ThoughElsa Ravenwas no A-list star who helmed lead characters in big productions, she sure did amass a brilliant resume throughout the years that’s full of small yet significant and more importantly, forever memorable roles. As the beloved character actress recently passed away, many of her former co-stars have come forward to reminisce about the experience of working with her. Joining the list is actor Michael J Fox who recently went down nostalgia lane, reminiscing the passion Raven had for her character, memorably known as “Save the clock tower lady,” inBack to the Future.
Even though only a small portion of 1985’s sci-fiBack to The Futureincludes Elsa Raven’s scenes, her character is still fondly remembered. Appearing as a woman who is passionate and driven to “save the clock tower,” she confronted Michael J. Fox’s Marty who was busy romancing his girlfriend Jennifer, played by Claudia Wells in front of a dilapidated clock tower.
“Save the clock tower! Save the clock tower!”
In a chat,Michael J. Foxshared how Raven’s enthusiasm and passion for the film remained strong even years after its release.
“It took me a long time to go to any of those ‘Back to the Future’ conventions or Comic-Con conventions, and when I finally did go, she was there. It was so great to see her, and she was walking through the crowd and saying, ‘Save the clock tower! Save theclock tower!’ "
This proves that the reason Elsa Raven’s characters have been so unforgettable because for the talented actor, her characters were much more than just parts she played in films. And Fox respected that zeal in her and confessed that it inspired him as well.
“She was a big part of it. It still meant something in her life, and it still meant something to the people around her. And that’s kind of the movie in a nutshell: It’s just, you have this life, it carries on and it carried on in her. And she really celebrated it. It was a good thing.”
RecentlyBack to the Futurescreenwriter Bob Gale paid his tribute to the late actress and talked at length withThe Hollywood Reporterabout how despite her less screen time, Raven and her character were equally important to the film. For Gale, it was Raven’s professional yet heartfelt approach to characters that impressed him.
“She was one of those A-list performers who could turn a small role into a memorable one. Although she is on screen for probably less than a minute, everyone remembers her. And casting her is an example of director Bob Zemeckis’s philosophy that every role is important and can be made memorable.”
And this just serves to cement the forever presence of Elsa Raven through her characters. Whether it was “Save the clock tower” lady inBack to the Futureor her famous role as “mom” in theSeinfeldepisode “The Mom and Pop Store,” her every character has left an indelible mark that will ensure that the celebrated artist lives on in our cherished memories. This news arrives viaUSA Today.
