We are talking about Anne Schedeen — the actress best remembered for playing Kate Tanner in the cult sitcom ALF. According to her family, she passed away peacefully at the age of 77, leaving behind her roles, creativity, and many warm memories.
In ALF, her character was the heart of the Tanner family. When chaos filled the house because of the alien from Melmac, Kate remained the voice of reason, patience, and love. Her performance made the fantasy comedy feel surprisingly human.
Anne was born on January 8, 1949, in Portland, Oregon. As a child, she was very shy, so her mother enrolled her in theater classes. What began as a way to build confidence eventually became the path to a long acting career.
Before ALF, she was already a familiar face to television audiences. Viewers saw her in The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Emergency!, The Incredible Hulk, Three’s Company, Cheers, Magnum, P.I., and Murder, She Wrote. But it was ALF, which aired from 1986 to 1990, that made her especially close to millions of fans.
Away from the camera, Anne lived a creative life. She painted, sculpted, made handmade jewelry, and loved art, family, and animals. Those close to her remembered her as a person with sharp humor, strong energy, and a gift for leaving bright memories in the lives of others.
She is survived by her husband, Christopher Barrett, with whom she shared 55 years of marriage; her daughter, Taylor Barrett; her family; and her beloved rescue dogs, Roo and Red. Her relatives asked that, instead of flowers, people support Habitat for Humanity — a cause that was close to her heart.
For the generation that grew up watching ALF, Anne Schedeen will never be just an actress from a popular sitcom. She was a warm voice in the middle of chaos, a presence that made the screen feel like home. Her work, and the memory of her, will live on.