Shirley Prestia Explained

Shirley Prestia
Birth Name:Shirley Rose Prestia
Birth Date:18 August 1947
Birth Place:New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Death Place:New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1976–2005

Shirley Rose Prestia (August 18, 1947 – October 8, 2011) was an American actress. She guest starred in a number of notable television series including Family Ties, Cheers, St. Elsewhere, The Golden Girls, The Facts of Life, 227, Mr. Belvedere, Babylon 5, L.A. Law, NYPD Blue, Step by Step, The Practice and among other series. Prestia also had recurring roles on the sitcoms Home Improvement (as Delores) and Dharma & Greg (as Janet).[1]

She appeared in the films Final Analysis (1992), Hoffa (1992), Species (1995), Leave It to Beaver (1997), Wag the Dog (1997) and What Women Want (2000).[2]

Life and early career

Prestia was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She graduated from Mount Carmel Academy high school. She is an alumna of California State University, Chico and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts. Prestia was also one of the original members of The Groundlings comedy troupe.

Later years and death

Prestia was diagnosed with brain cancer . Due to the illness, she retired from acting, with her last acting credit appearing in the pilot episode of the sitcom The War at Home in 2005. She died on October 8, 2011, at age 64, in her hometown of New Orleans, after eight years of living with the disease.[3]

Filmography

Notes
1982PandemoniumMorgue Attendant
1986Hollywood ZapCashier
1991Write to KillPolice MatronDirect-to-video film
1992Final AnalysisD.A. Kaufman
1992HoffaHoffa's Secretary
1995SpeciesVictoria Roth, Ph.D.
1997Leave It to BeaverClaire Hensler
1997Wag the DogCrossfire Moderator
2000What Women WantCoffee Shop Customer
2001The Shrink Is InWoman in Elevator
2002Mackenheim(unknown)Short film
Notes
1976How to Break Up a Happy Divorce(uncredited)Television film
1982Adams HouseMrs. DruckerUnsold CBS pilot
1983Bare Essence(unknown)Episode: "Hour Four"
1984Cheeseball Presents(unknown)TV special, also co-writer
1984St. ElsewhereJudith PhelpsEpisode: "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"
1985E/RIreneRecurring role, 5 episodes
1985Family TiesReceptionistEpisode: "Birth of a Keaton: Part 2"
1985BensonMrs. RiddleEpisode: "The Oval Office"
1985Santa BarbaraPeter's LandladyEpisode #1.172
1985FameThe NurseEpisode: "Reflections"
1986Mr. BelvedereMrs. RondanelloEpisode: "The Teacher"
1986The Golden GirlsZeldaEpisode: "The Way We Meet"
1988The Facts of LifeMiss O' DonnellEpisode: "The Beginning of the End"
1988Mama's FamilyLouise KambeckEpisode: "Found Money"
1988CheersNurseEpisode: "How to Win Friends and Electrocute People"
1989On the TelevisionVarious charactersAppeared in 4 episodes
1989Married... with ChildrenMarshaEpisode: "Here's Looking at You, Kid"
1989227Peggy Ann GarrisonEpisode: "A Pampered Tale"
1989Night CourtMadame RochelleEpisode: "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Stephen King, Stephen King"
1989Mr. BelvedereWoman #2Episode: "Fixed"
1989ALFDeloresEpisode: "It's My Party"
1990ThirtysomethingFocus Group MemberEpisode: "Pulling Away"
1990Knots LandingShopper #1Episode: "Do Not Attempt to Remove"
1990The Fanelli BoysNina DonatelliiEpisodes: "Pilot" and "A Very Fanelli Christmas"
1990Ann Jillian(unknown)Episode: "A Homecoming"
1991Brooklyn BridgeLibrarianEpisode: "Boys of Summer"
1992Baby TalkIreneEpisode: "The Littlest Shoplifter"
1992For Richer, for PoorerWaitressTelevision film
1992A Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus StoryThe BeauticianTelevision film
1993Almost HomeFemale CustomerEpisode: "Girl and Boy"
1993SistersMargaretEpisode: "Dear Georgie"
1993L.A. LawNina CoffeyEpisode: "Foreign Co-respondent"
1993Mad About YouTouristEpisode: "Natural History"
1993Family AlbumMrs. FergusonEpisode: "Salon, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehn, Goodbye"
1993Joe's LifeDr. SykesEpisode: "You Can't Take This Job... Period"
1994Step by StepBetty JenkinsEpisode: "Pretty Woman"
1994The MommiesCalorie Crunchers RepEpisode: "The Exercist"
1994 Jose's SecretaryTelevision film
1994MartinMadame AnacondaEpisode: "In Search of Martin"
1994HardballBird WomanEpisode: "Whose Strike Is It Anyway?"
1994Party of FiveDemanding CustomerEpisode: "Worth Waiting For"
1994NYPD BlueJury ForepersonEpisodes: "Trials and Tribulations" and "For Whom the Skill Rolls"
1995Platypus Man Nurse SimmsEpisode: "The Apartment Show"
1995Sherman OaksKacEpisode: "Killer Breasts"
1995–1997Night Stand with Dick DietrickDr. Mattie GelmanRecurring role, 5 episodes
1995–1999Home ImprovementDeloresRecurring role, 8 episodes
1995Hope & GloriaEleanoreEpisode: "The Dupree Family Christmas"
1995Can't Hurry LoveSupervisorEpisode: "A Very Kafka Christmas"
1996Dream OnMaureenEpisode: "Springtime for Tupper"
1996Babylon 5Barbara CooperEpisode: "Shadow Dancing"
1996Caroline in the CityRuth GlickmanEpisode: "Caroline and the Nice Jewish Boy"
1997FrasierSaleswomanEpisode: "My Fair Frasier"
1997Alright AlreadyCharlotteEpisode: "Again with the Funeral"
1998Suddenly SusanShirleyEpisode: "Not in This Life"
1998Murphy BrownWomanEpisode: "Second Time Around"
1998The Tony Danza ShowAunt LouiseEpisode: "A Christmas Story"
1999Will & GraceMrs. PressmanEpisode: "Election"
1999The PracticeAttorney Abby SmytheEpisode: "Legacy"
2000CursedSecretaryPilot episode
2000Time of Your LifeArnettaEpisodes: "The Time They Decide to Date" and "The Time They Cheated"
2001CharmedFran PetersEpisode: "Wrestling with Demons"
2001Family LawJudgeEpisode: "The Quality of Mercy"
2001Sabrina the Teenage WitchBettyEpisodes: "Sabrina's Got Spirit" and "Finally!"
2001Ally McBealSaleswomanEpisode: "The Wedding"
2001Curb Your EnthusiasmCar Customer #3Episode: "The Car Salesman"
2001The Education of Max BickfordJoannaPilot episode
2002Dharma & GregJanetRecurring role, 5 episodes
2002Half & HalfGraceEpisode: "The Big Award Episode"
2002What I Like About YouAunt WandaEpisode: "Thanksgiving"
2002NikkiSalesclerkEpisode: "Welcome to the Rest of Your Life"
2003The Jamie Kennedy ExperimentHerselfEpisode #2.15
2003Rent ControlAunt RoseTelevision film
2004MemronJanet KelsoTelevision film
2004Judge McGonagleEpisode: "Gypsy Road"
2005Jake in ProgressAngelaEpisode: "Sign Language"
2005The War at HomeVicki's MomPilot episode

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stars From Home Improvement You Didn't Know Died. Phil. Archbold. December 20, 2021. Nicki Swift.
  2. https://archive.today/20130130153528/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/57721/Shirley-Prestia/filmography Shirley Prestia Movies & TV
  3. http://obits.nola.com/obituaries/nola/obituary.aspx?pid=154022426#fbLoggedOut Shirley Rose Prestia Obituary