Elsa Raven: Back to the Future actor dies aged 91

Character actor also had small parts in films ‘Titanic’ and ‘In the Line of Fire’

Actor Elsa Raven, who is best known for her memorable performance in Back to the Future, has died, aged 91.

Raven’s death was confirmed by her agent to Deadline, who said that the actor died on Tuesday (2 November) at her home in Los Angeles.

Born Elsa Rabinowitz in 1929, Raven made her screen debut as a matron in The Honeymoon Killers in 1970.

Throughout her career, Raven became known for character-driven bit parts, playing a woman who shouts “save the clock tower” while campaigning in opposition to Mayor Wilson (Donald Fullilove) in 1985’s Back to the Future.

She also played a realtor in The Amityville Horror (1979), Gertrude Stein in The Moderns (1988) and John Malkovich’s landlady in action thriller In the Line of Fire (1993).

Raven was cast as Ida Straus, whose husband co-owned Macy’s department store, in James Cameron’s Titanic (1997). Most of her scenes ended up being cut, but she makes an appearance in the music video for Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”.

In the world of TV, Raven also appeared in classic sitcoms such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Seinfeld and Everybody Loves Raymond.

Her final screen role was in 2011’s Answers to Nothing.

Raven was a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and voted for Academy Award winnters.

She is survived by 15 nieces and nephews.