ "Deaths Elsewhere: Mrs. Eleanor Smith Mobley". Chicago Tribune. December 24, 1964. p. 10. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Miss Anne Mobley to be Wed June 26 - Former U. of North Carolina Student Engaged to Logan Ramsey Jr., Admiral's Son - Marriage Announcement". The New York Times. May 14, 1954. p. 18. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  6. ^ "Dr. Hackenstein (1988)". Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  7. ^ Folkart, Burt A. (August 13, 1988). "Obituaries: Oscar Nominee Anne Ramsey; Praised for 'Momma' Role". Los Angeles Times. p. 28. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.