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| Alison La Placa | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1959-12-16) December 16, 1959 (age 65) Newark, New Jersey, United States |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Spouse | Philip Charles MacKenzie (1992–present) |
Alison La Placa (born December 16, 1959) is an American actress best known for the role of acid-tongued yuppie Linda Phillips in the Fox sitcoms Duet and its spin-off Open House, both of which aired in the late 1980s.
Biography
Early life and career
La Placa is a graduate of Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. She attended Illinois Wesleyan University, where she majored in drama. 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, and Friends (as Rachel's boss, Joanna). 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.
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 | |
| 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 | 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: Private Dick/Family Man | Marion | Episode: "With Friends Like These" | |
| 1997 | Temporarily Yours | Lily Greer | Episode: "By Design" | |
| 1997 | Johnny Bravo | Lois/Brunette | 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.