According to her son Glen Harris, the star died of natural causes at her home in Palm Desert, California on Saturday night. It was just a few weeks before her 94th birthday, which would be on April 4.
“It is with great sadness and grief that I announce that Estelle Harris has passed away this afternoon at 6:25 p.m.,” Glenn told Deadline, noting that he held his mother before she “breathed her last.”
She continued: “Her kindness, passion, sensitivity, humor, empathy and love were practically unrivaled and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.”
Beloved actress Estelle Harris has died at the age of 93, according to Deadline
She famously played George Costanza’s mother, Estelle, in the NBC comedy series Seinfeld (pictured with Jerry Stiller)
He was born in April 1928 in Manhattan to Polish immigrants who owned a patisserie. She grew up in a Pittsburgh suburb, but eventually returned to the city and married her husband, Sai Harris.
The couple had three children together: Eric, Glen and Taryn.
Although the cause of death was not disclosed by the family, the star underwent surgery to remove the cancer from her nose in 2013.
She underwent a small operation to get rid of the cancer cells and had to wear a small cord on the tip of her nose. She joked at the Hollywood premiere of her new film, CBGB, in 2013: “No, I did not have nose surgery.”
She assured her fans that the doctors “took it all out”
She started playing in various amateur community theaters while raising her children and eventually found the star, starring in The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, iCarly, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Proud Family, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and many more.
It started with Looking Up and then Once Upon a Time in America, before concluding a three-episode deal at Night Court, according to People.
The New York native appeared in 27 episodes of Seinfeld between 1992 and 1998, playing a character who ironically bore the same name as her.
When asked about her favorite episode of the hit series, the crazy star gave a rather unexpected answer: “Oh, masturbation,” she simply said. ‘The competition.’
She also played famously Mrs. Potato Head in Toy Story 2, 3 and 4. Toy Story 4 was her last title.
She had more than 100 movie titles on her resume during her 45-year career and became known as a mother figure, often impersonating her mom on shows.
“I’m a universal mother,” she told the Chicago Tribune in 1995. “Blacks, Asians, WASP, Italians, Jews – everyone says, ‘Oh, you’re just like my mom.’ That makes me feel good. ”
Although she played strong characters, she never described herself as such, saying: “I speak openly, but I do not like to hurt people’s feelings. We are all together in this. “We all have to face death, so the easier we can do it for each other, the better.”
She became known as the Queen of Commercial on Madison Avenue for her unique voice, according to Deadline. She was known for booking up to 25 ads a year.
“Her passion was her job and her job was her passion,” Harris said.
The famous actress was left with three children and three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
