Anne Schedeen, Beloved ALF Star, Dies at 77
Anne Schedeen, the actress best known for portraying Kate Tanner, the loving mother on the hit 1980s sitcom ALF, has died at the age of 77. Her family announced that she passed away peacefully, remembering her as a woman of remarkable creativity, humor, and warmth.
Born Luanne Ruth Schedeen on January 8, 1949, in Portland, Oregon, she developed a passion for acting at an early age. After studying theater and performing in local productions, she moved to New York and later Los Angeles to pursue a professional acting career.
Schedeen appeared in numerous television shows throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Emergency!, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Three’s Company, Cheers, Simon & Simon, and Paper Dolls. However, it was her role as Kate Tanner in ALF that made her a household name. The popular NBC sitcom aired from 1986 to 1990 and followed the adventures of a wisecracking alien living with the Tanner family.
As Kate Tanner, Schedeen portrayed the practical and caring mother who often found herself dealing with ALF’s mischievous antics. Her performance helped make the series one of television’s most beloved family comedies of the era.
Following the end of ALF, Schedeen continued acting, appearing in projects such as Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster, Heaven’s Prisoners, and Judging Amy. Beyond acting, she was known for her love of art, storytelling, jewelry-making, and animal welfare.
Schedeen is survived by her husband, Christopher Barrett, whom she had been married to for more than five decades, their daughter Taylor, and other family members. Her family described her as “a force” whose legacy will live on through her art, laughter, and the countless lives she touched.
Fans around the world continue to remember Anne Schedeen for the warmth, humor, and charm she brought to television screens, ensuring that her contributions to entertainment will not be forgotten.
