Alice Drummond

Alice Elizabeth Drummond (née Ruyter; May 21, 1928 – November 30, 2016) was an American actress. A veteran Off-Broadway performer, she was nominated in 1970 for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance as Mrs. Lee in The Chinese by Murray Schisgal. She may be best known as Alice, the librarian, in the opening scenes of the 1984 horror-comedy Ghostbusters.

Early life Alice Elizabeth Ruyter was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1928, the daughter of Sarah Irene (née Alker), a secretary, and Arthur Ruyter, an auto mechanic. She graduated from Pembroke College (the women's college of Brown University) in 1950.

Career Drummond played Nurse Jackson on the TV series Dark Shadows in 1967 She portrayed a catatonic patient named Lucy in 1990's Awakenings. She also played a senior citizen in the movie Furry Vengeance. Other notable appearances include Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar and Pieces of April.

Personal life and death Alice Ruyter married Paul Drummond in 1951. They resided in Manhattan, New York City, New York. They separated in 1975 and divorced in 1976.

She died on November 30, 2016, from complications of a fall at her home in The Bronx, New York City, at age 88.

Filmography

Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1967 Dark Shadows Nurse Jackson 5 episodes 1970 New York Television Theatre Episode: "The Sandbox" 1971-1973 Where the Heart Is Loretta Jardin 3 episodes 1972 Particular Men Mrs. Ewing TV movie 1977 Mabel Baldwin TV miniseries 1977 Great Performances Mrs. Varney Episode: "Secret Service" 1978 Ryan's Hope Susie Simpson Episodes: "1.714", "1.719", "1.720" 1979 Sanctuary of Fear Grace Barringer TV movie 1981 Park Place Frances Heine 4 episodes 1981 Love, Sidney Tina Episode: "Hello, Yetta" 1984 American Playhouse Hiss' Secretary Episode: "Concealed Enemies, Part I: Suspicion" 1984 Night Court Mavis Tuttle Episode: "Harry and the Rock Star" 1984 Great Performances Gay Wellington Episode: "You Can't Take It with You" 1986 Kind Woman Episode: "Nocturne" 1987 Night Court Alice Beeker Episode: "Murder" 1988 Kate & Allie Mrs. Rinde Episode: "The Band Singer" 1989 Nikki and Alexander Mrs. Klein TV pilot 1989 Juror Episode: "Here's a Major Organ Interlude" 1989 Money, Power, Murder. Helen TV movie 1990-1991 Lenny Mary Callahan 16 episodes 1992 Frannie's Turn Rosa Escobar 6 episodes 1993 Daybreak Anna TV movie 1994 Grace Under Fire Nana Lil Episode: "With This Ring" 1994 Friends Althea Episode: "The One Where Nana Dies Twice" 1994 Law & Order Zelda Episode: "Mayhem" 1995 New York News Episode: "Thin Line" 1996 Cosby Mrs. Bagley Episode: "Neighborhood Watch" 1998 Trinity Mrs. Bingham Episode: "Pilot" 1999 Earthly Possessions Old Woman In Jalopy TV movie 2000 Spin City Sondra Spencer Episode: "Suffragette City" 2002 Ed Mrs. Shroeder Episode: "Memory Lane" 2004 Hannah Francis Episode: "The Honeymoon Suite" 2005 Boston Legal Lydia Tuffalo Episode: "The Ass Fat Jungle" 2007 Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's For One More Day Rose TV movie