Elsa Raven

Elsa Raven
Born
Elsa Rabinowitz

(1929-09-21)September 21, 1929
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedNovember 2, 2020(2020-11-02) (aged 91)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1961–2011

Elsa Rabinowitz (September 21, 1929 – November 2, 2020), known professionally as Elsa Raven, 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.[1]

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, whose complimentary leaflet later proves invaluable in the past. She played Ida Straus in the 1997 film Titanic along with Lew Palter, who played Isidor Straus,[2] and had a voice role in the 1981 animated film American Pop.[3]

Raven adhered to Judaism.[4] Raven died on November 2, 2020, in Los Angeles, at the age of 91.[5][6] Upon her death, she was cremated and her ashes returned to her family.[citation needed]

  1. ^ "Elsa Raven". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2013-01-31.
  2. ^ Heyer, Paul (2012). Titanic Century: Media, Myth, and the Making of a Cultural Icon. ABC-CLIO. p. 158. ISBN 9780313398155.
  3. ^ Canby, Vincent (February 13, 1981). "'American Pop' Grown-Up Animation". The New York Times. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  4. ^ "Back to the Future and Seinfeld actress Elsa Raven dies at 91". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  5. ^ Neil, Genzlinger (November 5, 2020). "Elsa Raven, 'Back to the Future' Character Actress, Dies at 91". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  6. ^ "'Back to the Future' Writer Bob Gale Pays Tribute to "Memorable" Elsa Raven | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. 5 November 2020.