In memory of actress Estelle Harris, who died this weekend at age 93, TribLIVE is reposting a story from 1994 where she spoke about her work on “Seinfeld” and her acting career.

Story by Rex Rutkoski. Published on Feb. 17, 1994.

She’s been associated with some of the best-known people in show business.

But 1945 Tarentum High School graduate Estelle Harris may find that when she finally retires she will best be remembered as “George’s Mom.”

After a lifetime of dramatic and comedic roles on TV, stage, in films, commercials and off-Broadway, Harris, 66, is earning national attention in the role of Mrs. Costanza, the overbearing and frenzied mom of George Costanza (portrayed by Jason Alexander), a best buddy of Jerry Seinfeld on NBC’s hit situation comedy, “Seinfeld.”

“Everybody loves a loser,” says Harris, laughing from her home on New York’s Long Island. “People see a loser and say ‘I’m better off than that.’ They can laugh at a loser. Let’s face it, George is a loser.”

Not that Mrs. Costanza doesn’t have real maternal feelings for him, she adds. “She loves him, but he hasn’t been able to find a job for years. After a child leaves and returns home as a grownup it’s very frustrating. She’s mad about that,” Harris explains.

Viewers love it!

Whatever the underlying psychology, viewers seem to love it. Since accepting the role last season, Harris finds it rewarding that many people recognize her as George’s mother, telling her she is “wonderful, hysterical.”

Harris also is appreciative that with “Seinfeld” she is associated with a show that seems destined to go down as one of the classics in television history.

The show enjoys such popularity, she theorizes, because of its relaxed approach.

“You can sort of drop in on a few people and see how their lives are going,” she says. “There’s no one there that is terribly successful or terribly rich – sort of something you can relate to. When you laugh at them, you laugh at yourself too.”

A great feeling!

It’s a great feeling to be able to make people laugh, says Harris. “When you do that, you are being loved.”

Her friends and former classmates in the Tarentum area love her portrayal.

“She always had a love for acting and is very ambitious and versatile,” says Ruth Curtis of Lower Burrell.

Harris, a Brooklyn native who lived on Tarentum’s East Tenth Avenue from early grade school until leaving for New York City after high school graduation, is the former “Estie” Nussbaum, daughter of the late Isaac and Anna Nussbaum.

Harris has all the right moves on the show, says Dr. John Pacek of Natrona Heights.

“She was that way in high school. She always had a nice smile and something cute to say,” recalls Pacek, who was two years ahead of Harris at Tarentum High, now part of Highlands School District. “We look for the show every Thursday.”

Pacek’s wife, Shirley Velock Pacek, was Harris’ classmate. “I think she fills the role on “Seinfeld” very well,” she says. “She was always a very sweet, nice girl, sort of bubbly and fun to be around.

Keeps in touch with Tarentum classmates

Harris returns to Tarentum High class reunions and plans to be at the 50th in 1995. She also keeps in touch locally with cards and letters to friends.

Her father and her uncle, Joe Stern, operated the now-defunct Star Confectionary store on Fifth Avenue.

Yet, it was trying to see every movie that came to Tarentum at the old Harris and Palace theaters that helped inspire her to become an actress. She started out performing in school plays.

Harris seems to have resigned herself to being typecast. Though she considers some of her best work having been dramatic roles, those in the industry view her as a comedic actress.

• Estelle Harris, ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Toy Story’ actor who grew up in Tarentum, dies at 93

“They tell me I can make anything funny,” she says. “I look at situations and try to pick out something humorous.”

She is not joking, though, when she says she intends “to go on forever” in her career. “I have no intentions of ever quitting. I must be busy all the time.”

Harris discusses cast members

Here’s what Estelle Harris, “George Costanza’s mom,” thinks about some of the cast members and their characters.

* Jerry Stiller, “Mr. Costanza”: “Jerry’s a lovely, lovely, wonderfully talented man. We get along beautifully.”

* Jerry Seinfeld: “He’s just brilliant. He’s always thinking about what he can write and do and how he can act. He’s a darling man.”

* Jason Alexander, “George Costanza”: “I told him and the world that I would adopt him anytime. I have two sons. I would take him as a third. He’s helpful and giving and absolutely brilliant. He comes up with some wonderful ideas in the show.”

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