Allyce Beasley

Allyce Beasley ( Tannenberg; born July 6, 1951) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as rhyming, love-struck receptionist Agnes DiPesto in the television series '' Moonlighting''. From 2001 to 2007, she was the announcer on Playhouse Disney, a morning lineup of programming for young children on Disney Channel. She appeared briefly as a guidance counselor in the comedy film ''Legally Blonde'' and played Coach's daughter, Lisa Pantusso, on ''Cheers''. She also announced the safety video during The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood and Florida.

Early life

Beasley was born in Brooklyn, New York as Allyce Tannenberg, the daughter of Marvin, a magazine cartoonist, and Harriet Tannenberg, who worked as a bookkeeper. Beasley is Jewish. She and her family moved frequently during her childhood, living in Philadelphia, Long Island, and New York City, before settling in the latter location.

She studied philosophy at SUNY Brockport, aspiring to be a poet. However, Beasley developed an interest in acting and soon shifted her focus to theater. She dropped out of college and began acting in local theater productions in New Mexico. Upon returning to New York, Beasley took drama classes under Lee Strasberg during the day while working nights as a waitress to make ends meet. Her professional surname was chosen after football player Beasley Reece. She moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1982.

Career

Television and film work

Early in her career, Beasley appeared as Coach Pantusso's daughter on ''Cheers'' and played the role of Latka Gravas' one night stand on the sitcom ''Taxi''. She also made guest appearances on crime drama ''Remington Steele'' and sitcom '' ALF''.

In 1985, she landed the role of receptionist Agnes DiPesto on '' Moonlighting'', starring opposite Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis. Beasley claims to have auditioned for the role multiple times before getting the part. For her work on ''Moonlighting'', Beasley received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1986 and 1987. Beasley continued playing the character until the series ended in 1989.

Following the end of ''Moonlighting'', Beasley was often typecast in roles similar to Agnes, which she found creatively frustrating. She was a friend of Susan Dey's character in the television film '' Lies and Lullabies'' and acted in the 1993 miniseries '' The Tommyknockers'', based on the novel by Stephen King. Beasley started appearing in films during the 1990s, having roles in '' Dream with the Fishes'' (1997) and ''Stuart Little'' (1999).

She guest starred in one episode of ''Joan of Arcadia'' as Cat Woman God. On ''Bored to Death'', she played the role of Florence, the mother of Jonathan Ames (Jason Schwartzman), and appeared on the YouTube Premium series '' Champaign ILL''.

Voice work

Beasley has also worked as a voice actress. Her first voice over work was portraying two cats in the ''Garfield'' special '' Garfield on the Town'' (1983). She is best known for her role as Miss Alordayne Grotke in the popular Disney TV series '' Recess'' (1997−2001), reprising this role in the feature film '' Recess: School's Out'' (2001) and three direct-to-video specials.

She voiced herself in an episode of ''Johnny Bravo'', made a guest appearance in the television series ''The Wild Thornberrys'', ''Extreme Ghostbusters'', '' Pound Puppies'', ''Darkwing Duck'', '' Lloyd in Space'' and ''Duckman'' in addition to voicing several characters in the video game ''EverQuest II''.

Beasley narrated for Playhouse Disney from April 16, 2001, until March 30, 2007. She was also the announcer for the safety video with Itchy and Scratchy that plays during The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood and Florida.

Stage work

During the summer of 2009, she performed onstage in ''The Drowsy Chaperone'' at Gateway Playhouse on Long Island, playing Mrs. Tottendale.

She replaced Veanne Cox in the role of Mme. Renaud/Mme. Dindon in the Tony Award-winning revival of '' La Cage aux Folles'' alongside Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge on September 14, 2010.

In the spring of 2014, Beasley portrayed Doris in the musical ''Damn Yankees'' with Lora Lee Gayer at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut.

Personal life

Beasley married photographer Christopher Sansocie in 1970. They divorced in 1972. While appearing on ''Taxi'', Beasley met actor Vincent Schiavelli. The two were married from 1985 to 1988, and had one son, Andrea Schiavelli. In 1999, Beasley married for the third time to her current husband Jim Bosche, a writer.

Beasley was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998. After undergoing a partial mastectomy and stem cell transplant, she was declared cancer free.List of breast cancer survivors
/ref>

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beasley, Allyce
1951 births
20th-century American actresses
21st-century American actresses
American film actresses
Actresses from Brooklyn
American musical theatre actresses
American television actresses
American voice actresses
Jewish American actresses
Living people
21st-century American Jews
American women comedians
Comedians from Brooklyn
Jewish American comedians
Jewish women comedians