Anne Ramsey: Brave Ol’ Battle Axe
Anne Ramsey, perhaps best known for her role as Ma Fratelli in Goonies, was born today in 1929.
The night was sultry.
The daughter of East Coast bluebloods, Ramsey attended elite preparatory schools in Connecticut, making her social debut the same season as Jackie-O. Later in life, she would be seen in all manner of television shows playing bag ladies, gypsies, cab drivers and housekeepers.
She married TV actor Logan Ramsey in the 50s, and together they made 5 films. In 1987, only three months before her death from throat cancer (removal of part of her lower jaw and tongue gave her the slurred speech she became known for in her later films), she received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in Throw Momma From The Train. No offense to Olympia Dukakis, but I wish she’d won.
She’s just head-explodingly awesome –the ultimate lady curmudgeon– and I’d happily endure Alf for her any day.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Owen! OOOOwenn!
August 12th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Hahaha. I just realized, she bears a striking resemblance to Tony Millionaire as God.
o_O
That was completely unintentional.
August 13th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Mama Fratelli was, by far, her best role.