Rhea Jo Perlman (born March 31, 1948) is an American actress, best known for her role as Carla Tortelli in the sitcom Cheers, for which she won four Emmy Awards.
Early life
Perlman was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Philip (1919-2015) and Adele Perlman. Her father was an actor and a "doll and toy-part" salesman; he later played barfly Phil on Cheers.[1] Her sister Heide Perlman was a writer, story editor, and producer on the television shows Cheers and Frasier. Rhea Perlman attended Hunter College in New York and is an active Democrat.[2]
She began her acting career in 1972 when she played a bit role in the film Hot Dogs for Gauguin. That same year she appeared in Westbeth Playwrights Feminist Collective's production of Up – An Uppity Revue, along with her future husband, Danny DeVito.[citation needed]
Career
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Perlman at the 1988 Emmy Awards
Perlman began acting in the early 1970s with numerous appearances on TV films and short films. One of her first notable parts was a recurring role on the television show Taxi as Zena, girlfriend of Louie De Palma (played by Danny DeVito).
In 1982 she landed a role as Carla Tortelli on the hit sitcom Cheers. She won the Emmy four times, in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1989. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe six times. During her Cheers career, she was nominated for an Emmy every year but 1992, becoming the Cheers star to have the most wins and nominations.
In 1986, Perlman starred in an episode of Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories titled "The Wedding Ring," which also starred DeVito as her character's husband.
In the 1990s, Perlman starred in several TV movies and motion pictures. In 1992, she starred in the made-for-TV-movie, To Grandmother's House We Go versus Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen, playing the wife of Jerry Van Dyke's character; the couple kidnapped the Olsen Twins' characters, hoping to cash in on ransom before Christmas. Other TV films in which she starred included the dramas A Place to Be Loved and In Spite of Love.
Perlman's motion picture roles included There Goes The Neighborhood (1992), Canadian Bacon (1995), Carpool (1996), Sunset Park (1996), and Matilda (1996). She had a cameo in the film 10 Items Or Less (2006), and also starred in the 2007 independent film Love Comes Lately.
In 1994, Perlman voiced 9-Eye in The Timekeeper, a Circle-Vision show at the Magic Kingdom in Tomorrowland.
She later starred in the 1996 sitcom Pearl as the title character and was featured on the 2001 TV drama Kate Brasher. Among her notable guest appearances was on the season 4 premiere of Becker, which starred Cheers co-star Ted Danson.
Perlman also appeared in a 2000 television film How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale, in which she impersonated Jacqueline Kennedy. She also portrayed a therapist called Dr. Parella in the 2000 film Secret Cutting, which follows the story of a young girl named Dawn who self-injures. In 2007, Perlman appeared as Bertha in the West End of London in the comedy Boeing Boeing. In 2008, she starred in the Hallmark Channel original movie, The Christmas Choir, and appeared in Beethoven's Big Break in 2008 as Patricia Benji. In 2009 she appeared as Tanya's mother on the series Hung for Home Box Office Networks. In 2011, Perlman had a guest appearance as Mittens in one episode of Wilfred.
Since 2014, she has starred in a recurring role on The Mindy Project as Danny's mother Annette Castellano.
Writing
Perlman is the author of the successful illustrated children's book series Otto Undercover, whose six books to date (as of the middle of May 2012) are Born to Drive, Canyon Catastrophe, Water Balloon Doom, Toxic Taffy Takeover, The Brink of Ex-stink-tion, and Brain Freeze.
Personal life
Perlman with husband Danny DeVito
Perlman met actor Danny DeVito on January 17, 1971, when she went to see a friend in the single performance of the play The Shrinking Bride, which also featured DeVito.[3] They moved in together two weeks after meeting.[4] The couple married on January 28, 1982.[5] They have three children: Lucy Chet DeVito (born March 1983), Grace Fan DeVito (born March 1985), and Jacob Daniel DeVito (born October 1987).[6] Throughout their relationship, Perlman and DeVito have acted alongside each other several times, including in the TV show Taxi and the feature film Matilda.[6] Perlman and DeVito separated in October 2012.[6] However, in March 2013, it was reported that they had reconciled and called off the separation.[7] The family resides in Beverly Hills, California, and also spend time at their vacation home in Interlaken, New Jersey.[8]
Perlman and DeVito are both members of the steering committee of the Friends of the Apollo, a theater in Oberlin, Ohio, as is filmmaker Jonathan Demme.[9]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Hot Dogs for Gauguin | Woman on Ferry | Short film |
| 1979 | Swap Meet | Mother | |
| 1982 | National Lampoon's Movie Madness | The Little Jewish Prostitute | |
| 1982 | Love Child | June Burns | |
| 1986 | My Little Pony: The Movie | Reeka | Voice |
| 1990 | Enid is Sleeping | Mavis | |
| 1991 | The Last Halloween | Mrs. Gizborne | |
| 1991 | Ted and Venus | Grace | |
| 1992 | Class Act | Ms. Simpson | |
| 1992 | There Goes the Neighborhood | Lydia Nunn | |
| 1993 | We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story | Mother Bird | Voice |
| 1995 | Canadian Bacon | Honey | |
| 1996 | Sunset Park | Phyllis Saroka | |
| 1996 | Carpool | Martha | |
| 1996 | Matilda | Zinnia Wormwood | |
| 2001 | Old Love | Unknown | Short film |
| 2006 | 10 Items Or Less | Mrs. D | |
| 2007 | Bloom | Ma | Short film |
| 2007 | Love Comes Lately | Riesel | |
| 2008 | Cat Dragged In | Woman in Street | Short film |
| 2008 | Beethoven's Big Break | Patricia | |
| 2011 | The Trouble With Bliss | Maria | |
| 2012 | The Sessions | Mikvah Lady | |
| 2015 | I'll See You in My Dreams | Sally | |
| 2016 | Sing | Judith | |
| 2017 | Lemon | Esther | Completed |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Selling of Vince D'Angelo | Mrs. D'Angelo | Television movie |
| 1976 | Stalk the Wild Child | Jean | Television movie |
| 1976 | I Want to Keep My Baby! | Rae Finer | Television movie |
| 1977 | Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night | Judy | Television movie |
| 1977 | Having Babies II | Cheryl (uncredited) | Television movie |
| 1977 | Intimate Strangers | Unknown | Television movie |
| 1979 | Like Normal People | Jan | Television movie |
| 1979–1982 | Taxi | Zena Sherman | 5 episodes |
| 1982 | Drop Out Father | Tawney Shapiro | Television movie |
| 1982–1993 | Cheers | Carla Tortelli Annette Lozupone (one episode) |
275 episodes American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Female in a Television Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1984–86, 1989) Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Comedy Series Nominated—American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Female in a Television Series Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1985, 1987–90, 1992) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1983, 1987–88, 1990–91, 1993) |
| 1983 | Unlikely Stories, Vol. 2 | Vince's Wife | Television movie |
| 1984 | The Ratings Game | Francine Kester | Television movie |
| 1985 | Happily Ever After | Rose Johnson | Voice; Television movie |
| 1985 | St. Elsewhere | Carla Tortelli | Episode: "Cheers" |
| 1986 | Amazing Stories | Lois | Episode: "The Wedding Ring" |
| 1986 | This is Impossible | Rose Johnson | Voice; Television Movie |
| 1987 | The Tortellis | Carla Tortelli | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1987 | Stamp of a Killer | Claudia | Television movie |
| 1988 | A Family Again | Aunt Dee | Television movie |
| 1989 | Two Daddies? | Rose Johnson | Voice; Television movie |
| 1990 | The Earth Day Special | Paula | Television special |
| 1991 | Blossom | The Godmother | Episode: "Dad's Girlfriend" |
| 1992 | Roc | Connie Mason | Episode: "The Stan Who Came to Dinner" |
| 1992 | To Grandmother's House We Go | Shirley | Television movie |
| 1993 | A Place to Be Loved | Jerri Blair | Television movie |
| 1994 | The Simpsons | Carla Tortelli | Voice; Episode: "Fear of Flying" |
| 1994 | In Spite of Love | Emma | Television movie |
| 1994 | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! | Worm TV Host | Television movie |
| 1995 | The Critic | Ardeth (second season) | Voice; 2 episodes |
| 1996–1997 | Pearl | Pearl Caraldo | 22 episodes |
| 1997 | Union Square | Mrs. Eileen Mulrooney | Episode: "Harassed" |
| 1997 | Almost Perfect | Rhea Perlman | Episode: "Dating for Ratings" |
| 1998 | In the Doghouse | Phil Markowitz | Television movie |
| 1998 | Houdini | Esther | Television movie |
| 1999 | H-E Double Hockey Sticks | Mrs. Beelzebub | Television movie |
| 1999 | Mad About You | Ramona | Episode: "Valentine's Day" |
| 2000 | A Tale of Two Bunnies | Thelma | Television movie |
| 2000 | Secret Cutting | Dr. Parella | Television movie |
| 2000 | How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale | Jacqueline Kennedy | Television movie |
| 2001 | Ally McBeal | Dr. Helen Tooth | Episode: "Falling Up" |
| 2001 | Kate Brasher | Abbie Shaeffer | 6 episodes |
| 2001 | Becker | Dr. Katherine Simmons | Episode: "Psycho Therapy" |
| 2002 | Frasier | Carla Tortelli | Episode: "Cheerful Goodbyes" |
| 2002 | What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Agnes | Voice; Episode: "A Scooby-Doo Halloween" |
| 2003 | Karen Sisco | Louise Salchek | Episode: "Dumb Bunnies" |
| 2003 | Other People's Business | Mrs. Wabash | Television movie |
| 2004 | Kevin Hill | Eleanor Frank | Episode: "Homework" |
| 2006 | Crumbs | Camile Spadaro | Episode: "A Loon Again, Naturally" |
| 2006 | Stroller Wars | Penny | Television movie |
| 2008 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Roxana Fox | Episode: "Unorthodox" |
| 2008 | The Christmas Choir | Sister Agatha | Television movie |
| 2009–2010 | Hung | Vera-Joan Skagle | 4 episodes |
| 2011 | Wilfred | Mittens | Episode: "Compassion" |
| 2011 | Oliver's Ghost | Eloise | Television movie |
| 2012 | Hot in Cleveland | Jacki | Episode: "Everything Goes Better with Vampires" |
| 2012 | The Manzanis | Camille | Pilot |
| 2013–2014 | Kirstie | Thelma | 12 episodes |
| 2014–present | The Mindy Project | Annette Castellano | 11 episodes |
| 2015 | Getting On | Crystal Buff | Season 3, Episode 3: "No, I Don't Want a F. Smiley Face" |
| 2016 | Mom[10] | Anya | Season 3, Episode 12: "Diabetic Lesbians and a Blushing Bride" |
References
- ↑ Rhea Perlman Biography (1948–)
- ↑ NEWSMEAT ▷ Rhea Perlman's Federal Campaign Contribution Report
- ↑ Error on call to Template:cite book: Parameter title must be specifiedFrank Lovecewith Franco, Jules{{#if: with Franco | with Franco, Jules (1988). {{#if: | {{{editor2}}} pp. 53, 286. Simon & Schuster / Prentice Hall Press.
- ↑ Lovece, pp. 53, 80
- ↑ Wallace, Carol. "Chalk Up a Successful Marriage for TV's Tart-Tongued Twosome, Danny De Vito and Rhea Perlman", People, December 12, 1983. Retrieved on October 8, 2012.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman Separate. Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved on October 8, 2012.
- ↑ Leonard, Elizabeth. "Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman Are Back Together", People, March 15, 2013. Retrieved on March 16, 2013.
- ↑ Monmouth County, New Jersey Tax Assessor's Office property record for Danny De Vito and Rhea Perlman. Tax1.co.monmouth.nj.us. Retrieved on 2010-02-10.
- ↑ Friends of the Apollo. Oberlin College. Retrieved on July 6, 2009.
- ↑ Diabetic Lesbians and a Blushing Bride. the Futon Critic. Retrieved on January 30, 2016.