Arleen Sorkin
Sorkin in 2011
Born
Arleen Frances Sorkin

(1955-10-14)October 14, 1955
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedAugust 24, 2023(2023-08-24) (aged 67)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, screenwriter, comedian, presenter
Years active1983–2011
Spouse
​
(m. 1995)​
Children2

Arleen Frances Sorkin (October 14, 1955 – August 24, 2023) was an American actress, screenwriter, television presenter and comedian. Sorkin is known for portraying Calliope Jones on the NBC daytime serial Days of Our Lives and for serving as the real-life inspiration and voice for DC Comics character Harley Quinn, co-created by her friend Paul Dini on Batman: The Animated Series.

Early life, family and education

Arleen Frances Sorkin was born in Washington, D.C., on October 14, 1955, to Irving and Joyce Sorkin.[1] Her father was a dentist who dreamed of being involved in the entertainment industry, finally earning a producing credit in 2004 for Something the Lord Made.[2] Sorkin had two brothers, Arthur and Robert.[1] Her family is Jewish.[3]

Career

Sorkin began her career in cabaret in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a member of the comedy group The High-Heeled Women, alongside Mary Fulham, Tracey Berg, and Cassandra Danz.[4]

One of her more prominent roles was the wacky but lovable Calliope Jones, as seen on Days of Our Lives. She played this part from 1984 to 1990 and made return visits in 1992 and 2001. She reprised her role on the soap for the fourth time on February 24, 2006. She returned to Days for a limited run beginning on May 5, 2010.[5]

From 1987 to 1989, Sorkin played Geneva, a sexy maid to yuppie couple Richard and Linda Phillips, on the Fox dramedy series Duet. She would reprise this role on one episode of Open House, the sequel series to Duet.

She was the original female co-host on America's Funniest People in 1990. In 1992, Sorkin was dismissed from America's Funniest People by producer Vin Di Bona. In response, Sorkin filed a lawsuit against Di Bona, claiming she was dismissed from the show due to her race, after ABC Chairman Dan Burke had suggested to Di Bona that Sorkin be replaced by an African-American or a person of another ethnic minority. Sorkin sought $450,000 for lost earnings, and an additional unspecified amount for harm to her professional reputation and emotional injury. She additionally claimed that after she denounced the move as being racially motivated, Di Bona changed plans and hired new cohost Tawny Kitaen, who was also white.[6]

Sorkin's writing included for the Tiny Toon Adventures 1990–1992 television series, and co-writer of the story and screenplay of the 1997 Jennifer Aniston film, Picture Perfect.

Alongside providing the voice, the character of Harley Quinn was based on her,[7][8] after Paul Dini (her friend since college), saw her play a jester from a dream sequence in the soap opera Days of Our Lives.[9][10] Dini then patterned Harley Quinn on Sorkin, incorporating aspects such as her mannerisms and "very snappy, wisecracking, bubbly blonde" personality.[11][12][9] In recording Harley Quinn's voice, Sorkin spoke in her normal Brooklyn accent while putting in a "little Yiddish sound", since Dini made the character Jewish, another aspect of the character borrowed from Sorkin.[10][13][14][15][16][17] Harley Quinn made her first appearance in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor" originally intended to appear in a single episode, but reaction to the character and Sorkin's voice performance was positive, so Quinn was written into the show regularly, and appeared in further DC Animated Universe series, including The New Batman Adventures, Static Shock, Justice League, Gotham Girls, and the animated film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Her last performances as Harley Quinn were the video games Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) and DC Universe Online (2011).

For the series Frasier (1993–2004), produced by her husband Christopher Lloyd, Sorkin would perform as a caller to Frasier Crane's radio show; the lines would later be dubbed over by a celebrity caller.[18] In the final episode of Frasier, Sorkin made an onscreen appearance as the owner of a monkey.

Personal life and death

Sorkin married television writer-producer Christopher Lloyd in 1995, with whom she had two sons,[19] Eli and Owen.[20]

Arleen Sorkin died in Los Angeles on August 24, 2023, at the age of 67, of complications from pneumonia and multiple sclerosis.[1]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983Trading PlacesWoman at PartyUncredited
1985From Here to MaternityJudyTelevision film
1986Odd JobsDiner Waitress
1987Paul Reiser Out on a Whim
1991OscarVendetti's Manicurist
Ted & VenusMarcia
I Don't Buy Kisses AnymoreMonica
1993Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer KissPeg FermanTelevision film
Batman: Mask of the PhantasmMs. Bambi (voice)Uncredited
1994It's PatHerself
2000Batman Beyond: Return of the JokerHarley Quinn / Harleen Quinzel (voice)Direct-to-video
2004Comic Book: The MovieMs. Q (Studio Secretary)

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
  • 1984–1990,
  • 1992,
  • 2006,
  • 2010
Days of Our LivesCalliope Jones427 episodes
1986–1989The New Hollywood SquaresPanelist
1987The New Mike HammerTraci BaskinEpisode: "The Last Laugh"
1987–1989DuetGeneva50 episodes
1989Open HouseEpisode: "Parade of Homes"
Family FeudHerself[21]
1990Dream OnDonna di AngeloEpisode: "Angst for the Memories"
Room for RomanceEpisode: "Fool's Good"
1990–1992America's Funniest PeopleCo-host
1991Taz-ManiaVeronica (voice)Episode: "Bewitched Bob"
1992–1994Batman: The Animated SeriesHarley Quinn / Harleen Quinzel (voice)9 episodes
1997–1999The New Batman Adventures6 episodes
1997Superman: The Animated SeriesEpisode: "World's Finest" (Three-Parter)
2000–2002Gotham Girls25 episodes
2003Static ShockEpisode: "Hard as Nails"
Justice LeagueEpisode: "Wild Cards" (Two-Parter)
2004FrasierRachelEpisode: "Goodnight, Seattle: Part 2"

Video games

YearTitleVoice roleNotes
1994The Adventures of Batman & RobinHarley Quinn / Harleen QuinzelSega CD version
2001Batman Vengeance
2009Batman: Arkham Asylum
2011DC Universe OnlineFinal role

Writer

YearTitleNotes
1997Picture PerfectScreenplay, story

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResult
2009 Spike Video Game Awards Best Voice Batman: Arkham Asylum (as "Harley Quinn") Nominated
1988 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Days of Our Lives Nominated
1989 Nominated
1985 Soap Opera Digest Awards Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Serial Won
Outstanding New Actress in a Daytime Serial Won
1986 Outstanding Comic Relief Role on a Daytime Serial Won
1988 Outstanding Comic Performance by an Actress: Daytime Won
2011 Peabody Awards Shared with Jessica Hernández (editor) Bhutto Won
2011 International Documentary Association Video Source Award
Shared with Duane Baughman (director/producer)
Johnny O'Hara (director/writer)
Mark Siegel (producer)
Glenn Aveni (executive producer)		 Won

References

  1. 1 2 3 Genzlinger, Neil. "Arleen Sorkin, Soap Opera Star With a Claim to Batman Fame, Dies at 67". The New York Times. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  2. ↑ McLellan, Dennis (October 25, 2007). "Irving Sorkin, 88; dentist saw Hollywood dream come true as award-winning producer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  3. ↑ Jaffe, Alex (October 4, 2021). "The Jewish Roots of Harley Quinn". DCComics.com. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Harley Quinn voice actress Arleen Sorkin passes away at 67". www.hamaribaat.com. August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  5. ↑ Kroll, Dan J. (April 4, 2010). "Sorkin to return as the zany Calliope Jones". Soap Central. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Former TV Co-Host Suing Producer". Buffalo News. April 18, 1993. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  7. ↑ Jirak, Jamie (October 15, 2020). "Mark Hamill Pays Tribute to Original Harley Quinn Arleen Sorkin". Comicbook.com.
  8. ↑ @TheAnimatedBat (October 14, 2020). "Happy Birthday to the Legendary Arleen Sorkin! The original voice of & real life inspiration for Harley Quinn!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. 1 2 "One on One with Paul Dini – HoboTrashcan". Hobo Trashcan. January 3, 2006. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  10. 1 2 Riesman, Abraham (February 5, 2020). "The Strange, Hidden Story of Harley Quinn". Vulture. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  11. ↑ Errico, Marcus (September 23, 2017). "#BatmanDay: The strange but true history of Harley Quinn revealed!". Yahoo!. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  12. ↑ Dini, Paul; Chip, Kidd (1998). Batman Animated. New York City: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-0-06-107327-4.
  13. ↑ Riesman, Abraham (October 6, 2017). "An Oral History of 'Batman: The Animated Series'". Vulture. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  14. ↑ Ito, Robert (August 2, 2016). "Harley Quinn, Just the Nice, Fun-Loving Psycho Next Door". The New York Times. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  15. ↑ Jaffe, Alex (November 21, 2019). "Harley Quinnesday: The Jewish Roots of Harley Quinn". DC UNIVERSE INFINITE. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  16. ↑ Riesman, Abraham (February 17, 2015). "The Hidden Story of Harley Quinn and How She Became the Superhero World's Most Successful Woman". Vulture.com (New York). Archived from the original on February 18, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  17. ↑ Jankiewicz, Pat (n.d.). "Quinn-tessentials: Interview with Arleen Sorkin". Starlog. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008 – via Harley-Quinn.com.
  18. ↑ Sorkin, Andrea (July 7, 2012). Fatman on Batman. Interviewed by Kevin Smith. Podcast.
  19. ↑ Whipp, Glenn (August 22, 2014). "Christopher Lloyd's award-winning funny bones". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 22, 2014.
  20. ↑ "The art of writing and making films: Flushed Away". "About the Filmmakers", Flushed Away press kit, via The Writing Studio. Archived from the original on February 25, 2007.
  21. ↑ Family Feud (1989): Funny Men vs Funny Women on YouTube
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