Anne Schedeen, ALF star who played Kate Tanner, dies at 77
Anne Schedeen, best known for playing Kate Tanner on the NBC sitcom ALF, has died at the age of 77.
Her family said she “passed peacefully” in a statement shared Sunday, adding that she died surrounded by the legacy of her life and work. A cause of death was not disclosed.
In their tribute, her family described Schedeen as someone with “creative energy,” sharp humor, and a deep love for her family, storytelling, and rescue dogs. They remembered her as a strong presence in their lives, saying her memory would live on through her artwork, handmade creations, and “joie de vivre.” They also asked loved ones to honor her by supporting Habitat for Humanity in lieu of sending flowers.
Her longtime agent confirmed her death and said she meant “the world” to both her family and her professional circle.
Born in Portland, Oregon, Schedeen developed an early interest in acting, taking part in children’s theater before moving through dinner theater work in Hawaii and later training in New York City. She eventually settled in Los Angeles, where she signed with Universal Pictures and began building her screen career.
She made her television debut in the 1970s and went on to appear in a wide range of popular series including The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Emergency!, The Incredible Hulk, Three’s Company, Cheers, Magnum, P.I., Murder, She Wrote, and Judging Amy. Her film credits included Embryo (1976), Exo-Man (1977), and Slow Burn (1986), among others.
Schedeen became a household name in the late 1980s for her role as Kate Tanner, the steady, grounded mother in ALF, which ran for four seasons and became a defining sitcom of its era.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Christopher Barrett; her daughter, Taylor Barrett; her daughter-in-law, Hilary Flynn; extended family members; and her two rescue dogs.
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