| Alison La Placa | |
| Birth Date: | 16 December 1959 |
| Birth Place: | Lincolnshire, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Years Active: | 1983-2019 |
Alison La Placa (born December 16, 1959)[1] is an American actress best known for playing Linda Phillips on the sitcom Duet and its spin-off Open House, and the recurring role of Joanna, Rachel Green’s boss who dated Chandler Bing on the sitcom Friends.
Born in Lincolnshire, Illinois,[2] a suburb of Chicago,[3] La Placa is a graduate of Stevenson High School.[4]
Shortly after moving to Hollywood, La Placa landed the role of Elyse in the sitcom version of Barry Levinson's dramedy movie Diner (1982).[5] [6] That pilot did not get picked up, and soon thereafter La Placa got a role in the made-for-TV movie Listen to Your Heart (1983).[7]
The following year, La Placa earned a regular spot on the short-lived sitcom Suzanne Pleshette Is Maggie Briggs (1984). She had a small role in the movie Fletch (1985),[8] and subsequently played the starring role of Linda Phillips on the sitcoms Duet (from 1987 to 1989) and Open House (from 1989 to 1990).[9] La Placa played opposite Kirstie Alley in the comedy movie Madhouse (1990), with co-star John Larroquette.[10]
La Placa has guest-starred on series including Family Ties, Cheers, ER and Desperate Housewives. She was a regular on Stat (1991), The Jackie Thomas Show (1992), Tom (1994),[11] and the NBC sitcom The John Larroquette Show (from 1994 to 1996).[12] [13] La Placa has guest-starred on animated series such as and Johnny Bravo.
She played the character Andrea in the television series Boston Legal in two episodes in season 4 ("Glow in the Dark" and "Rescue Me"). She appeared in Malcolm in the Middle as Barbara in the episode "Convention" and in a recurring role in 'Til Death as Beth, Joy's co-worker. More recently, she guest starred in the CBS sitcom Mom.
She has been married to television actor/director Philip Charles MacKenzie (her co-star on Open House) since 1992.[14]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Voyage of the Rock Aliens | Diane | Credited as Alison Laplaca | |
| 1985 | Fletch | Pan Am Clerk | ||
| 1990 | Madhouse | Claudia |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Listen to Your Heart | Lynn | Television film | |
| 1984 | Diner | Elyse | Television short | |
| 1984 | Maggie Briggs | Melanie Bitterman | Episode: "A New Leaf" | |
| 1984 | Family Ties | Barbara | Episode: "Fabric Smarts" | |
| 1985 | Cheers | Paula Nelson | Episode: "Behind Every Great Man" | |
| 1985 | Brothers | Annie Todson | Episode: "The Shoop Shoop Shop" | |
| 1985 | Murder: By Reason of Insanity | Janet Landry | Television film (credited as Alison LaPlaca) | |
| 1986 | Remington Steele | Joan Kendall | Episode: "Steele in the Running" | |
| 1986 | Second Serve | Nightclub Singer | Television film | |
| 1987 | Our House | Ann Tollfeson | Episode: "The Best Intentions" | |
| 1987 | Fame | Ms. Audrey Fleming | Episode: "The Crimson Blade" | |
| 1987 | The $25,000 Pyramid | Herself | Aired November 23, 1987 to November 27, 1987 | |
| 1987-1989 | Duet | Linda Phillips | Main role (seasons 1-3) | |
| 1989-1990 | Open House | Linda Phillips | Main role (season 1) | |
| 1991 | Stat | Dr. Elizabeth Newberry | Main role (season 1) | |
| 1991 | In The Nick of Time | Susan Rosewell | Television film | |
| 1992-1993 | The Jackie Thomas Show | Laura Miller | Main role (season 1) | |
| 1994 | Baby-Doll / Mary Louise Dahl | Voice, episode: "Baby-Doll" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) | ||
| 1994 | Tom | Dorothy Graham | Main role (season 1) | |
| 1994-1996 | The John Larroquette Show | Catherine Merrick | Recurring role; 49 episodes | |
| 1997 | Duckman | Marion | Voice, episode: "With Friends Like These" | |
| 1997 | Temporarily Yours | Lily Greer | Episode: "By Design" | |
| 1997 | Johnny Bravo | Lois/Brunette | Voice, episode: "Going Batty/Berry the Butler/Red Faced in the White House" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) | |
| 1997 | Friends | Joanna | Recurring role; 3 episodes (credited as Alison LaPlaca) | |
| 1998 | 7th Heaven | Carolyn Fulton | Episode: "...And a Nice Chianti" | |
| 1999 | Hercules | Additional voices | Episode: "Hercules and the Odyssey Experience" | |
| 2000 | Malcolm in the Middle | Barbara | Episode: "Convention" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) | |
| 2001 | Nathan's Choice | Pilot | Television short | |
| 2002 | ER | Female Lawyer | Episode: "Lockdown" | |
| 2006 | Desperate Housewives | Rita Patterson | Episode: "The Miracle Song" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) | |
| 2007 | The O.C. | Dr. James | Episode: "The Groundhog Day" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) | |
| 2007 | Grey's Anatomy | Mrs. Nolston | Recurring role; 2 episodes (credited as Alison LaPlaca) | |
| 2008 | Boston Legal | Andrea Michele | Recurring role; 2 episodes (credited as Alison LaPlaca) | |
| 2008-2010 | 'Til Death | Beth | Recurring role; 3 episodes (credited as Alison LaPlaca) | |
| 2009 | Lie to Me | Diane Ktretschmer | Episode: "Do No Harm" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) | |
| 2009 | Without a Trace | Mary Whitman | Episode: "Voir Dire" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) | |
| 2010 | 15 Minutes | Goldie | Television short | |
| 2011 | Man Up! | Caroll | Episode: "Acceptance" | |
| 2012 | Up All Night | Gail Reinhold | Episode: "Preschool Auction" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) | |
| 2014 | Mom | Louanne | Episode: "Forged Resumes and the Recommended Dosage" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |