Staff Reports
Actress Anne Schedeen, best known to millions as Kate Tanner on the sitcom ALF, has died at 77. Her family announced her passing in a Facebook post that praised her “creative energy” and — unexpectedly — listed a “burning hatred for Trump” among her traits. The line jumped out and the internet did what it does: it noticed, reposted and argued about it by the bucketful.
Family Tribute Raises Eyebrows
The family’s public post is the news hook here: it said she “passed peacefully” and included that unusual political aside. It is important to note the wording came from the family’s Facebook post; there’s no public evidence Anne Schedeen herself wrote or approved that phrase. Even so, an obituary-style notice plastered with partisan bile feels tasteless to many — and rightly so. Funerals and obituaries are for memories and gratitude, not campaign rhetoric or a last-minute political mic drop.
What We Know About Her Passing
Tom Markley, Schedeen’s longtime agent, confirmed her death and remembered her as “a true artist and friend. One of a kind. I’ll miss her.” No cause of death has been disclosed by the family or representatives. The family asked that donations be made to Habitat for Humanity in lieu of flowers, a charitable request that deserves attention amid the noise about the post’s wording.
Her Work on ALF Deserves the Spotlight
Schedeen’s career stretched back decades, but she is forever tied to ALF and the role of Kate Tanner — a practical mom trying to hide a couch-sized puppet in the garage. The show’s technical challenges and long shoots are part of TV lore, and those professional achievements deserve remembrance now more than ever. Reducing a life to a political zinger on social media cheapens what she built on stage and screen.
Remember the Person, Not the Punchline
Yes, politics are loud. Yes, social media rewards the strange and the spicy. But decency calls for letting the family grieve and letting Schedeen’s work stand on its own. If you admired her as a television actor, honor that legacy by recalling the laughs she gave viewers and by considering the family’s charity request. And if you’re tempted to make a political point at someone’s obituary, maybe take a breath — and a look in the mirror — before typing.
