Wendy Anne "Wendel" Meldrum (July 21, 1954 – January 27, 2021) was a Canadian actress best known for her roles as the "low talker" in the 1993 Seinfeld episode "The Puffy Shirt", and as Miss White/Mrs. Heimer on The Wonder Years.

Wendel Meldrum
Meldrum at the 2013 Canadian Screen Awards Nominee Reception
Born
Wendy Anne Meldrum

(1954-07-21)July 21, 1954
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
DiedJanuary 27, 2021(2021-01-27) (aged 66)
OccupationActress
Years active1984–2021
Spouses
(divorced)

She guest starred in several television series and appeared in a number of feature films and television movies. Her films include Beautiful Dreamers (1990), Why Me? (1990), Diplomatic Immunity (1991) and The Divine Ryans (1999). She wrote the screenplay for the 2005 independent film Cruel But Necessary. She also played the starring role of Betty Munson alongside her real life ex-husband Mark Humphrey and their son Luke Humphrey.[1]

Meldrum received multiple nominations and awards for her performance as Anne Blecher in the Canadian television comedy-drama series Less Than Kind, which finished its four-season run on HBO Canada in 2013.

On November 19, 2014, Meldrum appeared on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor podcast. She died after a short illness on January 27, 2021.[2]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 Vamping Rita
1990 Why Me? Gatou Vardebedian
1990 Beautiful Dreamers Jessie Bucke
1991 Diplomatic Immunity Kim Dades
1999 Blast from the Past Ruth
1999 The Divine Ryans Linda Ryan
2003 A Mighty Wind Witch #1
2005 Cruel but Necessary Betty Munson
2005 Partner(s) Sandy
2010 Queen of the Lot Kylie

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1984–85 Knots Landing P.K. Kelly 8 episodes
1985 Punky Brewster Heather "Play It Again, Punky"
1985 American Playhouse Shelby Dischinger Everson "Breakfast with Les and Bess"
1985 Stark Laura Stark TV film
1986 Cagney & Lacey Susan "Post Partum"
1986 Dallas: The Early Years Honey TV film
1987 Family Ties Kathy Brady "O'Brother: Parts 1 & 2"
1987 I Married Dora Janet Farrell "I Married Dora"
1987–88 Pursuit of Happiness Margaret Callahan Main role
1988–91 The Wonder Years Miss White / Mrs. Heimer Recurring role
1989 Day by Day Carol Gilbert "Father Knows Best"
1990 E.N.G. Jaz Taylor "The Dancer and the Dance"
1992 Northern Exposure Amy Lochner "Nothing's Perfect"
1992 City Boy Olivia Pollard TV film
1993 Picket Fences Wendy Hill "Sightings"
1993-98 Seinfeld Leslie / Low-Talker "The Puffy Shirt" and "The Finale"
1994 Hush Little Baby Susan Nolan TV film
1994 Due South Leann Brighton "Pilot"
1994 Sodbusters Lilac Gentry TV film
1994–95 Side Effects Elisabeth Mercer "Worth It", "Heart Choices", "The Great Lutz"
1995 The Marshal Veronica Cole "Hitwoman"
1995 Pig Sty Dr. James "The Ghost and Mr. Evans"
1995 The Song Spinner Mona TV film
1995 The Commish Emily Daniels "Father Image: Parts 1 & 2"
1996 The Pretender Dr. Lizabeth Drake "Not Even a Mouse"
1997 Promised Land Ellen "The Getaway"
1997 Dad's Week Off Lew TV film
1997 Melanie Darrow Diane TV film
1998 Murder at 75 Birch Pat Todson TV film
1999 The Outer Limits Renee Stuyvescent "Donor"
2000 First Wave Ann Berman "Wednesday's Child"
2001 Strong Medicine Eleanor Vogel "Complications"
2001 NYPD Blue Lucy Gullickson "Baby Love"
2003 Bliss Dr. Andrea Gibson "Cat Got Your Tongue"
2008–2012 Less Than Kind Anne Blecher Main role
2012 The Phantoms Linda Jordan TV film
2014 Saving Hope Mimi "Twinned Lambs"
2014 Working the Engels Little Wanda "Jenna vs. Big Pastry Part II"

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2007 Winnipeg International Film Festival Outstanding Actress in a Female Role Cruel but Necessary Won [3]
2009 Canadian Comedy Awards Best Performance by a Female - Television Less Than Kind Won
2009 Canadian Comedy Awards Best Performance by an Ensemble - Television Less Than Kind Won [4]
2010 Canadian Comedy Awards Best Performance by a Female - Television Less Than Kind Nominated [5]
2010 Canadian Comedy Awards Best Performance by an Ensemble - Television Less Than Kind Nominated [6]

References

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  1. ^ Gudrun Will, "Cruel intentions produce necessary result". Vancouver Courier, October 5, 2007.
  2. ^ Wendy Meldrum obituary
  3. ^ Internet Movie Database; retrieved August 1, 2010
  4. ^ Award shared with Benjamin Arthur, Jesse Camacho, Maury Chaykin and Nancy Sorel
  5. ^ "2010 nominees" (PDF). www.agamdarshi.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  6. ^ Nomination shared with Benjamin Arthur, Jesse Camacho, Maury Chaykin, Brooke Palsson and Nancy Sorel Canadian Comedy Awards & Festival nominees, retrieved August 1, 2010
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