Alice Nunn
Encyclopedia
Alice Elizabeth Nunn, was an American
film
and theatre
actress. She was born in Jacksonville, Florida
and died at her apartment in West Hollywood, California
. Although she played many roles across her 31-year career, she is primarily remembered for her role as Large Marge, the scary lady truck driver
, in Tim Burton
's 1985 film Pee-wee's Big Adventure
, which is number 5 on the IFC
list of the 25 scariest moments in non-horror film history.
. She studied at the Wesleyan Conservatory and School of Fine Arts. Subsequently she attended the American Theater Wing. She did some radio work and she finally got an acting part in New Faces of 1956. She also played in the theatre alongside Shelley Berman
and Nancy Walker
.
She became a character actress
and first appeared on television in episodes of Petticoat Junction
. She went on to appear in numerous sitcoms
such as Camp Runamuck
where she played Mahala May Gruenecker, the head counselor of Camp Divine, and the chief opponent of Commander Wivenhoe played by series star Arch Johnson. In her sitcom appearances during the 1960s, Nunn often played strong-willed and edgy women but in a humorous vein.
Nunn's first film appearance was in 1971 in Johnny Got His Gun
, where she played the role of a nurse. She was a regular cast member of the Tony Orlando and Dawn
variety show
and played small parts in films such as the "Fat Lady" in Mame
in 1974 and Airport 1975
where she appeared as the "Passenger with a Dog". In 1978, she appeared as "Mrs. Callahan" in Brian De Palma
's The Fury. In 1981, she played the role of the servant Helga in Mommie Dearest
.
Her most memorable role was as Large Marge, the lady truck driver who frightens Pee-wee Herman
in the 1985 film Pee-wee's Big Adventure
, providing one of the scariest moments in non-horror film history. In the 1986 film Trick or Treat
, she played Mrs. Sylvia Cavell, and in 1987, she appeared in Who's That Girl with Madonna
. Her last role was that of Nurse Palmer in the 1987 film Three O'Clock High
.
In 1988, Nunn died at her apartment in West Hollywood, California, of a heart attack
at age 60.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
actress. She was born in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and died at her apartment in West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, a city of Los Angeles County, California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984, with a population of 34,399 at the 2010 census. 41% of the city's population is made up of gay men according to a 2002 demographic analysis by Sara Kocher Consulting for the City of West Hollywood...
. Although she played many roles across her 31-year career, she is primarily remembered for her role as Large Marge, the scary lady truck driver
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
, in Tim Burton
Tim Burton
Timothy William "Tim" Burton is an American film director, film producer, writer and artist. He is famous for dark, quirky-themed movies such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet...
's 1985 film Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Pee-wee's Big Adventure is a 1985 American adventure comedy film directed by Tim Burton in his full-length debut and starring Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman. Reubens also co-wrote the script with Phil Hartman and Michael Varhol. Supporting roles are played by Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane...
, which is number 5 on the IFC
Independent Film Channel
The Independent Film Channel is an American cable TV network that airs independent film and related programming. IFC programming includes commercially interrupted feature-length films, original documentaries, shorts, animated series, original series, acquired series, and content exclusively for...
list of the 25 scariest moments in non-horror film history.
Life and career
Alice Nunn was born in Jacksonville in 1927. Her parents were N.G. Nunn and Alice Bush. She showed an early interest in the performing arts and took part in school productions of My Sister EileenMy Sister Eileen
My Sister Eileen originated as a series of short stories by Ruth McKenney that eventually evolved into a book, a play, a musical, a radio play , two films, and a CBS television series in the 1960-1961 season....
. She studied at the Wesleyan Conservatory and School of Fine Arts. Subsequently she attended the American Theater Wing. She did some radio work and she finally got an acting part in New Faces of 1956. She also played in the theatre alongside Shelley Berman
Shelley Berman
Sheldon "Shelley" Berman is an American comedian, actor, writer, teacher, lecturer, and poet.- Early life :Berman was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Irene and Nathan Berman.- Career :...
and Nancy Walker
Nancy Walker
Nancy Walker was an American actress and comedienne of stage, screen, and television. She was also a film and television director...
.
She became a character actress
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
and first appeared on television in episodes of Petticoat Junction
Petticoat Junction
Petticoat Junction is an American situation comedy produced by Filmways which originally aired on CBS from 1963 to 1970. The series is one of three interrelated shows about rural characters created by Paul Henning; the others are The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres.The setting for the series...
. She went on to appear in numerous sitcoms
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
such as Camp Runamuck
Camp Runamuck
Camp Runamuck is an American sitcom which aired on NBC during the 1965-1966 television season. The series was created and executive produced by David Swift, and aired for 26 episodes.-Synopsis:...
where she played Mahala May Gruenecker, the head counselor of Camp Divine, and the chief opponent of Commander Wivenhoe played by series star Arch Johnson. In her sitcom appearances during the 1960s, Nunn often played strong-willed and edgy women but in a humorous vein.
Nunn's first film appearance was in 1971 in Johnny Got His Gun
Johnny Got His Gun (film)
Johnny Got His Gun is a 1971 anti-war film based on the novel of the same name written and directed by Dalton Trumbo and starring Timothy Bottoms, Jason Robards and Donald Sutherland with Diane Varsi...
, where she played the role of a nurse. She was a regular cast member of the Tony Orlando and Dawn
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Tony Orlando and Dawn was a pop music group that was popular in the 1970s. Their signature hits include "Candida", "Knock Three Times", "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree", and "He Don't Love You ".-History:...
variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
and played small parts in films such as the "Fat Lady" in Mame
Mame (film)
Mame is a 1974 musical film based on the 1966 Broadway musical of the same name, directed by Gene Saks, written by Paul Zindel, and starring Lucille Ball and Beatrice Arthur.Warner Bros...
in 1974 and Airport 1975
Airport 1975
Airport 1975 is a 1974 disaster film and the first sequel to the successful 1970 film Airport. It stars Charlton Heston and Karen Black and is directed by Jack Smight....
where she appeared as the "Passenger with a Dog". In 1978, she appeared as "Mrs. Callahan" in Brian De Palma
Brian De Palma
Brian Russell De Palma is an American film director and writer. In a career spanning over 40 years, he is probably best known for his suspense and crime thriller films, including such box office successes as the horror film Carrie, Dressed to Kill, Scarface, The Untouchables, and Mission:...
's The Fury. In 1981, she played the role of the servant Helga in Mommie Dearest
Mommie Dearest (film)
Mommie Dearest is a 1981 American biographical drama film about Joan Crawford, starring Faye Dunaway. The film was directed by Frank Perry. The story was adapted for the screen by Robert Getchell, Tracy Hotchner, Frank Perry, and Frank Yablans, based on the 1978 autobiography of the same name by...
.
Her most memorable role was as Large Marge, the lady truck driver who frightens Pee-wee Herman
Pee-wee Herman
Pee-wee Herman is a comic fictional character created and portrayed by American comedian Paul Reubens. He is best known for his two television series and film series during the 1980s. The childlike Pee-wee Herman character developed as a stage act that quickly led to an HBO special in 1981...
in the 1985 film Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Pee-wee's Big Adventure is a 1985 American adventure comedy film directed by Tim Burton in his full-length debut and starring Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman. Reubens also co-wrote the script with Phil Hartman and Michael Varhol. Supporting roles are played by Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane...
, providing one of the scariest moments in non-horror film history. In the 1986 film Trick or Treat
Trick or Treat (1986 film)
Trick or Treat is a 1986 horror film by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, starring Marc Price, Tony Fields, and Lisa Orgolini, with special appearances by Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne.-Plot:...
, she played Mrs. Sylvia Cavell, and in 1987, she appeared in Who's That Girl with Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
. Her last role was that of Nurse Palmer in the 1987 film Three O'Clock High
Three O'Clock High
Three O'Clock High is a 1987 high-school comedy film, directed by Phil Joanou, written by Richard Christian Matheson and Thomas Szollosi, and produced by Aaron Spelling. It was filmed at Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah, but, in part, was inspired by Joanou's own experiences at La Canada High School...
.
In 1988, Nunn died at her apartment in West Hollywood, California, of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at age 60.