Estelle Harris, Mrs. Constanza On 'Seinfeld', Dead At 93

Sadly, actress Estelle Harris has passed away.

Harris played George Costanza’s (Jason Alexander) mother Estelle Costanza on NBC’s sitcom “Seinfeld.” Deadline reported that the 93-year-old actress passed away on Saturday night of natural causes in Palm Desert, California, just two days shy of her 94th birthday on April 4. She was born on April 4, 1928.

Her son, Glen Harris told the outlet “It is with the greatest remorse and sadness to announce that Estelle Harris has passed on this evening at 6:25 pm. Her kindness, passion, sensitivity, humor, empathy, and love were practically unrivaled, and she will be terribly missed by all those who knew her.”

Her son said that “Her passion was her work and her work was her passion.” At one point, she had been known as the “Queen of commercials” after booking as many as 25 national TV spots in only one year. She is survived by three children, three grandsons, and a great-grandson.

Harris appeared as Mrs. Costanza on 27 episodes of “Seinfeld” from 1992 to 1998. In a rare twist of fate, the character had been named Estelle even before she was given the part, which is why she may have seemed so naturally suited for the role. She first appeared in “The Contest” when she ends up in the hospital after she walks in on George… losing the contest.

In 2012, she said that she loved the character from the start but couldn’t think of anyone in real life to base the character on, saying, “Nobody had a past like that. I mean, that poor woman. She lived in that apartment that they got married in with the same furniture and the same husband and one son that was a loser. I mean, she had everything bad! I thought it was funny.”

She may also be best known to younger fans for voicing Mrs. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” franchise. She also voiced Death’s Mother in “Family Guy” in 1999 and Timon’s mother in the “Timon & Pumba” TV series. She also voiced Drakken’s mother on the animated series “Kim Possible.”

Harris had made her directorial debut in 1992’s “This Is My Life” and appeared in 1997’s “Out to Sea” and 1998’s “The Old Couple II.” She also appeared as Muriel, the lazy maid at the Tipton Hotel on the Disney Channel series “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.”

“I'm very sad to hear that Estelle Harris passed away today at the age of 93,” one fan tweeted. “While she may be best known for playing George's mother on Seinfeld, I'll always best know her for voicing Mrs. Potato Head in the Toy Story films.”

Courtney Howard tweeted, “Estelle Harris gave us so many laughs over the years, playing an overbearing mother on SEINFELD and as the voice of Mrs. Potato Head in the TOY STORY movies. She was a one of a kind funny lady.”

Giselle Eisenberg tweeted, “Estelle Harris was funny, beautiful, kind & incredibly talented! We made a commercial together once and she told the director “I’m not doing another take until you promise to give Giselle this dress to keep!” ♥️♥️♥️ They gave me the dress. I will cherish knowing Estelle forever.”

Andrew Mason tweeted, “For my money, there were no two retired parents more perfectly cast and portrayed in sitcom history than Jerry Stiller and Estelle Harris as Frank and Estelle Costanza. Pure comic brilliance.”

Carol Leifer tweeted, “So sad to hear about the passing of the hilarious Estelle Harris. On ‘Seinfeld’ set with her and the great Jerry Stiller shooting ‘The Rye.’ She made everything we wrote that much funnier. A true gift to work with her!”