Estelle Harris dies: Estelle Costanza on Seinfeld was 93

Deadline

Harris, best known for her exaggerated shrill and grating voice, died Saturday of natural causes two days shy of her 94th birthday. She appeared on 27 episodes of Seinfeld as Estelle Costanza, George Costanza's overbearing mom. (The character wasn't named after her.) "One of my favorite people has passed - my tv mama, Estelle Harris," tweeted Jason Alexander, who played George. "The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. I adore you, Estelle. Love to your family. Serenity now and always." Harris came to acting later in life, landing her first screen credit a year before she turned 50. In addition to Seinfeld, Harris recurred on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and lent her voice to Kim Possible, Family Guy and The Proud Family. She also played herself on Curb Your Enthusiasm for the Seinfeld table read episode in 2009. “Her kindness, passion, sensitivity, humor, empathy and love were practically unrivaled, and she will be terribly missed by all those who knew her," her son Glen Harris tells Deadline.