Elmarie Wendel

Elmarie Louise Wendel (November 23, 1928 – July 21, 2018) was an American actress and singer whose career spanned Broadway, television, and film. She is perhaps best remembered for her role as the eccentric landlady Mrs. Dubcek on the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun.

Wendel was born on a farm in Howard County, Iowa, the child of musical parents and one of five siblings. Her early years were spent traveling across the Midwest, where she and her sisters performed in clubs and concert halls, including the Grand Ole Opry. She eventually relocated to New York City, where she built her stage career.

Her Broadway work came in 1957, when she appeared in two productions: Shinbone Alley and the musical Copper and Brass. Her stage credits also included Wonderful Town, Cole Porter Revisited, Gigi, and the original 1959 off-Broadway production of Little Mary Sunshine, which starred Eileen Brennan and John McMartin. A national touring production of Annie later brought her to Los Angeles, where she transitioned into film and television work.

On 3rd Rock from the Sun, Wendel appeared in approximately 70 episodes between 1996 and 2001. She also held a recurring role as Gina, an assembly line co-worker on George Lopez, and appeared in the recurring role of Peg on General Hospital beginning in 2008. Her additional television credits included Seinfeld, Murphy Brown, Murder She Wrote, Love & War, and Empty Nest. Her film appearances included And the Band Played On and Far from Home.

Wendel resided in Studio City, California, at the time of her death. She was survived by her daughter, actress J.C. Wendel, who announced her mother's passing on July 21, 2018, via Instagram. No cause or place of death was disclosed.