Edie McClurg is the very definition of a character actress. In the vast majority of her appearances on film and tv she's played the exact same part, the happy, good natured character with just a little edge and a very endearing accent. She's graced our screen for over 40 years since her bespectacled debut in Brian De Palma's Carrie and she's always a welcome presence the second she pops up onscreen. It's great when you see someone who will guarantee you a giggle.
She's been roared at by Steve Martin, pulled way too many pencils out of her hair in a Chicago high school, been crushed to death by an angry telekinetic school girl, dealt with both Robin Williams' goo and Nash Bridges flirtations. Been set on fire by one half of America's most notorious serial killing couple and added her dulcet midwest tones to the films of both Pixar and Studio Ghibli. She's been a dinosaur, been a nurse to little old Sophia Petrillo, ruled over Cheech & Chong, chased after Elvira and looked after both little Arnold Jackson and big Bruce Banner. A vast and varied career that you can check out here
Greatest hits
Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Grace, the school secretary and the last line of defence between Ed Rooney and his pupils. Only a small role but she wins the film with that accent, her joyous phone manner and her unusual storage habits.
Trains, Planes and Automobiles. In a film packed with hilarity Edie gets the funniest and sweary scene as a car rental agent who has to deal with a supremely pissed off Steve Martin. Gets to say the scenes killer punchline too.
Natural Born Killers. Mrs Knox. Mother to an abused daughter and one who knows what's going on but who chooses to look the other way. Gets her just desserts in an extremely dark and fiery moment.
Previous heroes
Barry Shabaka Henley
Raymond Cruz
Reg E.Cathey
Elizabeth McGovern
John Amos
Bruce Greenwood
Mary McDonnell
Gerald McSorley
John Rothman
Margo Martindale
Kurtwood Smith
Paula Malcolmson
Luis Guzman
David Morse
Linda Hunt
Keith David
Zeljko Ivanek
Fiona Shaw
Xander Berkeley
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
C.C.H Pounder
William Forsythe
Beth Grant
Sven-Ole Thorsen
Regina King
Ric Young
Mark Rolston
Illeana Douglas
Jeanette Goldstein
Al Leong
Allan Graf
Bill Nunn
Thomas Rosales Jr
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