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‘Alf’ Star Anne Schedeen, 77, Dies; Family Requests Charity Donations

6/15/2026

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Summary

Anne Schedeen Dies

Anne Schedeen, 77, the actress who played Kate Tanner on NBC’s “Alf,” died, with her family announcing it on Facebook.
The family said the cause of death was not immediately released.
She is survived by husband Christopher Barrett, daughter Taylor Barrett, and daughter-in-law Hilary Flynn.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked fans to donate to Habitat for Humanity and to raise a margarita in her honor.

Summary

Kate Tanner Molded

Kate Tanner role created a new sitcom-mother template that mixed calm authority with subtle humor.
Critics say the performance shaped later TV mothers such as Carol Brady and Claire Dunphy.
She has publicly declared a burning hatred for U.S. President Donald Trump.
Her mother enrolled her in youth drama classes at age six, launching a four-decade acting career.

History

Historical Context

The Brady Bunch, which debuted on ABC on September 26 1969 and ran 117 episodes, created the modern TV mother model embodied by Carol Brady. That template shaped later sitcom moms such as Anne Schedeen’s Kate Tanner on ALF, whose 2024 death underscores how the archetype now extends to charitable activism, echoing the show’s lasting cultural impact.

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Anne Schedeen Dies

Anne Schedeen, 77, the actress who played Kate Tanner on NBC’s “Alf,” died, with her family announcing it on Facebook.
The family said the cause of death was not immediately released.
She is survived by husband Christopher Barrett, daughter Taylor Barrett, and daughter-in-law Hilary Flynn.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked fans to donate to Habitat for Humanity and to raise a margarita in her honor.

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