Randee Heller


Randee Heller is an American television and film actress known for playing Alice in the 1970s sitcom Soap – essaying one of the television's first lesbian characters – as well as for playing Lucille LaRusso, the mother of Ralph Macchio's starring character, in the films The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part III, and in the streaming series Cobra Kai; and Bert Cooper's and Don Draper's elderly secretary Ida Blankenship in a recurring role on the series Mad Men.

Early life

Heller was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and grew up in West Hempstead, New York, on Long Island, of Russian heritage. After initially attending Emerson College in Boston, she returned to Long Island to graduate in 1969 from Adelphi University, where she studied theater.

Career

The summer after graduation, she was cast in an Off-Broadway production of Godspell. She went on to the Broadway musicals Grease, playing Rizzo. In 1978, Heller moved from New York to California to pursue screen work.
Her role as Alice, one of the television's first lesbian characters, on the TV series Soap received mixed reviews, with criticism primarily directed not for at acting but at the stereotyping of her character. The Boston Herald said that the characterization shows how "the networks have generally depicted lesbians either as suicidal losers or sexual predators." For example, it identifies Alice as "TV's first recurring lesbian character," noting that she "first tries to throw herself off a bridge, then falls for Jodie, a confused gay man, and finally runs off.". Ahead of filming, producers ordered Heller's newly permed hair straightened at the network's insistence. Of a later episode in which Alice introduces her girlfriend, Heller said, "I went to kiss her in rehearsals and they said, 'No no no … you can’t do that.' I said, 'But she’s my girlfriend!' 'No, no no no, we can’t do that, we just cannot do that.' So it was so careful, it was so delicate in those days that you couldn’t really do your thing. … They wanted me to be a heterosexual homosexual." Heller would appear as a lesbian character again in a 2010 episode of Grey's Anatomy "Almost Grown," playing the partner of a female patient with a brain tumor.

Film career

After leaving Soap, the actress gained the role of Lucille LaRusso, mother of Ralph Macchio's starring character, in the Karate Kid movie series, appearing in the first and third installments, receiving good notices from critics. Reviewer Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune noted her absence from the second film: "Heller's honest portrayal of a single parent trying to raise an adolescent was one of the genuine pleasures of the original film." Star Macchio agreed, stating in one interview with Siskel,
Heller was also the voice that says "Hey Rock, you're a bum" in the first Rocky movie.
Other films include Fast Break, Bulworth, Monster-in-Law, and Crazylove.

Television guest appearances

Heller had a starring role as Carol in the 1979 TV movie Can You Hear the Laughter? The Story of Freddie Prinze. She has made guest appearances in television series including Murder, She Wrote, Less Than Perfect, 'ALF, Nip/Tuck, Judging Amy, Felicity, the children's series Drake & Josh, Night Court, Fame, and The White Shadow. She was a regular on the one-season program Husbands, Wives & Lovers. Heller played leading roles in three short-lived sitcoms: Second Chance, "Better Days," and Mama Malone. Her TV-movie appearances include Can You Hear the Laughter? The Story of Freddie Prinze and And Your Name is Jonah. In 2018, Heller reprised the role of Lucille LaRusso in episodes of seasons one and two of Cobra Kai, a YouTube Red series.
Heller had a recurring role in the fourth season of AMC's Mad Men as Bert Cooper's and Don Draper's elderly secretary Ida Blankenship. For this role she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. Also, in the 2010s, she played the recurring role of Ryan's neighbor Margot on the American version of Wilfred''.

Stage career

Heller has appeared in such theater productions as Bermuda Avenue Triangle, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, and Cabaret. Of her role in Cabaret, with one reviewer remarked that:
Heller also played the role of Barbra Streisand's mother in the stage performances of Streisand's Timeless concerts in 2000. She performed the role after having been diagnosed with breast cancer the year before and undergoing a double mastectomy and chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Personal life

Heller has been in a long-term relationship with TV writer-producer and former mime Robert Griffard and has two daughters, Sloane and Cody.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleDirected byNotes
1979Fast BreakJanJack SmightFilm debut
1984The Karate KidLucille LaRussoJohn G. Avildsen
1986The Ladies ClubHarrietJanet Greek
1989The Karate Kid Part IIILucille LaRussoJohn G. Avildsen
1993The Baby Doll MurdersMrs. MagliaPaul Leder
1994Frame-Up II: The Cover-UpRuth EpsteinPaul LederAlternatively titled "Deadly Conspiracy"
1997Matter of TrustStoddardJoey Travolta
1998BulworthMrs. TannenbaumWarren Beatty
2005Monster-in-LawBeverly Hills Dog OwnerRobert Luketic
2005Better DaysHarriet WinnersRaul Ingils
2005CrazylovePrincipal GailEllie Kanner
2017A Crooked SomebodyPhylisTrevor White

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978Husbands, Wives & LoversRita DeLatorreSeason 1
1979SupertrainTammie TylerSeason 1, episode 5: "Superstar"
1979240-RobertJoan LaurentSeason 1, episode 3: "Bathysphere"
1979SoapAliceRecurring role • Seasons 2 & 3
1980The White ShadowSusanSeason 2, episode 17: "The Stripper"
1980Number 96Marion QuintzelUnknown episode • adaptation of the Australian soap opera
1981Quincy, M.E.IrisSeason 7, episode 5: "D.U.I"
1982Today's FBIUnknown / unnamed roleSeason 1, episode 9: "A Woman's Story"
1983Amanda'sBarbara MehrinSeason 1, episode 7: "Last of the Red Hot Brothers"
1984Oh MadelineUnknown / unnamed roleSeason 1, episode 16: "Ladies' Night Out"
1984Mama MaloneConnie Malone KaramkopoulosMain role • Season 1
1984Night CourtAnita FriesSeason 2, episode 1: "The Nun"
1985HunterPeg SullivanSeason 2, episode 5: "Killer in a Halloween Mask"
1985Night CourtReneeSeason 3, episode 11: "Walk Away, Renee"
1985-86FamePeggy PerskyRecurring role • season 5
1986Better DaysHarriet WinnersMain role • season 1
1987The Bronx ZooJeannieRecurring role • season 1
1987-88Second ChanceHelen RussellMain role • season 1
1989ALFElaine OchmonekSeason 3, episode 23: "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?"
1989-90Who's the BossCarolRecurring role • season 6
1990Major DadLt. Colonel Maggie ConnellSeason 1, episode 15: "That Connell Woman"
1990Midnight CallerKatie McGillRecurring role • season 2
1990His & HersLynnSeason 1, episode 1: "Pilot"
1990The Fanelli BoysViva FontaineSeason 1, episode 6: "Take My Ex-Wife, Please"
1990WIOUJanet HarperSeason 1, episode 3: "The Inquisition"
1991Pacific StationCharlotteSeason 1, episode 4: "Love and Death"
1991Murder, She WroteLt. Cynthia DevereauxSeason 8, episode 5: "Lines of Excellence"
1993Camp WilderMomSeason 1, episode 15: "Bringing Up Brody"
1993Melrose PlacePolice Detective AltmanSeason 2, episode 2: "A Long Night's Journey"
1994The MommiesGary / MarySeason 1, episode 20: "Valentine's Day"
1994Love & WarMarjorieSeason 3, episode 5: "A New York Yankee in Queen Dana's Court"
1994ERWomanSeason 1, episode 11: "The Gift"
1996High IncidentUnknown / unnamed roleSeason 2, episode 5: "The Godfather"
1996Family MattersJudge Jennifer MooneySeason 8, episode 12: "The Jury"
1997InkWomanSeason 1, episode 14: "Life Without Mikey"
1997Crisis CenterGrocer's MotherSeason 1, episode 1: "The Center"
1997CoachKathiSeason 9, episode 20: "The Neighbor Hood"
1997Fired UpTinaRecurring role • season 2
1999CluelessJudge GeyserSeason 3, episode 18: "Big Sissies"
1999Chicago HopePam MillerSeason 6, episode 2: "Y'Gotta Have Heart"
2000Family LawJessica BronsonSeason 1, episode 18: "Necessity"
2001Jack & JillMrs. WeymanSeason 2, episode 6: "Pressure Points"
2001PopularJudy JulianRecurring role • season 2
2001Judging AmyMs. Pankow Season 3, episode 4: "The Right Thing To Do"
2002FelicityPsychiatristSeason 4, episode 21: "Felicity, Interrupted"
2002Judging AmyMs. Madsen Season 4, episode 10: "People of the Lie"
2003Less Than PerfectMrs. RossSeason 2, episode 3: "It Takes a Pillage"
2003Judging AmyPaige Lange's AttorneySeason 5, episode 8: "The Long Goodbye"
2004Drake & JoshGrammySeason 1, episode 6: "Grammy"
2004The StonesLilaSeason 1, episode 3: "The Lawyer Trap"
2004The DivisionPaul's AttorneySeason 4, episode 20: "Be Careful What You Wish For"
2004ClubhouseInterviewerSeason 1, episode 4: "Trade Talks"
2005Judging AmyEvelyn PankowSeason 6, episode 13: "Dream a Little Dream"
2005Crossing JordanJulie HarveySeason 4, episode 14: "Gray Murders"
2006Nip/TuckSaleswomanSeason 4, episode 5: "Dawn Budge"
2009Brothers & SistersKarinSeason 3, episode 24: "Mexico"
2009HawthorneShirley RiddleSeason 1, episode 9: "Mother's Day"
2010Mad MenIda BlankenshipRecurring role • season 4
2010Grey's AnatomyJoanne RatiganSeason 7, episode 5: "Almost Grown"
2011Honey and JoyDottieTelevision short
2011In Plain SightDora AlpertRecurring role • season 4
2011Desperate HousewivesKarenSeason 8, episode 5: "The Art of Making Art"
2011Prime SuspectMrs. MinoffSeason 1, episode 7: "Wednesday's Child" • adaptation of the British TV series
2011Generator RexAdditional voicesSeason 3, episode 5: "Phantom of the Soap Opera"
2012The MentalistMarta RomanSeason 5, episode 8: "Red Sails in the Sunset"
2013Emily Owens, M.D.MaggieSeason 1, episode 13: "Emily and... the Leap"
2013Modern FamilyRitaSeason 5, episode 8: "ClosetCon '13
2013-14WilfredMargotRecurring role • seasons 3 & 4 • adaptation of the Australian TV series
2014PartnersJudge MillerSeason 1, episode 1: "They Come Together"
2016Mary + JaneAunt GraceSeason 1, episode 3: "Sn**chelorette"
2018-19Cobra KaiLucille LaRussoSeason 1, episode 8: "Molting". Season 2, episode 8: "Glory of Love".