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A sarcastic extraterrestrial from Melmac crash-landed in a suburban garage in 1986, and for a time became the king of network television. We tuned in to ALF’s hair-raising antics with the Tanner family until 1990, but once the NBC sitcom ended, an ALF animated series, a Marvel comic, a TV movie, and even a talk show were there to fill the fuzzy, alien-shaped hole in our hearts. But where is the original TV show cast today? If you're still suffering from ALF withdrawal, read on.![Paul_Fusco_Then]()
The show’s creator controlled the ALF puppet and voiced the fuzzy guy. Fusco is behind the title character, Gordon Shumway, a friendly extraterrestrial nicknamed ALF (Alien Life Form) who crash lands in the garage of a suburban family and learns about life on Earth while hiding from the government. Fusco is one of only four actors to play the same character on six different series (the others being Richard Belzer, George Wendt and John Ratzenberger). How did he do this? Because ALF made appearances on the show’s various incarnations and movies, along with ‘Matlock,’ ‘Blossom,’ and ‘Love Boat: The Next Wave.’ That's how.![Paul Fusco Now]()
Now 56, creator Fusco, who also created the show 'Spacecats,' is married with one child. But what about ALF? Viewers wondered about his fate after the show’s cliffhanger finale, but saw him escape the military base on TV movie ‘Project ALF.’ From 1996 to 2001, ALF went on to guest on various TV shows, including ‘Talk Soup’ and ‘Hollywood Squares.’ The alien saw a resurgence in popularity from 2003-2004, and starred in his own series, ‘ALF’s Hit Talk Show.’ In 2007 ALF appeared Fox News' ‘The O’Reilly Factor,’ and there are rumors of a new movie set on his home planet of Melmac. Dare we dream it to be true? Dare we do. (AP)![Max_Wright_Then]()
Before he played Willie Tanner, Wright made appearances on TV shows like ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ and was a cast member on shows including ‘Misfits of Science’ and ‘After MASH.’![Max_Wright_Now]()
After his turn as the Tanner patriarch, Wright did an arc on ‘Ghostwriter’ and guested on series like ‘Quantum Leap,’ ‘ Murphy Brown,’ ‘Friends,’ and ‘The Drew Carey Show.’ Wright, 66, has also enjoyed a stage career and was nominated for a in 1998 for his work in ‘Ivanov.’ Married with two children, the actor is in remission from lymphoma.![Anne Schedeen Then]()
Before she portrayed the Tanner mom, Kate, Schedeen had extensive TV credits, including appearances on shows like ‘Emergency!,’ ‘Three’s Company,’ and ‘Paper Dolls.’![Anne Schedeen Now]()
Now 60, Schedeen hasn't been very visible (hence the lack of a recent picture) and is still best known as Kate Tanner. After the show, she did a few TV movies (‘Praying Mantis’) and appeared on ‘Judging Amy’ for three episodes in 2001. The actress is married with one daughter. She lives in L.A., coaching actors and working as an antiquer and decorator.![Andrea_Elson_Then]()
Guest spots on ‘Simon & Simon,’ ‘Silver Spoons,’ and ‘Whiz Kids’ led the child actor to the role of Tanner daughter Lynn.![Andrea Elson Now]()
Elson wound up with an ‘ALF’ romance; she married one of the show’s production assistants! Since the show, she’s made guest appearances on ‘The Young and the Restless,’ ‘Mad About You,’ ‘Parker Lewis Can’t Lose,’ and ‘Men Behaving Badly,’ among other series. Elson has spoken out about her struggles with bulimia during the show’s run. Now 40, she has one daughter and lives in Los Angeles.![Benji_Gregory_Then]()
Before landing the role of little Brian Tanner, the child star’s credits included ‘Fantasy Island,’ ‘The A-Team,’ ‘The Twilight Zone,’ and ‘Punky Brewster.’![Benji Gregory Now]()
After ‘ALF,’ Gregory (born Benji Gregory Hertzberg) appeared onscreen only a few more times, including on an episode of ‘Murphy Brown.’ Now 31, Gregory attended the Academy of Art College in San Francisco and has left acting. Gregory is rumored to have joined the U.S. Navy as an Aerographer’s Mate.![Liz_Sheridan_Then]()
Sheridan claims she was engaged to actor James Dean before he was famous! Prior to her role as nosy neighbor Raquel Ochmonek on ‘ALF,’ the actress appeared in series like ‘Moonlighting,’ ‘Kojak,’ ‘The A-Team,’ and ‘Cagney & Lacey.’![Liz_Sheridan_Now]()
Now 80, Sheridan is best known for portraying Helen Seinfeld, mother of Jerry, in ‘Seinfeld’ (see left). She played the role from 1990 to 1998. In the 2008 romantic comedy ‘Play the Game,’ Sheridan shook things up with Andy Griffith in an octogenarian sex scene! (AP)![Anne_Meara_Then]()
Meara began her career as part of a comedy team with husband Jerry Stiller. Mom to superstar comedian Ben Stiller, Anne appeared on shows like ‘Rhoda’ and movies like ‘Fame’ before portraying Grandma Dorothy on ‘ALF.’![Anne Meara Now]()
Since the show, Meara starred in her own sitcom, ‘Stiller and Meara’ (with her husband), and has had recurring roles on TV series ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘The King of Queens.’ Now 80, the actress has many films under her belt, including son Ben Stiller’s flicks ‘Heavyweights,’ ‘Zoolander,’ and ‘Night at the Museum.’ (AP)Then/Now: The Cast of 'ALF'
“Ha! I kill me!” The wisecracking alien known as ALF had us laughing in the late 80s.
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- Then/Now: The Cast of 'ALF'
