Edie McClurg

Even if you don’t immediately recognize the name Edie McClurg, if you’re old enough to remember the 1980s and ‘90s, then you’ll almost certainly know her the instant you see her photo. Somehow she was everywhere and nowhere for the better part of my childhood, appearing in movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Mr. Mom, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (a Thanksgiving classic for not-quite the whole family), and sitcoms including The Hogan Family. You can also hear her voice in several well-known animated films, like The Little Mermaid and Cars (so even my young daughters have familiarity).

Was she the star of the show? Never, as far as I can tell. Was she there time and time again as a very dependable supporting cast member? You betcha. She is even credited with the quote, “Acting isn’t a singular profession, it is a collaborative profession.” It takes a small army to create the shows and movies that have meant so much to us over the years (try reading the credits some time), and it seems Ms. McClurg embraced this notion.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• http://altblend.com
• http://thebahnsengroup.com