Sondra James
Sondra James | |
---|---|
Born | Sondra Weil July 21, 1939 New York City, U.S. |
Died | September 12, 2021 New York City | (aged 82)
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1990–2021 |
Children | 2 |
Sondra James (July 21, 1939 – September 12, 2021) was an American sound coordinator and actress.
Early life
Sondra James was born Sondra Weil[1] on July 21, 1939, in the Lower East Side, New York City.[2] She graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1955 before taking a double major in anthropology and archaeology at City College of New York.[1]
Career
James began work as an actor, first starring in
James played the main role of Auntie Norma in Karl Pilkington's British comedy Sick of It; the production decided to use an American actress because there were limited elderly British actors, and these would all be recognizable to a British audience, which Pilkington felt would be distracting. He was shown a picture of James and immediately liked the look of her, knowing he didn't want the character to appear mundane.[6]
In 2020, she was one of the group of actors who brought a class-action lawsuit against SAG-AFTRA Health Fund for imposing penalties on performers over 65 in a health plan restructure supposedly helping cover COVID-19.[7]
Personal life
James had two sons, Michael and Marc. She had five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren at the time of her death. She was a fan of the New York Yankees.[1][3]
Death
James died at her home in New York City on September 12, 2021, aged 82, from lung cancer, which had been diagnosed five months earlier.[3]
Filmography
Film
Sourced to BFI and TV Guide unless noted[4][8]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1982 | Muggable Mary: Street Cop | Neighbor Woman | Television film |
1992 | This Is My Life | Additional voices | |
1992 | Whispers in the Dark | Additional voices | |
1995 | Mighty Aphrodite | Operator; Chorus voices | |
2000 | Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 | Actor/Leader | |
2000 | Cecil B. Demented | Additional voices | |
2004 | Alfie | Mrs. Liberman | |
2004 | Because of Winn-Dixie | Additional voices | |
2005 | Robots | Additional voices | |
2006 | The Devil Wears Prada | Additional voices | |
2006 | Everyone's Hero | Additional voices[9] | |
2008 | Marley & Me | Additional voices | |
2008 | Breaking Upwards | ||
2009 | Everybody's Fine | Additional voices | |
2009 | Taking Woodstock | Margaret | |
2010 | Going the Distance | Elderly Woman | |
2010 | Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps | Lady at Book Signing | |
2011 | What's Your Number? | ||
2011 | Top Cat: The Movie | Additional voices | |
2012 | The Dictator | Friendly Customer | |
2012 | Sleepwalk with Me | Colleen | [10] |
2012 | Ice Age: Continental Drift | Additional voices[9] | |
2012 | Putzel | Mrs. Hertzel | |
2014 | America 1979 | Mrs. Ambrose | Short film |
2014 | The Cobbler | Anna Stevens | [11] |
2014 | Growing Up and Other Lies | Barb | [11] |
2016 | C Street | Mrs. Plumbcot | |
2016 | Don't Think Twice | Bonnie | |
2016 | Kikoriki: Legend of the Golden Dragon
|
Olga[12] | Voice; animation |
2017 | Lost Cat Corona | Sal's Mother | |
2017 | Spider-Man: Homecoming | Marjorie | |
2017 | Keep the Change | Sarah's Grandma | |
2017 | Active Adults | Rose | [11] |
2018 | The Escape of Prisoner 614 | Maria | |
2018 | Lez Bomb | ||
2018 | Kikoriki: Deja Vu
|
Olga | Voice; animation[12][9] |
2019 | Joker | Dr. Sally Friedman | |
2019 | The Climb | Grandma | |
2020 | Shiva Baby | Maureen | |
2021 | Making the Day | [13] | |
2021 | Dating and New York | Real Estate Mogul | [11] |
2021 | The Tender Bar | Grandma Moehringer | Posthumous release[14] |
Television
Sourced to Deadline and TV Guide unless noted[3][8]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Agnes Rosen | episode: "Hysteria"[15] |
2000 | Sex and the City | ||
2001 | Law & Order | ||
2003 | Kikoriki
|
Olga | Voice (Fun Union Dub) |
2003 | Pokémon | Nanny | Voice; animation; episode: "147"[12] |
2003 | Squeak! | Voice; animation[citation needed] | |
2012 | Girls | ||
2013 | Blue Bloods | ||
2014 | Lucky 7 | ||
2014 | The Mysteries of Laura | ||
2016 | Crisis in Six Scenes | ||
2018–2020 | Sick of It | Auntie Norma | Main role[16] |
2020 | What We Do in the Shadows | Joan | Episode: "Brain Scramblies"[17] |
30 Rock | [2] | ||
Ray Donovan | [2] | ||
At Home with Amy Sedaris | [2] |
Commercials
Year | Company | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | BMW | Backseat Grandma | BMW X5 commercials: "Awkward Grandma", "Moonroof", "Heads Up"[18] |
Video games
Sourced to Anime News Network unless noted[12]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Grand Theft Auto III | Ma Cipriani | |
2005 | Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories |
Stage
Sourced to The Hollywood Reporter unless noted[2]
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1996 | Funny Girl | National tour |
2002 | The Tale of the Allergist's Wife | Tour |
As sound department
Film
Sourced to BFI unless noted[4]
Television
Sourced to Deadline unless noted[3]
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1991–1995 | The Heroic Legend of Arslan | [12] |
1998–2004 | Sex and the City | [1] |
2012 | Royal Pains | 6 episodes[8] |
Bored to Death | ||
Boardwalk Empire | ||
Smash | ||
Damages | ||
Nurse Jackie | [1] |
References
- ^ a b c d e f Wild, Stephi. "Actress Sondra James Dies at 82". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Barnes, Mike (2021-09-17). "Sondra James, Actress and Founder of the Loop Group Speakeasy, Dies at 82". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ a b c d e Hipes, Patrick (September 13, 2021). "Sondra James Dies: 'Joker' And 'Sick Of It' Actor, Sound Department Veteran Was 82". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
- ^ BFI. Archived from the originalon May 28, 2016. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ "Sondra James, Legendary Character Actor on 'Blue Bloods,' 'Law & Order' and Others, Dead at 82". Outsider. 2021-09-14. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ "Karl Pilkington interview - Sick Of It". British Comedy Guide. 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ Cullins, Ashley (December 1, 2020). "SAG-AFTRA Health Plan Facing Class Action Over Cuts to Coverage". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Sondra James". TV Guide. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Sondra James (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ Blackburn, Joshua (2012-08-22). "[Interview] Mike Birbiglia On Crafting His Directorial Debut 'Sleepwalk With Me'". The Film Stage. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ a b c d "Sondra James". Moviefone. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ a b c d e "Sondra JAMES - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ Cristi, A. A. "MAKING THE DAY To Premiere At Cinequest Film Festival". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (2021-09-22). "'The Tender Bar': Amazon Sets Release Date For George Clooney-Helmed Pic Starring Ben Affleck, Tye Sheridan & More – First Look Image". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ "Sondra James". betaseries.com. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
- ^ "Sick Of It has been renewed for series 2". Den of Geek. 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ "WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Recap (S02E03): Brain Scramblies". Geek Girl Authority. 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ Widmar, Aaron (2015-02-24). "Who Is the Actress Playing the Awkward Grandma in BMW's X5 Commercials?". The News Wheel. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
External links
- Sondra James at IMDb