Introduction
Elsa Raven (born Elsa Rabinowitz; September 21, 1929 – November 3, 2020) was an American character actress, perhaps best known for her two years (1988–1990) on the sitcom Amen and playing the mother of Vincent Terranova (Ken Wahl) on the TV series Wiseguy.
Raven is also known for her small but memorable role in Back to the Future (1985) as the clock tower lady with her phrase "Save the clock tower!" while gathering local donations to preserve the clock as-is, in opposition to Mayor Wilson's initiative to replace the clock altogether. She played Ida Straus in the 1997 film Titanic along with Lew Palter, who played Isidor Straus, and had a voice role in the 1981 animated film American Pop.
Raven died on November 3, 2020 in Los Angeles at the age of 91.
Filmography
Film appearances
- The Honeymoon Killers (1970) – Matron
- The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971) – Mrs. Water Buffalo
- Lady Liberty (1971) – Policewoman (uncredited)
- South of Hell Mountain (1971)
- A Fan's Notes (1972) – Deborah
- The Cracker Factory (1979) – Tourist
- The Amityville Horror (1979) – Mrs. Townsend
- Fatso (1980) – Phil's Wife
- American Pop (1981) – Hannele (voice)
- The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) – Matron
- Paternity (1981) – Pre-natal Nurse
- Second Thoughts (1983) –Large Nurse
- Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) – Nurse No. 2 (segment "Kick the Can")
- Back to the Future (1985) – Clocktower Lady
- Creator (1985) – Mrs. Mallory
- The Moderns (1988) – Gertrude Stein
- Another You (1991) – Volunteer
- Indecent Proposal (1993) – Citizenship Student
- In the Line of Fire (1993) – Booth's Landlady
- Fearless (1993) – Grey Haired Lady
- One Night Stand (1995) – Mrs. Salvatore
- Titanic (1997) – Ida Straus
- Face to Face (2001) – Grandma
- The 4th Tenor (2002) – Mama
- The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green (2005) – Senior Lady
- The Cutter (2005) – Mrs. Rosen
- Miriam (2006) – Aunt Levya
- Answers to Nothing (2011) – Mrs. Harrison
TV appearances
- Million Dollar Infield (1982) – Dr. Isabel Armen
- Quincy, M.E. (1978–1982) – Miss Beck – FDA / Miss Coroner Judge / Nurse Angela Davenport
- The A-Team (1983–1984) – Clara Dickerson / Dr. Marian Ericson
- Highway to Heaven (1985) – Ms. Zabenko
- General Hospital (1986) – Tessie
- Freddy's Nightmares (1988) – Mrs. Wildmon
- Amen (1989–1990) – Inga
- Wiseguy (1987–1990) – Carlotta Terranova Aiuppo
- Get a Life (1991) – Marta
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1992) – Ida Pollock
- Murphy Brown (1993) – Mrs. Kobolakis
- Seinfeld (1994) – Mom
- 3rd Rock from the Sun (1999) – Aunt Florence
- Everybody Loves Raymond (2004) – Mrs. Lopman