Elsa Raven, Titanic And Back To The Future Star, Dies Aged 91

She appears in one of Titanic's most heart-wrenching scenes.

Elsa Raven, the American actor who appeared in films like Back To The Future and Titanic, has died at the age of 91.

Her agent confirmed that she had died at her home in Los Angeles.

In the late 1980s, Elsa – whose real name was Elsa Rabinowitz – appeared in the sitcom Amen as Inga the maid, as well as the TV series Wiseguy, playing Carlotta, the mother of Ken Wahl’s character.

One film from which fans will recognise her is the 80s classic Back To The Future, in which she played the “Clock Tower Lady”.

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Elsa in Back To The Future, in which she played "Clock Tower Lady"
Universal

Her Back To The Future character – whose catchphrase was “save the clock tower” – was determined to save the town clock tower, in opposition to the local mayor, who wanted to have the whole thing replaced.

Elsa also played Ida Straus, the wife of Isidor Straus (played by Lew Palter), in Titanic. Ida and Isidor Straus were two real-life passengers who died in the 1912 disaster.

Although a lot of her scenes from Titanic were cut, Elsa and Lew appear in one of the film’s most enduring moments, when the two are seen holding one another while lying on their bed, as the ship goes down.

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Elsa in her most famous Titanic scene
20th Century Fox

Other films and TV credits Elsa appeared in over the years include The Amityville Horror, Indecent Proposal, The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air and Everybody Loves Raymond.

Her final on-screen role was in the 2011 film Answers To Nothing.

Deadline reports that Elsa is survived by her 15 nieces and nephews.