Charlotte Ann Zucker (née Lefstein; March 10, 1921 – September 5, 2007) was an American actress. She was the mother of filmmakers David and Jerry Zucker, and appeared in many of their films.
Charlotte Zucker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Charlotte Ann Lefstein March 10, 1921 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | September 5, 2007 (aged 86) Shorewood, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Brooklyn College University of Wisconsin in Madison |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1977–2003 |
| Spouse | Burton Zucker (m. 1941; her death 2007) |
| Children | 3, including David Zucker and Jerry Zucker |
Early life and education
editZucker was born on March 10, 1921, and grew up in Manhattan.[1] Her father, Harry Lefstein, was a tailor, and her mother, Sarah (née Seiden) was a housewife. She earned a degree in speech and theater at Brooklyn College,[1][2][3] and appeared in stage performances at the Henry Street Neighborhood Playhouse.[1] She then moved to Milwaukee to teach English at a junior high school.[3] She graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a master's degree.[1]
Career
editZucker had appeared in community theater productions in Florida and in Shorewood, Wisconsin.[4] She was a member of the Jewish Community Center Readers Theater-Milwaukee.[5] She made her screen debut on The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977).[3] She appeared in a total of 17 films,[1] including Airplane!, Ghost, First Knight and Rat Race, which were directed and produced by her sons, David and Jerry Zucker.[1] She also appeared at the Second Avenue Theater, New York, reading selections from Molly Picon's autobiography.[4]
Personal life
editFrom 1941 to her death in 2007, she was married to Burton Zucker, who was a real estate developer.[2] She had three children, David, Jerry and Susan. On September 5, 2007, Zucker died from cancer in Shorewood, Wisconsin, aged 86.[1] She was buried at Second Home Cemetery in Greenfield, Wisconsin.[6]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Kentucky Fried Movie | Jurist | [3] |
| 1980 | Airplane! | Make-Up Lady | [1][2] |
| 1984 | Top Secret! | Cafe Diner | |
| 1986 | Ruthless People | Judge | [1] |
| 1988 | The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | Dominique | [1][2][3] |
| 1990 | Ghost | Bank Officer | [1][2][3] |
| 1991 | The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear | "For a man in a wheelchair, he gets around marvelously." | |
| 1992 | Brain Donors | Woman with Program | |
| 1993 | My Life | Guest at Wedding | |
| 1994 | Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult | Medical Receptionist | [2] |
| 1995 | First Knight | Bread Vendor | |
| 1996 | High School High | Woman Smoking Pipe | [1] |
| 1997 | My Best Friend's Wedding | Customer | |
| 1998 | BASEketball | Surgery Nurse | |
| 2001 | Rat Race | Elderly Lucy | |
| 2002 | Unconditional Love | Restaurant Patron | |
| 2003 | My Boss's Daughter | Gertrude | Final film role |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | MythBusters | Dominique | Archive footage from The Naked Gun Television documentary series Episode: "Voice Flame Extinguisher" |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Charlotte Zucker, 86; mother of filmmakers had roles in their movies". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Loohauis, Jackie (March 31, 1994). "Comedy directors make their mom a star". The Province. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. p. B6. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Mitchell, Deborah (September 20, 1991). "Direct action: Filmmakers cast mom and pop". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. The New York Times News Service. p. D15. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ a b "Readings to feature memoirs of Yiddish actress Molly Picon". The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. July 9, 1993. p. 12. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "New JCC Readers Theater slates April 26 performance". The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. April 17, 1992. p. 26. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ WJC Staff (April 4, 2008). "Charlotte A. Zucker". Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.