Anne Schedeen, the veteran actor best known for her role as Kate Tanner on the hit NBC sitcom "ALF," has died at the age of 77. 

Her death was confirmed Sunday by her family and her long-time agent, Tom Markley, who told Deadline that "Annie meant the world to her family and this agency." 

While a cause of death has not been released, a family statement posted to Facebook noted that she "passed peacefully."

Anne Schedeen became a household name starring in "ALF" in 1986 as Kate Tanner, the matriarch of a family that hosts a puppet extraterrestrial after it crashes into their garage.

Despite the show's massive success and merchandising empire, Anne Schedeen was candid about the difficulties of the production. 

In a June 2000 interview with People, she labeled the set a "technical nightmare" that was "extremely slow, hot, and tedious."

"If you had a scene with ALF, it took centuries," she said at the time. "A 30-minute show took 20, 25 hours to shoot."

Even with the grueling schedule, Anne Schedeen recalled sensing the show's potential from the start. 

Speaking to HolidayHeroes, she remembered telling creator Paul Fusco and the ALF puppet after her audition, "I think you are gonna be a big, big star.

"And I nailed it — he was. And I got to go along for that ride."

The show ran for four seasons until 1990.

Born Jan. 8, 1949, in Portland, Oregon, Anne Schedeen's career began long before her time on the NBC comedy. 

She began with drama classes at the Portland Civic Theatre and worked in dinner theater in Hawaii. After a stint in New York's summer stock scene, she moved to Los Angeles and signed with Universal Pictures.

Her extensive television resume included appearances on "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Cheers," "Three's Company," and "Murder, She Wrote," alongside film roles in projects such as "Embryo" and "Slow Burn."

"She was a force," Anne Schedeen's family wrote. "And it is unimaginable to think about life without her in it. But as she said, 'I'm always with you.' And she's right.

"The memories, artwork, belly laughter, handmade jewelry, oil paintings, sculptures, costumes and all around joie de vivre live on. Raise a margarita in her honor."

In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be made to Habitat for Humanity.

"We all love you, Annie," the statement concluded.

Anne Schedeen is survived by her husband of 55 years, Christopher Barrett; daughter Taylor Barrett; daughter-in-law Hilary Flynn; sister Sarabeth Schedeen; niece Minnie Schedeen; brother Roland "Tony" Schedeen; sister-in-law Julieanne Schedeen; and her rescue dogs, Roo and Red.