Alison La Placa

Biography

Born in New Jersey and raised in suburban Chicago, Alison La Placa received a degree in drama from Illinois Wesleyan University and received extensive training in classical piano and voice. She has starred on stage in regional productions of the musicals "Dames at Sea" and "Company", as well as the Los Angeles Cast Theatre's production of "Strider". She is best known for her role as snobbish yuppie Linda Phillips on the situation comedy Duet (1987) and its spin-off Open House (1989). She resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband, actor/director Philip Charles MacKenzie (her co-star on "Open House"). In her spare time, La Placa enjoys playing classical piano and traveling to Italy.

Known For

Grey's Anatomy

Mrs. Nolston

Friends

Joanna

Desperate Housewives

Rita Patterson

Cheers

Paula Nelson

Mom

Louanne

The O.C.

Dr. James

Malcolm in the Middle

Barbara

Filmography

Year	Movie	Role
1990	MadHouse	Claudia
1986	Second Serve	Nightclub Singer
1985	Murder: By Reason of Insanity	Janet Landry
1985	Fletch	Pan Am Clerk
1984	Voyage of the Rock Aliens	Diane
1983	Listen to Your Heart	Lynn
1983	Diner	Elyse

Year	TV Show	Role
2013	Mom	Louanne
2011	Up All Night	Gail Reinhold
2009	Lie to Me	Diane Ktretschmer
2006	'Til Death	Beth
2005	Grey's Anatomy	Mrs. Nolston
2004	Desperate Housewives	Rita Patterson
2004	Boston Legal	Andrea Michele
2003	The O.C.	Dr. James
2002	Without a Trace	Mary Whitman
2000	Malcolm in the Middle
2000	Malcolm in the Middle	Barbara
1996	7th Heaven	Carolyn Fulton
1994	Duckman	Marion (voice)
1994	Friends	Joanna
1994	Tom	Dorothy Graham
1994	ER	Female Lawyer
1993	The John Larroquette Show	Catherine Merrick
1992	Batman: The Animated Series	Baby-Doll (voice)
1992	The Jackie Thomas Show
1991	Stat
1991	Stat	Dr. Elizabeth Newberry
1989	Open House	Linda Phillips
1987	Duet	Linda Phillips
1984	Brothers	Annie Todson
1982	Remington Steele	Joan Kendall
1982	Fame
1982	Family Ties	Barbara
1982	Cheers	Paula Nelson