Marcia Strassman passed away on October 25, 2014, following a seven-year battle with cancer. She was 66 years old. Strassman carried an important part of the Disney legacy during the 90s and 2000s, starring as the loving but often exasperated Diane Szalinski, wife of inventor Wayne Szalinski, who invents a shrink ray and ends up shrinking the kids, the audience, themselves, and blowing up the baby for good measure.
But many of us remember Strassman for her earlier role as Julie Kotter, wife of the titular character on the 1970s sitcom “Welcome Back Kotter”, which launched John Travolta’s acting career. Julie was a good straight man for her wacky husband, much like in the “Honey…” movies. Julie’s Famous Tuna Casserole was reviled by everyone in the show. She also appeared as Nurse Cutler in “M.A.S.H.”
From 2010 to 2013, she was a member of the National Board of the Screen Actors’ Guild. She was remembered by friends as a champion for good, even before her illness. Millennials will probably remember her best as the voices of Harryette on “Aaahh!!! Real Monsters” and Miss Appleby on “Rugrats”.
Her family has requested that donations be made to breast cancer organizations in her memory.
Please join us in warmly remembering Marcia Strassman below.