Anne Schedeen, Star of 'ALF,' Dies at 77

Actor Anne Schedeen, best known for playing Kate Tanner on the iconic sitcom "ALF," has died at 77. Her longtime agent, Tom Markley, and her family confirmed the death overnight between Sunday and Monday. No cause of death was disclosed.

In a statement posted to her official Facebook account, her family said, "With heavy hearts we share that Annie passed away peacefully." They added that she left "an extraordinary legacy of creative energy, sharp humor, love for her family, a fondness for small dogs, a passion for thrift stores and a love of a good story," and said, "We are devastated without her."

Schedeen was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1949 and began studying acting as a child. She performed in theater in Portland and later in New York, then moved to Los Angeles, signed with Universal Studios, and began appearing in television series. Her screen debut came in 1974 on "The Six Million Dollar Man." Through the 1970s and 1980s, she had guest roles in many well-known shows, including "The Bionic Woman," "The Incredible Hulk," "Three's Company," "Cheers," "Magnum," and "Murder, She Wrote."

Her most familiar role was in "ALF," which aired from 1986 to 1990. She played Kate Tanner, the mother in the suburban Los Angeles family that took in a sarcastic alien who crashed to Earth in his spaceship. Her family described her as a "force of nature" and said her life was filled with creativity, from oil painting and sculpture to handmade jewelry design. Instead of flowers, they asked fans to donate to Habitat for Humanity, a charity close to her heart. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Christopher Barrett, their daughter Taylor, a sister, a brother, and two dogs. In July 2024, Benji Gregory, who played her son Brian on "ALF," also died at 46.