| Revision as of 16:26, 29 May 2023 editTeblick (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, New page reviewers, Rollbackers139,358 edits Removed unsourced date of birth. (See WP:BLPPRIVACY)← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:26, 29 May 2023 edit undoTeblick (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, New page reviewers, Rollbackers139,358 edits →Early life and career: Removed content that had been unsourced since at least May 2016.Next edit → | ||
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| ===Early life and career=== | ===Early life and career=== | ||
| La Placa is a graduate of ] in ], a suburb of ].<ref>Nenni, Pete. , '']'', May 13, 2003.</ref> |
La Placa is a graduate of ] in ], a suburb of ].<ref>Nenni, Pete. , '']'', May 13, 2003.</ref> She performed in a circus show, Circus Fantastic, at Marriott's Great America, now ]. | ||
| Before moving to ] La Placa worked as a cocktail waitress at Chicago's Palmer House on Michigan Ave. | Before moving to ] La Placa worked as a cocktail waitress at Chicago's Palmer House on Michigan Ave. | ||
Revision as of 16:26, 29 May 2023
American actress (born 1959) | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (November 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Alison La Placa | |
|---|---|
| Born | Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1983–2019 |
| Spouse |
Philip Charles MacKenzie (m. 1992) |
Alison La Placa is an American actress best known for playing the recurring role of Joanna, Rachel’s boss who also dated Chandler on the show “Friends”.
Biography
Early life and career
La Placa is a graduate of Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. She performed in a circus show, Circus Fantastic, at Marriott's Great America, now Six Flags Great America.
Before moving to Los Angeles La Placa worked as a cocktail waitress at Chicago's Palmer House on Michigan Ave.
Shortly after moving to Hollywood, La Placa landed the part of Elyse in television sitcom version of Barry Levinson's film Diner. That pilot did not get picked up, and soon thereafter La Placa got a part in the made-for-TV movie Listen to Your Heart (1983).
Later career
The following year La Placa earned a regular spot on Suzanne Pleshette Is Maggie Briggs (1984). She had a small part in Fletch (1985) and she subsequently played Linda Phillips on the series Duet (from 1987 to 1989) and Open House (from 1989 to 1990). LaPlaca also played opposite Kirstie Alley in the 1990 movie Madhouse, with co-star John Larroquette.
La Placa has guest-starred on series including ER, Cheers, Family Ties, Desperate Housewives' She was a regular on Stat (1991), The Jackie Thomas Show (1992), Tom (1994), and the NBC sitcom The John Larroquette Show (from 1994 to 1996). La Placa has also guest-starred on animated series such as Johnny Bravo.
She has been married to TV actor/director Philip Charles MacKenzie (her costar on Open House) since 1992.
She also played the character of Andrea in the TV series Boston Legal in two episodes in season 4 ("Glow in the Dark" and "Rescue Me"). She also appeared in Malcolm in the Middle as Barbara in the episode "Convention" and in a recurring role on ’Til Death as Beth, Joy's coworker. More recently she guest starred in the show “Mom”.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Voyage of the Rock Aliens | Diane | Credited as Alison Laplaca |
| 1985 | Fletch | Pan Am Clerk | |
| 1990 | Madhouse | Claudia |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Listen to Your Heart | Lynn | Television film |
| 1984 | Diner | Elyse | Television short |
| 1984 | Maggie Briggs | Melanie Bitterman | Episode: "A New Leaf" |
| 1984 | Family Ties | Barbara | Episode: "Fabric Smarts" |
| 1985 | Cheers | Paula Nelson | Episode: "Behind Every Great Man" |
| 1985 | Brothers | Annie Todson | Episode: "The Shoop Shoop Shop" |
| 1985 | Murder: By Reason of Insanity | Janet Landry | Television film (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 1986 | Remington Steele | Joan Kendall | Episode: "Steele in the Running" |
| 1986 | Second Serve | Nightclub Singer | Television film |
| 1987 | Our House | Ann Tollfeson | Episode: "The Best Intentions" |
| 1987 | Fame | Ms. Audrey Fleming | Episode: "The Crimson Blade" |
| 1987-1989 | Duet | Linda Phillips | Main role (seasons 1-3) |
| 1989-1990 | Open House | Linda Phillips | Main role (season 1) |
| 1991 | Stat | Dr. Elizabeth Newberry | Main role (season 1) |
| 1991 | In The Nick of Time | Susan Rosewell | Television film |
| 1992-1993 | The Jackie Thomas Show | Laura Miller | Main role (season 1) |
| 1994 | Batman: The Animated Series | Baby-Doll / Mary Louise Dahl | Voice, episode: "Baby-Doll" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 1994 | Tom | Dorothy Graham | Main role (season 1) |
| 1994-1996 | The John Larroquette Show | Catherine Merrick | Recurring role; 49 episodes |
| 1997 | Duckman | Marion | Voice, episode: "With Friends Like These" |
| 1997 | Temporarily Yours | Lily Greer | Episode: "By Design" |
| 1997 | Johnny Bravo | Lois/Brunette | Voice, episode: "Going Batty/Berry the Butler/Red Faced in the White House" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 1997 | Friends | Joanna | Recurring role; 3 episodes (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 1998 | 7th Heaven | Carolyn Fulton | Episode: "...And a Nice Chianti" |
| 1999 | Hercules | Additional voices | Episode: "Hercules and the Odyssey Experience" |
| 2000 | Malcolm in the Middle | Barbara | Episode: "Convention" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2001 | Nathan's Choice | Pilot | Television short |
| 2002 | ER | Female Lawyer | Episode: "Lockdown" |
| 2006 | Desperate Housewives | Rita Patterson | Episode: "The Miracle Song" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2007 | The O.C. | Dr. James | Episode: "The Groundhog Day" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2007 | Grey's Anatomy | Mrs. Nolston | Recurring role; 2 episodes (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2008 | Boston Legal | Andrea Michele | Recurring role; 2 episodes (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2008-2010 | 'Til Death | Beth | Recurring role; 3 episodes (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2009 | Lie to Me | Diane Ktretschmer | Episode: "Do No Harm" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2009 | Without a Trace | Mary Whitman | Episode: "Voir Dire" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2010 | 15 Minutes | Goldie | Television short |
| 2011 | Man Up! | Caroll | Episode: "Acceptance" |
| 2012 | Up All Night | Gail Reinhold | Episode: "Preschool Auction" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2014 | Mom | Louanne | Episode: "Forged Resumes and the Recommended Dosage" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
References
- Nenni, Pete. "Stevenson grads make a name for themselves in television roles", Daily Herald (Arlington Heights), May 13, 2003.
- Castro, Peter (May 15, 1995). "A Place to Call Home". People. Vol. 43, no. 19. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009.