Helen Schiff, the character actor known for her roles in “Hail, Caesar” and “Don’t Mess with the Zohan,” died Thursday in Los Angeles from complications following surgery for an illness, her daughter Karen Ehrenberg confirmed. She was 88 years old.
Schiff has graced both the big and small screens and stages over the past 50 years, making memorable appearances in films such as The Karate Kid, Earth Girls Are Easy, Pee-wee’s Big Top, and Rocky, as well as television shows such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Modern Family, Mom, SWAT, and Good Trouble.
The actor also appeared on stage in “Lilies of the Field,” “Salaam Saleem,” “Lost in Yonkers,” and “Over the River and Through the Woods.” She played the role of Helga in the off-Broadway production of Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral.
Born in Woodmere, New York in 1937, Schiff’s career began with his first Subaru commercial in 1976, filmed with his twin sister Carol Infield Sender. Throughout her career, she has worked with Hollywood stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, James Caan, George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Sylvester Stallone, and Billy Crystal, as well as directors Steven Spielberg, Michael Mann, Jerry Zucker, John G. Avildsen, Joel and Ethan Coen, and Barry Levinson.
“Those who worked with Helen knew that she was not only a talented performer, but also a person who brought professionalism, dedication and genuine kindness to every setting,” Ehrenberg said in a statement. “She understood that every role, big or small, was an opportunity to contribute something meaningful to the story being told.”
Schiff is survived by sisters Carol Sender and Janet Maffei, children Matt Schiff, Susie Caldwell, Karen Ehrenberg, Vicki Russell, and Jenny Schiff, and grandchildren Chelsea Norton, Zach Caldwell, Robert Knight, Josh Ehrenberg, Spencer Ehrenberg, Megan Ehrenberg, and Dean Russell.
