Rhea Perlman
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This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2012) |
| Rhea Perlman | |
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 Perlman in August 2011 |
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| Born | Rhea Jo Perlman[1] March 31, 1948 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress/Writer |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Spouse(s) | Danny DeVito (m. 1982) |
| Children | Lucy Chet DeVito (born 1983) Grace Fan DeVito (born 1985) Jacob Daniel DeVito (born 1987) |
Rhea Jo Perlman (born March 31, 1948) is an American actress, best known for her role as Carla Tortelli on the sitcom Cheers, for which she won four Emmy Awards.
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Early life[edit]
Perlman was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Philip and Adele Perlman. Her father was an actor, and a doll-and toy-part salesman; he later played barfly Phil on Cheers.[2] Her sister Heide Perlman is 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.[3]
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[edit]
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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 DePalma (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's 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.
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 acted out the part of 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.
Writing[edit]
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, Brink of the Ex-stink-tion, and Brain Freeze.
Personal life[edit]
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.[4] They moved in together two weeks after meeting.[5] The couple married on January 28, 1982.[6] They have three children: Lucy Chet DeVito (born March 1983), Grace Fan DeVito (born March 1985), and Jacob Daniel DeVito (born October 1987).[7] Throughout their relationship, Perlman and DeVito have acted alongside each other several times, including in the TV show Taxi and the feature film Matilda.[7] DeVito and Perlman separated in October 2012.[7] However, in March 2013, it was reported that they had reconciled and called off the separation.[8] The family resides in Beverly Hills, California, and also spend time at their vacation home in Interlaken, New Jersey.[9]
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.[10]
Filmography[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Hot Dogs for Gauguin | Woman on Ferry | Short film |
| 1976 | Selling of Vince D'Angelo | Mrs. D'Angelo | TV film |
| 1976 | Stalk the Wild Child | Jean | TV film |
| 1976 | I Want to Keep My Baby! | Rae Finer | TV film |
| 1977 | Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night | Judy | TV film |
| 1977 | Having Babies II | Cheryl | TV film Uncredited |
| 1977 | Intimate Strangers | Unknown | TV film |
| 1979–1982 | Taxi | Zena Sherman | 5 episodes: "Louie and the Nice Girl" (1979), "Louie Meets the Folks" (1979), "Louie's Rival" (1980), "Louie's Fling" (1981), "Zena's Honeymoon" (1982)[11] |
| 1979 | Like Normal People | Jan | TV film |
| 1979 | Swap Meet | Mother | |
| 1982 | National Lampoon's Movie Madness | The Little Jewish Prostitute | |
| 1982 | Drop Out Father | Tawney Shapiro | TV film |
| 1982 | Love Child | June Burns | |
| 1982–1993 | Cheers | Carla Tortelli | 275 Episodes Main Role Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series(1984,1985,1986,1989) American Comedy Award(1989) Viewers for Quality Television Award(1985) TV Land Award(2006) Nominated- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series(1983,1987,1988,1990,1991,1993) Nominated- Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1985–1992) |
| 1983 | Unlikely Stories, Vol. 2 | Vince's Wife | TV film |
| 1984 | The Ratings Game | Francine Kester | TV film |
| 1985 | St. Elsewhere | Carla Tortelli | Episode: "Cheers" |
| 1985 | Happily Ever After | Rose Johnson (Voice) | TV film |
| 1986 | My Little Pony: The Movie | Reeka | Voice |
| 1986 | Amazing Stories | Lois | Episode: "The Wedding Ring" |
| 1987 | The Tortellis | Carla Tortelli | Pilot |
| 1987 | Stamp of a Killer | Claudia | TV film |
| 1988 | A Family Again | Aunt Dee | TV film |
| 1989 | Two Daddies? | Rose Johnson (Voice) | TV film |
| 1990 | Enid is Sleeping | Mavis | |
| 1990 | The Earth Day Special | Paula | |
| 1991 | Blossom | The Godmother | Episode: "Dad's Girlfriend" |
| 1991 | The Last Halloween | Mrs. Gizborne | TV special |
| 1991 | Ted and Venus | Grace | |
| 1992 | Roc | Connie Mason | Episode: "The Stan Who Came to Dinner" |
| 1992 | From Time to Time | 9-Eye (Voice) | Short |
| 1992 | Class Act | Ms. Simpson | |
| 1992 | There Goes the Neighborhood | Lydia Nunn | |
| 1992 | To Grandmother's House We Go | Shirley | TV film |
| 1993 | A Place to Be Loved | Jerri Blair | TV film |
| 1993 | We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story | Mother Bird | Voice role |
| 1994 | In Spite of Love | Emma | TV film |
| 1994 | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! | Worm TV Host | TV film |
| 1994 | The Simpsons | Carla Tortelli (Voice) | Episode: "Fear of Flying" |
| 1995 | Canadian Bacon | Honey | |
| 1995 | The Critic | Ardeth (Voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Sunset Park | Phyllis Saroka | |
| 1996 | Carpool | Martha | |
| 1996 | Matilda | Zinnia Wormwood | |
| 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 | TV film |
| 1998 | Houdini | Esther | TV film |
| 1999 | Mad About You | Ramona | Episode: "Valentine's Day" |
| 1999 | H-E Double Hockey Sticks | Mrs. Beelzebub | TV film |
| 2000 | A Tale of Two Bunnies | Thelma | TV film |
| 2000 | Secret Cutting | Dr. Parella | TV film |
| 2000 | How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale | Jacqueline Kennedy | TV film |
| 2001 | Ally McBeal | Dr. Helen Tooth | Episode: "Falling Up" |
| 2001 | Kate Brasher | Abbie Shaeffer | 6 episodes |
| 2001 | Old Love | Unknown | Short film |
| 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 | Other People's Business | Mrs. Wabash | TV film |
| 2003 | Karen Sisco | Louise Salchek | Episode: "Dumb Bunnies" |
| 2004 | Kevin Hill | Eleanor Frank | Episode: "Homework" |
| 2006 | Stroller Wars | Penny | TV film |
| 2006 | Crumbs | Camile Spadaro | Episode: " A Loon Again, Naturally" |
| 2006 | 10 Items Or Less | Mrs. D | |
| 2007 | Bloom | Ma | Short film |
| 2007 | Love Comes Lately | Riesel | |
| 2008 | Law and Order: Special Victims Unit | Roxana Fox | Episode: "Unorthodox" |
| 2008 | Cat Dragged In | Woman in Street | Short film |
| 2008 | The Christmas Choir | Sister Agatha | TV film |
| 2008 | Beethoven's Big Break | Patricia | Direct-to-video release |
| 2009–2010 | Hung | Vera-Joan Skagle | 4 episodes |
| 2011 | The Trouble With Bliss | Maria | |
| 2011 | Wilfred | Mittens | Episode: "Compassion" |
| 2011 | Oliver's Ghost | Eloise | TV film |
| 2012 | The Sessions | Mikvah Lady | |
| 2012 | Hot in Cleveland | ||
| 2012 | The Manzanis | Camille | TV film |
| 2012 | The Stupidest Angel | Mavis |
References[edit]
- ^ Veromi
- ^ Rhea Perlman Biography (1948–)
- ^ NEWSMEAT ▷ Rhea Perlman's Federal Campaign Contribution Report
- ^ Lovece, Frank; with Franco, Jules (1988). Hailing Taxi: The Official Book of the Show. New York: Simon & Schuster / Prentice Hall Press. pp. 53, 286. ISBN 978-0-13-372103-4.
- ^ Lovece, pp. 53, 80
- ^ Wallace, Carol (December 12, 1983). "Chalk Up a Successful Marriage for TV's Tart-Tongued Twosome, Danny De Vito and Rhea Perlman". People. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman Separate". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ^ Leonard, Elizabeth (March 15, 2013). "Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman Are Back Together". People. Retrieved 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 2010-02-10.
- ^ "Friends of the Apollo". Oberlin College. Retrieved July 6, 2009.
- ^ Lovece, Hailing Taxi, pp. 100, 130-131, 143-144, 155-156, 181-182, 213-215
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rhea Perlman |
- Rhea Perlman at the Internet Movie Database
- Rhea Perlman at the Internet Broadway Database
- Rhea Perlman at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Otto Undercover
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