Andrea Elson Explained

Andrea Elson
Birth Name:Andrea Hope Elson
Birth Date:March 6, 1969
Birth Place:New York City, New York, U. S.
Known For:ALF
Whiz Kids
Occupation:Actress and model
Children:2
Years Active:1983–1998

Andrea Hope Elson (born March 6, 1969) is an American retired child model and actress, best known for her science fiction television roles as Alice Tyler on the CBS adventure series Whiz Kids and as Lynn Tanner on the NBC comedy series ALF, which garnered her two Youth in Film Award nominations in 1986 and 1989.

Early life

Elson was born in New York City on March 6, 1969.[1] [2] She grew up in New York City with her parents and an older sister named Samantha (born circa 1966).[1] [2] While she was a child, the family moved to San Diego, California, for four years before returning to Westchester County, New York.[2]

Career

Elson began her professional career as a child model and actress, appearing in a number of commercials, print advertisements and community theatre productions in San Diego.[2]

In 1983, after relocating with her family to Los Angeles, Elson made her television debut at the age of 14 with a co-starring role on the CBS mystery-adventure series, Whiz Kids.[1] [2] On the series, she portrayed Alice Tyler, co-starring with Matthew Laborteaux, Todd Porter, and Jeffrey Jacquet as a group of teenage detectives who solve crimes and bring perpetrators to justice with the help of a talking computer.[3]

Although Whiz Kids lasted only one season, Elson's role as Alice established the 14-year-old and her teenage co-stars as prominent fixtures in the various teen magazines of the era, including 16 magazine, Bop and Teen Beat, among others.[1] [2] [4] The role also led to all the teenage Whiz Kids crossing over into a 1983 episode of Simon & Simon titled "Fly the Alibi Skies".[5]

In 1986, Elson landed a co-starring role on the NBC science-fiction situation comedy ALF. She portrayed Lynn Tanner, the teenage daughter in a typical middle-class suburban family who adopt a friendly extraterrestrial, performed by puppeteer Paul Fusco.[6] The series lasted four seasons and her portrayal earned her two Youth in Film Award nominations before the series' cancellation in 1990.[7] [8]

After the cancellation of ALF, Elson continued to appear in a variety of television roles, guest starring on a number of television series of the time, including Who's the Boss?, Parker Lewis Can't Lose, ABC Afterschool Special, Married... with Children, Mad About You, Step by Step, and The Young and the Restless, as well as appearing in the television films Class Cruise and Frankenstein: The College Years.[9]

Personal life

Elson married former ALF stage manager Scott Hopper in 1993. They have a daughter, Claire, and a son, Dean.[10] As of 2016, she owns and operates a yoga studio.[11]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983Simon & SimonAlice TylerEpisode: "Fly the Alibi Skies"
1983-1984Whiz KidsAlice Tyler18 episodes
1985Silver SpoonsKimberleyEpisode: "Promises, Promises"
1986-1990ALFLynn Tanner100 episodes
1987 WordplaySelf - Celebrity Panelist3 episodes
1989The New Hollywood SquaresSelf - Panelist1 episode
Class CruiseStaci PostonTelevision film
1990Who's the BossMelindaEpisode: "One Flew Over the Empty Nest"
Parker Lewis Can't LoseDeniseEpisode: "Musso & Frank"
They Came from Outer SpaceJulie CarterEpisode: "Trading Faces"
1991ABC Afterschool SpecialLizEpisode: "The Less Than Perfect Daughter"
Married PeopleMadelineEpisode: "Dance Ten, Friends Zero"
Frankenstein: The College YearsAndi RichmondTelevision film
1993Married... with ChildrenHeidiEpisode: "Wedding Show"
1994Mad About YouJoanneEpisode: "Cold Feet"
1996Step by StepBonnieEpisode: "Forever Young"
KirkEpisode: "Baby, You Can Drive My Car"
1997Men Behaving BadlyGirl #1Episode: "It's Good to Be Dead"
1998The Young and the RestlessDebbie Thompson
2001E! True Hollywood StoryHerselfEpisode: "The Young and the Restless"
2002I Love the '80sHerselfTV Miniseries
2020Forgotten TVHerselfEpisode: "The Whiz Kid Stars Speak" Podcast series

Soundtrack

YearProductionNotes
1986-1987ALFTV Series
Episode: "A.L.F."
performer: "Proud Mary"
TV Series
Episode: "On the Road Again"
performer: "99 Bottles of Beer" (uncredited)
Episode: "Try to Remember: Part 2"
performer: "Proud Mary" (uncredited)

Awards

Year Award Category Work Result
1986Youth in Film Award
(now known as the Young Artist Award)
Exceptional Young Actress in a New Television Comedy SeriesALF
1989Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Comedy SeriesALF
1989Bravo Otto AwardBest Female TV StarALF

Notes and References

  1. Those Wonderful Whiz Kids . . December 1983 . 39. Laufer Media.
  2. Who's Who on 'Whiz Kids' . . February 1984 . 11–13 . Ideal Publishing Corporation.
  3. Web site: 'Whiz Kids' a little far-fetched, but it's worth accessing. Mike Boone. October 12, 2013. The Montreal Gazette.
  4. Meet Todd Porter, He's Whiz Kids' Ham. . May 1984. 54 . 16 Magazine, Inc..
  5. Web site: Simon & Simon – Fly The Alibi Skies. CBS. October 27, 1983. January 16, 2013. Hulu. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006085530/http://www.hulu.com/watch/45558#i0,p4,s3,d0. October 6, 2014. dead.
  6. Web site: ALF – A.L.F.. NBC. September 22, 1986. January 16, 2013. Hulu. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006085530/http://www.hulu.com/watch/45558#i0,p4,s3,d0. October 6, 2014. dead.
  7. Web site: Eighth Annual Youth in Film Awards 1985-1986 . January 16, 2013 . Young Artist Awards . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110403132101/http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms8.htm . April 3, 2011 .
  8. Web site: Tenth Annual Youth in Film Awards 1987-1988 . January 16, 2013 . Young Artist Awards . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150716012647/http://youngartistawards.org/pastnoms10.htm . July 16, 2015 .
  9. Web site: Andrea Elson: Credits. January 16, 2013. TV Guide.
  10. Web site: What Ever Happened To Andrea Elson From Alf?. December 28, 2023. Ross. Tyson. November 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231228113916/https://nedhardy.com/2023/05/11/andrea-elson/. December 28, 2023.
  11. Web site: Andrea Elson (@AndreaElson1) | Twitter. May 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190524120833/https://twitter.com/andreaelson1. May 24, 2019.