Actor

1959-12-16 · United States · Female

26 series in the catalog

Alison La Placa (born December 16, 1959) is an American retired actress best known for playing Linda Phillips on the sitcom Duet and its spin-off Open House, playing Catherine Merrick in 49 episodes of The John Larroquette Show and the recurring role of Joanna, Rachel Green's boss who dated Chandler Bing on the sitcom Friends. Her last credit was in 2014.

Early life and career

Alison LaPlaca was born to an Italian Catholic family in Lincolnshire, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 1959. She is the youngest of three children. She graduated from Stevenson High School in 1978.

Alison LaPlaca attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, where she studied drama/theatre. During the summers, she starred in a circus show, Circus Fantastic, at Marriott's Great America. She graduated in 1982 with her BFA.

Shortly after moving to Hollywood, La Placa landed the role of Elyse in the sitcom version of Barry Levinson's dramedy film Diner (1982). That pilot did not get picked up, and soon thereafter La Placa got a role in the made-for-TV film Listen to Your Heart (1983).

Later career

The following year, La Placa earned a regular spot on the short-lived sitcom Suzanne Pleshette Is Maggie Briggs (1984). She had a small role in the movie Fletch (1985), and subsequently played the starring role of Linda Phillips on the sitcoms Duet (from 1987 to 1989) and Open House (from 1989 to 1990). La Placa played opposite Kirstie Alley in the comedy movie Madhouse (1990), with co-star John Larroquette.

La Placa has guest-starred on series including Family Ties, Cheers, ER and Desperate Housewives. She was a regular on Stat (1991), The Jackie Thomas Show (1992), Tom (1994), and the NBC sitcom The John Larroquette Show (from 1994 to 1996).LaPlaca also guest-starred on the sitcom Friends, where she portrays Joanna, Rachel Green’s boss. This role has become one of her more recognizable television appearances among younger audiences.

La Placa guest-starred on animated series such as Batman: The Animated Series and Johnny Bravo. She played the character Andrea in the television series Boston Legal in two episodes in season 4 ("Glow in the Dark" and "Rescue Me"). She appeared in Malcolm in the Middle as Barbara in the episode "Convention" and in a recurring role in 'Til Death as Beth, Joy's co-worker. She guest-starred in the CBS sitcom Mom.

Personal life

LaPlaca has been married to television actor/director Philip Charles MacKenzie (her co-star on Open House) since 1992.