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Alice Drummond

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Alice Drummond
Born
Alice Elizabeth Ruyter

(1928-05-21)May 21, 1928
Pawtucket, Rhode Island, US
DiedNovember 30, 2016(2016-11-30) (aged 88)
The Bronx, New York, US
Alma materPembroke College
OccupationActress
Years active1967–2011
Spouse
Paul Drummond
​
​
(m. 1951; div. 1976)​

Alice Elizabeth Drummond (née Ruyter, May 21, 1928 – November 30, 2016) was an American actress. A veteran Off-Broadway performer, in 1970, she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance as Mrs. Lee in The Chinese by Murray Schisgal. Despite her extensive acting career, she is most well known as Alice, the librarian, in the opening scenes in the 1984 horror-comedy Ghostbusters.

Early life

Alice Elizabeth Ruyter was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1928,[1] the daughter of Sarah Irene (née Alker), a secretary, and Arthur Ruyter, an auto mechanic.[2] She graduated from Pembroke College (the women's college of Brown University) in 1950.[3]

Career

Drummond played Nurse Jackson on the TV series Dark Shadows in 1967[3] and was a regular on the CBS soap opera, Where the Heart Is, on which she originated the role of Loretta Jardin, which she played until the series ended in 1973. She also appeared in a short-term role on another CBS soap opera, As the World Turns.[3] She appeared in guest roles on television series including Kate & Allie, Law & Order, Boston Legal and Yes, Dear.

One of Drummond's notable movie roles is a librarian haunted and frightened by a poltergeist at the beginning of the feature film Ghostbusters.[4] She gave an endearing portrayal of a temporarily animated catatonic patient in 1990's Awakenings. She also served as the senior citizen stereotype in the movie Furry Vengeance. Other notable appearances include Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar and Pieces of April.[5]

Personal life and death

Alice Ruyter married Paul Drummond in 1951. They resided in Manhattan, New York City, New York. They separated in 1975[6] and divorced in 1976.[7]

She died on November 30, 2016 from complications of a fall at her home in The Bronx, New York City, at age 88.[8]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1970 Where's Poppa? Woman in Elevator
1974 Man on a Swing Mrs. Dawson
1977 Thieves Mrs. Ramsey
1978 King of the Gypsies Zharko's Nurse
1980 Hide in Plain Sight Mrs. Novack
1981 Eyewitness Mrs. Eunice Deever
1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Governor's Secretary
1984 Ghostbusters Librarian
1988 The House on Carroll Street Woman at Hearing
1988 The Suicide Club
1988 Funny Farm Mrs. Ethel Dinges
1988 Running on Empty Mrs. Powell
1989 Animal Behavior Site Committee #1
1990 Tales from the Darkside: The Movie Carolyn (segment "Cat From Hell")
1990 Awakenings Lucy
1993 Money for Nothing Mrs. Breen
1994 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Mrs. Finkle
1994 Nobody's Fool Hattie
1994 I.Q. Dinner Guest
1995 Jeffrey Grandma Rose
1995 To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar Clara
1996 Walking and Talking Betsy
1996 Just in Time Edith Short film
1997 Commandments Mrs. Mann
1997 'Til There Was You Harriet
1997 Office Killer Carlotta Douglas
1997 In & Out Aunt Susan
1999 Just the Ticket Lady with Cash
1999 The Love Letter Postal Clerk
1999 I'll Take You There Stella
1999 Advice from a Caterpillar Diner Grandmother
2000 Joe Gould's Secret Helen
2001 The Rising Place Aunt Millie
2003 Pieces of April Grandma Dottie
2004 House of D Mrs. Brevoort
2005 The Honeymooners Miss Benvenuti
2008 Chronic Town Elizabeth
2008 Synecdoche, New York Actress Playing Frances
2008 Doubt Sister Veronica
2009 Motherhood Edith
2009 After.Life Mrs. Hutton
2010 Furry Vengeance Mrs. Martin
2011 Open House Ruthie Short film, (final role)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1967 Dark Shadows Nurse Jackson Recurring role (5 episodes)
1970 New York Television Theatre Episode: "The Sandbox"
1971-1973 Where the Heart Is Loretta Jardin TV series
1972 Particular Men Mrs. Ewing TV film
1977 The Best of Families Mabel Baldwin TV miniseries
1977 Great Performances Mrs. Varney Episode: "Secret Service"
1978 Ryan's Hope Susie Simpson Episodes: "1.714", "1.719", "1.720"
1979 Sanctuary of Fear Grace Barringer TV film
1981 Park Place Frances Heine Main role (4 episodes)
1981 Love, Sidney Tina Episode: "Hello, Yetta"
1984 American Playhouse Hiss' Secretary Episode: "Concealed Enemies, Part I: Suspicion"
1984 Night Court Mavis Tuttle Episode: "Harry and the Rock Star"
1984 Great Performances Gay Wellington Episode: "You Can't Take It with You"
1986 The Equalizer Kind Woman Episode: "Nocturne"
1987 Night Court Alice Beeker Episode: "Murder"
1988 Kate & Allie Mrs. Rinde Episode: "The Band Singer"
1989 Nikki and Alexander Mrs. Klein TV pilot
1989 The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd Juror Episode: "Here's a Major Organ Interlude"
1989 Money, Power, Murder. Helen TV film
1990-1991 Lenny Mary Callahan Regular role (16 episodes)
1992 Frannie's Turn Rosa Escobar Main role (6 episodes)
1993 Daybreak Anna TV film
1994 Grace Under Fire Nana Lil Episode: "With This Ring"
1994 Law & Order Zelda Episode: "Mayhem"
1995 New York News Episode: "Thin Line"
1996 Cosby Mrs. Bagley Episode: "Neighborhood Watch"
1998 Trinity Mrs. Bingham Episode: "Pilot"
1999 Earthly Possessions Old Woman in Jalopy TV film
2000 Spin City Sondra Spencer Episode: "Suffragette City"
2002 Ed Mrs. Shroeder Episode: "Memory Lane"
2004 The Jury Hannah Francis Episode: "The Honeymoon Suite"
2005 Boston Legal Lydia Tuffalo Episode: "The Ass Fat Jungle"
2007 Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's For One More Day TV film

References

  1. ^ "Alice Drummond Biography (1928-)". Film Reference Library. Toronto: International Federation of Film Archives (IFFA). Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  2. ^ Slotnik, Daniel E. (2016-12-02). "Alice Drummond, Character Actress, Dies at 88". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  3. ^ a b c Kelley, Seth (December 3, 2016). "Alice Drummond, Character Actress Known for 'Awakenings' and 'Ghostbusters,' Dies at 88". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  4. ^ THR Staff (December 2, 2016). "Alice Drummond, Character Actress and Broadway Star, Dies at 88 (Report)". The Hollywood Reporter. United States: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  5. ^ Gettell, Oliver (December 2, 2016). "Veteran character actress Alice Drummond dies at 88". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  6. ^ Anderton, Joe (December 3, 2016). "The iconic Ghostbusters librarian, Alice Drummond, has passed away aged 88". Digital Spy. United Kingdom: Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  7. ^ Gettell, Oliver (December 2, 2016). "Veteran Character Actress Alice Drummond Dies at 88". MSN. United States: Microsoft. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  8. ^ Slotnick, Daniel E. (December 2, 2016). "Alice Drummond, Character Actress, Dies at 88". The New York Times. New York City: The New York Times Company. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
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