Monday, April 18, 2005

Debralee Scott (1953-2004)

A sad time in nostalgia land: Debralee Scott passed away recently at the age of 52, of the always baffling "natural causes."



To you younger folk, the name may not mean anything, but those of us of a certain age (ahem) recall Ms. Scott as female "Sweathog" Rosalie Totzi (better known as "Hotzi" Totzi) on the '70s classroom sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, and in a similar role as the title character's trampy little sister Cathy on the soap opera parody Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman from that same era. She later co-starred on Angie alongside Donna Pescow, and appeared in a couple of the endless string of Police Academy sequels. Game show aficionados — myself among them — also remember Debralee's frequent appearances as a celebrity panelist on the Gene Rayburn-hosted Match Game.

I've always been drawn to women of, shall I say, unconventional attractiveness. Thus, as an adolescent, I found Debralee Scott rather cute, with her prominent overbite, freckles, and reddish hair feathered in that uniquely '70s style pioneered by Farrah Fawcett (whom, oddly enough, I never much liked — when it came to Charlie's Angels, I was always a Kate Jackson man). She wasn't a great actress, but she was the funniest character on Mary Hartman, and she was delightful on Match Game, where she played the more-or-less-innocent ingenue role opposite veteran tart-tongued panelists Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly.

According to reports, Ms. Scott lost her fiance, a police officer with the New York Port Authority, in the World Trade Center tragedy four years ago. Now she too is gone too soon.

8 insisted on sticking two cents in:

Blogger Joel offered these pearls of wisdom...

Sad. Strength vibes to her family, friends, and all those who cared for her.

9:48 PM  
Anonymous Joe offered these pearls of wisdom...

I too had a crush on her in the 70s. I am sad to here of her passing and wish her peace

1:50 PM  
Anonymous Joe offered these pearls of wisdom...

I too had a crush on her in the 70s. I am sad to here of her passing and wish her peace

1:50 PM  
Anonymous Peter Heimsoth offered these pearls of wisdom...

I was stunned to learn of Debralee's death. She'd been a favorite actress of mine in the late 70's and early 80's, and I was just idly Googling her name today to see what she might be up to.

Like a lot of boys my age, I was drawn to her unique beauty-- and it didn't hurt that she was what we called "stacked"-- and really came to appreciate the warmth and humor she brought to everything she did.

Sleep well, sweet Debralee. I miss you.

2:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous offered these pearls of wisdom...

DEBRALEE SCOTT WAS A FUNNY, TALENTED, COMEDIC ACTRESS WHO WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR THE JOY SHE BROUGHT INTO TELEVISION AS KATHY SCHUMWAY, HOTZY TOTZY AND MARIE FALCO AND COUNTLESS GUEST ROLES. IT'S SAD THAT HOLLYWOOD DISCARDS REAL TALENT FOR PLASTIC BIMBOS! R.I.P. DEBRALEE

10:45 PM  
Blogger jeffrey offered these pearls of wisdom...

I first remember seeing Debralee when she played Hotsie Totsie on Welcome Back Kotter. She was very beatiful and died way to young. I was in love with her when I was 10,and still am in love with her at 42. I am still able to see her on reruns of Match Game on GSN.

9:26 AM  
Anonymous AL DATTOLO offered these pearls of wisdom...

IT IS VERY SAD THAT DEBRALEE HAS PASSED. I REMEMBER HER FROM WELCOME BACK KOTTER AND MATCH GAME. GOD BLESS HER AND MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

5:08 PM  
Anonymous Tim offered these pearls of wisdom...

I was very sad to learn of Debralee Scott's passing today as I was also just googling her name to see what she was up to. There was definitely something special about her, and her acting talent and she will be missed.

11:01 AM  

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