If you grew up in the nineties, you probably have a core memory of a girl with giant red curls doing a "clock stretch" on a floor that looked way more comfortable than any actual carpet. That was Loonette the Clown. But behind the oversized shoes and the dust bunnies was Alyson Court, the Big Comfy Couch actress who basically raised a generation of Canadian and American kids.
She wasn't just some random performer in a suit. Honestly, she was a powerhouse.
Most people think actors from kids' shows just sort of vanish once the set gets struck and the props go into storage. They assume the "clown girl" retired to a quiet life or maybe struggled to find work because she was too recognizable as a preschool icon. That couldn't be further from the truth with Court. She didn't disappear; she just moved behind the microphone and into some of the grittiest, most intense franchises in gaming history.
The Lunette Era: More Than Just Dust Bunnies
The Big Comfy Couch premiered in 1992 on YTV in Canada and later became a staple on PBS. Alyson Court was only 18 or 19 when she started playing Loonette. Think about that for a second. While most teenagers are figuring out how to get through a college lecture without falling asleep, she was anchoring a massive production that required incredible physical comedy, core strength (that clock stretch is no joke), and the ability to talk to a doll named Molly like it was a real human being.
It worked because Court played it straight. She wasn't condescending to her audience.
The show was created by Cheryl Wagner and produced by radical sheep productions. It was quirky, sure. But it taught emotional intelligence before that was a buzzword. When Loonette got frustrated because she couldn't master a new skill, Court showed real vulnerability. It’s why the show lasted seven seasons, though Court actually left before the final season in 2006, handing the giant unicycle over to Ramona Gilmour-Glover.
People always ask why she left. It wasn't drama. It was just time. By the time the final season was being prepped, Court had been playing a child-like clown for over a decade. She was ready to be an adult in the industry.
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The Resident Evil Connection You Probably Missed
Here is the part that usually blows people's minds. If you are a fan of survival horror games, you know Claire Redfield. She is the leather-jacket-wearing, zombie-slaying badass from Resident Evil 2, Code: Veronica, and Resident Evil: Revelations 2.
Alyson Court is Claire Redfield.
Yep. The same woman who sang about "Ten Little Crackers" was also the voice (and sometimes the motion capture artist) for one of the most famous protagonists in horror gaming. She voiced Claire for 15 years. It’s a wild career pivot that most people don't notice because, well, you don't see her face. But the voice is unmistakable once you know.
She brought a specific kind of groundedness to Claire. In an era where voice acting in games was often "Jill Sandwich" levels of cheesy, Court’s performance felt human. She actually cared about the character’s legacy. In fact, she’s been quite vocal on social media over the years about how much Claire means to her and her disappointment when Capcom decided to go with non-union actors for the Resident Evil 2 remake in 2019.
Why We Are Still Obsessed With 90s Nostalgia
It’s not just about the clown. It's about what she represents.
We live in an era where everything is digital and polished. The Big Comfy Couch was tactile. It was felt. It was messy. When Loonette did the "Ten Second Tidy," she was actually cleaning up a physical mess. Alyson Court was a master of that physical space.
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She also voiced Jubilee in the original X-Men: The Animated Series. If you’re humming the theme song right now, you can thank Court for giving that show its heart. She was the "new kid" perspective for the audience. Between being an X-Man, a zombie survivor, and a clown, she basically occupied every corner of a 90s kid’s brain.
A Career Built on Range
Look at her resume and you'll see she didn't just stick to one lane.
- Beetlejuice (The Animated Series) – She was Lydia Deetz.
- Spider-Man (1990s) – She played Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter).
- Inspector Gadget – She was the original voice of Penny.
She’s basically the queen of Canadian voice acting. While the Big Comfy Couch actress might be the title that sticks in the "Where are they now?" articles, her actual impact on pop culture is massive. She has spent the last decade or so shifting into directing for voice acting and casting, helping the next generation of performers find their footing.
The Reality of Being a Child Star Who Actually Succeeded
We love a "downfall" story. The media thrives on it. But Alyson Court is the boring exception—boring in the best way possible. She grew up, stayed professional, transitioned her skills, and became an industry veteran.
She’s been open about the realities of the business. Acting in Canada is different than Hollywood. It’s smaller. It’s more about the work and less about the red carpet. She’s dealt with the frustrations of union vs. non-union work and the way the industry treats legacy actors.
One thing that sticks out is her relationship with fans. If you see her at a convention, she’s not just there for a paycheck. She genuinely understands that for a lot of people, she was a safe space during their childhood. Whether she was wearing the nose or fighting a Tyrant, she was a constant.
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Addressing the Rumors
No, she didn't die. No, she didn't quit acting because she hated being Loonette.
There was a weird internet rumor a few years back that she had some kind of breakdown, which is just standard internet nonsense aimed at any woman who was famous in the 90s. She’s very much active. If you follow her on Twitter (X), you’ll see she’s sharp, funny, and deeply involved in the voice-over community.
She also has a son, which adds another layer to her perspective on children's programming. Imagine your mom being Loonette and Claire Redfield. That’s an elite level of "cool parent" status that most of us can only dream of.
Moving Forward: How to Appreciate Her Work Today
If you want to revisit Alyson Court’s career, don't just stop at the couch.
Start with the X-Men '97 revival on Disney+. While she didn't return to voice Jubilee (she gracefully stepped aside so an Asian American actress could take the role, which she publicly supported), she did return for a cameo as the voice of Abscissa. It shows her class and her commitment to the characters she helped build.
Then, go play the original Resident Evil 2. Listen to the nuance she brings to a girl just trying to find her brother in a city full of monsters. It’s a masterclass in vocal performance.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Creators
If you are a creator or just someone who appreciates the art of performance, there are things to learn from Court’s trajectory.
- Diversify your skillset early. Court didn't just rely on her face; she leaned into her voice. If she hadn't developed her VO chops while filming the Couch, her career might have ended in 2006.
- Support union talent. Court has been a vocal advocate for ACTRA and SAG-AFTRA. The quality of our entertainment depends on actors being treated fairly.
- Respect the "Cringe." A lot of actors distance themselves from "silly" kid roles. Court embraces her history as Loonette. There is power in owning every part of your journey, even the parts that involve giant socks and oversized clocks.
- Follow the work, not the fame. She chose roles that were interesting and sustainable. That’s why she’s still working thirty years later.
Alyson Court remains a pillar of the industry because she understood early on that being an actress isn't about the costume you wear—it's about the connection you make with the person on the other side of the screen. Whether that was a toddler learning to tidy up or a gamer trying to survive Raccoon City, she always showed up.