Randee Heller

Randee Heller (born Randee Antzis; June 10, 1947) is an American television and film actress. Her first high-profile role was as Alice in the 1970s sitcom Soap, portraying one of television's first lesbian characters.

Heller is also known for her portrayal of Lucille LaRusso in the films The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part III and in the streaming series Cobra Kai, as well as her appearances as Bert Cooper's and Don Draper's elderly secretary Ida Blankenship on the series Mad Men, for which she was nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

Early life Heller was born on June 10, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York City, and grew up in West Hempstead, New York, After initially attending Emerson College in Boston, she returned to Long Island to graduate in 1969 from Adelphi University, where she studied theater. In 1978, Heller moved from New York to California to pursue film and television work.

Heller's role as Alice, one of the television's first lesbian characters, on the TV series Soap received mixed reviews, with criticism primarily directed not at her 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 (Billy Crystal), 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." 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." Ralph Macchio also "argued for her [inclusion]. Those scenes with her were some of my favorites in the original – they had some real emotion – and I honestly don't know why she isn't there." Heller was also the voice that says "Hey Rock, you're a bum" in the first Rocky movie.

Other films include Fast Break (1979), Bulworth (1998), Monster-in-Law (2005), and Crazylove (2005).

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. Heller was a regular on the one-season program Husbands, Wives & Lovers (1978). She played leading roles in three short-lived sitcoms: Mama Malone (1984), 1986's Better Days (TV series), and Second Chance (1987). Heller's TV-movie appearances include Can You Hear the Laughter? The Story of Freddie Prinze and And Your Name is Jonah (both 1979). She had a recurring role in the fourth season (2010) of AMC's Mad Men as Bert Cooper's and Don Draper's elderly secretary Ida Blankenship. For this role, Heller received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. Additionally, she played the recurring role of Ryan's neighbor Margot on the American version of Wilfred in the 2010s.

Since 2018, Heller has reprised the role of Lucille LaRusso in the streaming show Cobra Kai.

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.

Filmography Film

Year Title Role Directed by Notes 1979 Fast Break Jan Jack Smight Film debut 1984 The Karate Kid Lucille LaRusso John G. Avildsen 1986 The Ladies Club Harriet Janet Greek 1989 The Karate Kid Part III Lucille LaRusso John G. Avildsen 1993 The Baby Doll Murders Mrs. Maglia Paul Leder 1994 Frame-Up II: The Cover-Up Ruth Epstein Paul Leder Alternatively titled "Deadly Conspiracy" 1997 Matter of Trust Stoddard Joey Travolta 1998 Bulworth Mrs. Tannenbaum Warren Beatty 2005 Monster-in-Law Beverly Hills Dog Owner Robert Luketic 2005 Better Days Harriet Winners Raul Ingils 2005 Crazylove Principal Gail Ellie Kanner 2009 Coma Doug's Mother Drew Antzis Voice Role 2017 A Crooked Somebody Phylis Trevor White2024 Destroy All NeighborsEleanor Prescott Josh Forbes 2024Murder at Hollow Creek Glenda David Lipper

Television

Year Title Role Notes1977Husbands and WivesRita Bell TV Movie 1978 Husbands, Wives & Lovers Rita DeLatorre Season 1 (10 episodes) 1979...and Your Name Is JonahConnie TV Movie 1979 Supertrain Tammie Tyler Season 1, episode 5: "Superstar" 1979 240-Robert Joan Laurent Season 1, episode 3: "Bathysphere" 1979 Soap Alice Recurring role • Seasons 2 & 3 (9 episodes)1979Can You Hear the Laughter? The Story of Freddie PrinzeCarolTV Movie 1980 The White Shadow Susan Season 2, episode 17: "The Stripper" 1980 Number 96 Marion Quintzel Unknown episode(s) • adaptation of the Australian soap opera 1981 Quincy, M.E. Iris Season 7, episode 5: "D.U.I" 1982 Today's FBI Vivian Season 1, episode 9: "A Woman's Story" 1983 Amanda's Barbara Mehrin Season 1, episode 7: "Last of the Red Hot Brothers" 1984 Oh Madeline Faye Rollins Season 1, episode 16: "Ladies' Night Out" 1984 Mama Malone Connie Malone Karamkopoulos Main role • Season 1 (13 episodes) 1984 Night Court Anita Fries Season 2, episode 1: "The Nun" 1985 Obsessed With A Married Woman RitaTV Movie 1985 Hunter Peg Sullivan Season 2, episode 5: "Killer in a Halloween Mask" 1985 Night Court Renee Season 3, episode 11: "Walk Away, Renee" 1985–86 Fame Peggy Persky Recurring role • season 5 (3 episodes) 1986 Better Days Harriet Winners Main role • season 1 (11 episodes) 1987The Last FlingMimiTV Movie 1987 The Bronx Zoo Jeannie Recurring role • season 1 (2 episodes) 1987–88 Second Chance Helen Russell Main role • season 1 (21 episodes) 1989 ALF Elaine Ochmonek Season 3, episode 23: "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?" 1989–90 Who's the Boss Carol Recurring role • season 6 (2 episodes) 1990 Major Dad Lt. Colonel Maggie Connell Season 1, episode 15: "That Connell Woman" 1990 Midnight Caller Katie McGill Recurring role • season 2 (2 episodes) 1990 His & Hers Lynn Season 1, episode 1: "Pilot" 1990 The Fanelli Boys Viva Fontaine Season 1, episode 6: "Take My Ex-Wife, Please" 1990 WIOU Janet Harper Season 1, episode 3: "The Inquisition"1991 Changes Carol Kellerman TV Movie 1991 Pacific Station Charlotte Season 1, episode 4: "Love and Death" 1991 Murder, She Wrote Lt. Cynthia Devereaux Season 8, episode 5: "Lines of Excellence" 1993 Camp Wilder Mom Season 1, episode 15: "Bringing Up Brody" 1993 Melrose Place Police Detective Altman Season 2, episode 2: "A Long Night's Journey" 1994 The Mommies Gary / Mary Season 1, episode 20: "Valentine's Day" 1994 Love & War Marjorie Season 3, episode 5: "A New York Yankee in Queen Dana's Court" 1994 ER Mrs. Goldberg Season 1, episode 11: "The Gift" 1996 High Incident Unknown / unnamed role Season 2, episode 5: "The Godfather" 1996 Family Matters Judge Jennifer Mooney Season 8, episode 12: "The Jury" 1997 Ink Woman Season 1, episode 14: "Life Without Mikey" 1997 Crisis Center Grocer's Mother Season 1, episode 1: "The Center" 1997 Coach Kathi Season 9, episode 20: "The Neighbor Hood" 1997 Fired Up Tina Recurring role • season 2 (3 episodes) 1999 Clueless Judge Geyser Season 3, episode 18: "Big Sissies" 1999 Chicago Hope Pam Miller Season 6, episode 2: "Y'Gotta Have Heart" 2000 Family Law Jessica Bronson Season 1, episode 18: "Necessity" 2001 Jack & Jill Mrs. Weyman Season 2, episode 6: "Pressure Points" 2001 Popular Judy Julian Recurring role • season 2 (2 episodes) 2001 Judging Amy Ms. Pankow Season 3, episode 4: "The Right Thing To Do" 2002 Felicity Psychiatrist Season 4, episode 21: "Felicity, Interrupted" 2002 Judging Amy Ms. Madsen Season 4, episode 10: "People of the Lie" 2003 Less Than Perfect Mrs. Ross Season 2, episode 3: "It Takes a Pillage" 2003 Judging Amy Paige Lange's Attorney Season 5, episode 8: "The Long Goodbye" 2004 Drake & Josh Grammy Nichols Season 1, episode 6: "Grammy" 2004 The Stones Lila Season 1, episode 3: "The Lawyer Trap" 2004 The Division Paul's Attorney Season 4, episode 20: "Be Careful What You Wish For" 2004 Clubhouse Interviewer Season 1, episode 4: "Trade Talks" 2005 Judging Amy Evelyn Pankow Season 6, episode 13: "Dream a Little Dream" 2005 Crossing Jordan Julie Harvey Season 4, episode 14: "Gray Murders" 2006 Nip/Tuck Saleswoman Season 4, episode 5: "Dawn Budge" 2009 Brothers & Sisters Karin Season 3, episode 24: "Mexico" 2009 Hawthorne Shirley Riddle Season 1, episode 9: "Mother's Day" 2010 Mad Men Ida Blankenship Recurring role • season 4 (5 episodes) 2010 Grey's Anatomy Joanne Ratigan Season 7, episode 5: "Almost Grown" 2011 Honey and Joy Dottie Television short 2011 In Plain Sight Dora Alpert Recurring role • season 4 (3 episodes) 2011 Desperate Housewives Karen Season 8, episode 5: "The Art of Making Art" 2011 Prime Suspect Mrs. Minoff Season 1, episode 7: "Wednesday's Child" • adaptation of the British TV series 2011 Generator Rex Additional voices Season 3, episode 5: "Phantom of the Soap Opera" 2012 The Mentalist Marta Roman Season 5, episode 8: "Red Sails in the Sunset" 2013 Emily Owens, M.D. Maggie Season 1, episode 13: "Emily and... the Leap" 2013 Modern Family Rita Season 5, episode 8: "ClosetCon '13 2013–14 Wilfred Margot Recurring role • seasons 3 & 4 (4 episodes) • adaptation of the Australian TV series 2014 Partners Judge Miller Season 1, episode 1: "They Come Together" 2016 Mary + Jane Aunt Grace Season 1, episode 3: "Sn**chelorette" 2017 Major Crimes (TV series)Julia Season 6, episode 11: "By Any Means: Part 2" 2018–2025 Cobra Kai Lucille LaRusso Guest role (seasons 1–2, 4 6) 2018 The Resident Yvonne Season 1, episode 13: "Run, Doctor, Run" 2019 Station 19 Maria Season 2, episode 17: "Into The Wildfire"2019 The Edge of Sleep (TV series)Additional voices 2 Episodes

Additional credits

Husbands and Wives ... as Rita Bell (1977) ...And Your Name is Jonah ... as Connie (1979) Can You Hear the Laughter? The Story of Freddie Prinze ... as Carol (1979) Obsessed with a Married Woman ... as Rita (1985) The Last Fling ... as Mimi (1987) Changes ... as Carol Kellerman (1991)

Coma ... as Doug's Mother (2009) Haunted with a View ... unknown / unnamed role (2011)

Grease ... as Betty Rizzo (replacement) (February 14, 1972 – April 13, 1980) Hurry Harry ... as Helena / writer / Native No. 4 / Not-So-Grand Lama / Gypsy (October 12, 1972 – October 13, 1972)