Rhea Perlman
Rhea Jo Perlman[2] (born March 31, 1948) is an American actress. She played head-waitress Carla Tortelli in the sitcom Cheers (1982–1993).[3] Over the course of 11 seasons, Perlman was nominated for ten Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress — winning four times — and was nominated for a record seven Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series. She has also appeared in films, including Canadian Bacon (1995), Matilda (1996), The Sessions (2012), and Poms (2019).
Rhea Perlman | |
|---|---|
Perlman in 2011 | |
| Born | Rhea Jo Perlman March 31, 1948 Brooklyn, New York, United States[1] |
| Alma mater | Hunter College (BA) |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Height | 152 cm (5 ft 0 in) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, including Lucy DeVito |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Heide Perlman (sister) |
Early life and family
Perlman was born on March 31, 1948, in Coney Island, Brooklyn, to Philip Perlman, a Polish immigrant who was a manager at a doll parts factory and Adele, a bookkeeper.[4] She grew up in Bensonhurst in a Jewish family with additional roots in Russia.[5] She has a sister, Heide, who is a television writer, story editor, and producer who worked on Cheers, Frasier and The Tracey Ullman Show.[6] In the mid-1980s, her parents moved to Los Angeles, and her father became an extra on Cheers. His character became known by his real name, Phil, and he managed to get a few lines over the years as he appeared in more than 30 episodes. He created a second career as a character actor, appearing in several films and television shows, including Throw Momma from the Train, Hoffa, and Frasier.[4][6]
She studied drama at Hunter College in New York, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968.[1][7][6]
Career
Perlman began her acting career with a small role as an attendant in the off-off-Broadway play Dracula Sabbat, which ran from September 1970 to June 1971.[1][8] In 1972, 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.[9]
One of her first notable parts was a recurring role on the television show Taxi as Zena, the sweet girlfriend of Louie De Palma (played by DeVito).
Following that, she had a role in a small play portraying a much tougher character.[10] Producers Glen and Les Charles saw her in that play, which led to her landing the role as wisecracking barmaid Carla Tortelli on their sitcom Cheers in 1982. The series struggled with ratings in its first season, but by the time it ended in 1993, it was one of the most popular and successful shows of all time, winning 20 Emmy awards out of 95 nominations.[10][11]
Perlman won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy four times: in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1989.[12] Over her 11 seasons on Cheers, she was nominated for an Emmy every year but 1992, becoming the Cheers star to have the most wins and nominations. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress six times, more than anyone else in that category. In 2011, CBS named Carla Tortelli as one of the greatest TV characters of all time.[13]
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 opposite 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 fourth-season 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.
In 2009, Perlman and her daughter Lucy DeVito starred in the off-Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore, adapted by Nora and Delia Ephron, at the Westside Theatre.[3]
From 2014 to 2017, she starred in a recurring role on The Mindy Project as Danny's mother, Annette Castellano.
Writing
Perlman is the author of the 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 met 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.[14] They moved in together two weeks after meeting [15] and married on January 28, 1982.[16] They have three children: Lucy Chet DeVito, Grace Fan DeVito, and Jacob Daniel DeVito.[17] Perlman, who is Jewish, and DeVito, who was raised Catholic, raised their children celebrating the major holidays of both religions but did not give their children any religious identity. Perlman told the Los Angeles Times in 1998: "We do all the holidays to keep the traditions and the culture going, but I truly don't have a great feeling about any particular organized religion, and I don't think it's right to impose one on my kids. I feel like I'm bringing them up to be good people, and that's what it's about."[5] In addition to their three children, the couple has one granddaughter.[18]
The family resided in Beverly Hills, California, and they owned a vacation home in Interlaken, New Jersey that they frequented to get away from Los Angeles.[19][20] Throughout their relationship, Perlman and DeVito have acted alongside each other several times, including in the TV show Taxi and the feature film Matilda.[17]
Perlman and DeVito separated in October 2012.[17] However, in March 2013, it was reported that they had reconciled.[21] The couple later separated again for a second time in March 2017 on amicable terms.[22] Although the two no longer live together, Perlman said she has no intention of divorcing DeVito.[22] In 2019, Perlman told interviewer Andy Cohen that she and DeVito have become closer friends after their separation than they were in their final years as a couple.[23]
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 | |
| Love Child | June Burns | ||
| 1985 | Molly and the Skywalkerz: Happily Ever After | Rose Johnson | Voice |
| 1986 | My Little Pony: The Movie | Reeka | Voice |
| 1989 | Molly and the Skywalkerz: Two Daddies? | Rose Johnson | Voice |
| 1990 | Enid Is Sleeping | Mavis | |
| 1991 | The Last Halloween | Mrs. Gizborne | |
| Ted and Venus | Grace | ||
| 1992 | To Grandmother's House We Go | Shirley | |
| Class Act | Ms. Simpson | ||
| 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 | |
| Carpool | Martha | ||
| Matilda | Zinnia Wormwood | ||
| 2001 | Old Love | Short film | |
| 2006 | 10 Items or Less | Mrs. D | |
| 2007 | Bloom | Ma | Short film |
| Love Comes Lately | Riesel | ||
| 2008 | Cat Dragged In | Woman in Street | Short film |
| 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 | Voice[24] |
| 2017 | Lemon | Esther | |
| 2018 | Half Magic | Linda | |
| 2019 | Poms | Alice | |
| 2020 | Funny Face | Fernie | |
| 2021 | Marvelous and the Black Hole | Margot | |
| 2022 | 13: The Musical | Grandma Ruth | |
| 2023 | You People | Bubby | |
| Barbie | Post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Stalk the Wild Child | Jean | |
| I Want to Keep My Baby! | Rae Finer | ||
| 1977 | Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night | Judy | |
| Having Babies II | Cheryl (uncredited) | ||
| Intimate Strangers | Unknown | ||
| 1979 | Like Normal People | Jan | |
| 1979–1982 | Taxi | Zena Sherman | 5 episodes |
| 1982 | The Selling of Vince D'Angelo | Mrs. D'Angelo | Television film |
| Drop Out Father | Tawney Shapiro | ||
| 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 film |
| Saturday Night Live | Herself (co-host) | Episode: "Danny DeVito & Rhea Perlman/Eddy Grant" | |
| 1984 | The Ratings Game | Francine Kester | Voice, television film |
| 1985 | A Girl Named Alida | Rose Johnson | |
| St. Elsewhere | Carla Tortelli | Episode: "Cheers" | |
| 1986 | Amazing Stories | Lois | Episode: "The Wedding Ring" |
| Annie | Rose Johnson | Voice, 12 episodes | |
| 1987 | The Tortellis | Carla Tortelli | Episode: "Pilot" |
| Stamp of a Killer | Claudia | Television film | |
| 1988 | A Family Again | Aunt Dee | |
| 1989 | Alida's Problem? | Rose Johnson | |
| 1990 | The Earth Day Special | Paula | Television special |
| 1991 | Blossom | The Godmother | Episode: "Dad's Girlfriend" |
| Sesame Street | The Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe | Episode: "The Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe's house arrives on Sesame Street" | |
| 1992 | Roc | Connie Mason | Episode: "The Stan Who Came to Dinner" |
| 1993 | A Place to Be Loved | Jerri Blair | Television film |
| 1994 | The Simpsons | Carla Tortelli | Voice, episode: "Fear of Flying" |
| In Spite of Love | Emma | Television film | |
| All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! | Worm TV Host | ||
| 1995 | The Critic | Ardeth | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1996–1997 | Pearl | Pearl Caraldo | 22 episodes |
| 1997 | Union Square | Mrs. Eileen Mulrooney | Episode: "Harassed" |
| Almost Perfect | Rhea Perlman | Episode: "Dating for Ratings" | |
| 1998 | In the Doghouse | Phil Markowitz | Television film |
| Houdini | Esther | ||
| 1999 | H-E Double Hockey Sticks | Mrs. Beelzebub | |
| Mad About You | Ramona | Episode: "Valentine's Day" | |
| 2000 | A Tale of Two Bunnies | Thelma | Television film |
| Secret Cutting | Dr. Parella | ||
| How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale | Jacqueline Kennedy | ||
| 2001 | Ally McBeal | Dr. Helen Tooth | Episode: "Falling Up" |
| Kate Brasher | Abbie Shaeffer | 6 episodes | |
| Becker | Dr. Katherine Simmons | Episode: "Psycho Therapy" | |
| 2002 | Frasier | Carla Tortelli | Episode: "Cheerful Goodbyes" |
| What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Agnes | Voice, episode: "A Scooby-Doo Halloween" | |
| 2003 | Karen Sisco | Louise Salchek | Episode: "Dumb Bunnies" |
| Other People's Business | Mrs. Wabash | Television film | |
| 2004 | Kevin Hill | Eleanor Frank | Episode: "Homework" |
| 2006 | Crumbs | Camile Spadaro | Episode: "A Loon Again, Naturally" |
| Stroller Wars | Penny | Television film | |
| 2008 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Roxana Fox | Episode: "Unorthodox" |
| The Christmas Choir | Sister Agatha | Television film | |
| 2009–10 | Hung | Vera-Joan Skagle | 4 episodes |
| 2011 | Wilfred | Mittens | Episode: "Compassion" |
| Oliver's Ghost | Eloise | Television film | |
| 2012 | Hot in Cleveland | Jacki | Episode: "Everything Goes Better with Vampires" |
| The Manzanis | Camille | Pilot | |
| 2012–2013 | Robot and Monster | Nessie | Voice, 13 episodes |
| 2013 | Robot Chicken | Crypt Keeper's Wife / Grandmother / Witch | Voice, episode: "Caffeine-Induced Aneurysm" |
| 2013–14 | Kirstie | Thelma | 12 episodes |
| 2014 | The Neighbors | Janet | Episode: "Uncle Benjamin" |
| 2014–17 | The Mindy Project | Annette Castellano | 17 episodes |
| 2015 | Getting On | Crystal Buff | Episode: "No, I Don't Want a Fucking Smiley Face" |
| 2016 | Mom[25] | Anya | Episode: "Diabetic Lesbians and a Blushing Bride" |
| Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Estelle | Episode: "Coral Palms, Part 1" | |
| 2017 | Me and My Grandma[26] | Grandma Skalecki | 6 episodes |
| Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories | Maureen | Episode: "The Duke" | |
| 2018 | Shooter | Associate Justice Gibson | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | The Goldbergs | Margot Letien | Episode: “Food in a Geoffy”[27] |
| Harley Quinn | Golda | Voice, episode: "Being Harley Quinn" | |
| 2021–23 | Star Wars: The Bad Batch | Cid | Voice, 9 episodes |
| 2023 | Accused | Joyce | Episode: "Brenda's Story" |
| 2023 | Poker Face | Beatrix Hasp | Voice, episode: "The Hook" |
References
- ^ a b c Brant, Marley (2006). Happier Days: Paramount Television's Classic Sitcoms, 1974-1984. Billboard Books. p. 166. ISBN 9780823089338. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ "Veromi.net - People Summary". www.veromi.net.
- ^ a b Itzkoff, Dave (November 17, 2009). "Rhea Perlman and Lucy DeVito in 'Love, Loss, and What I Wore'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ a b Barnes, Mike (May 7, 2015). "Philip Perlman, 'Cheers' Barfly and Father of Rhea Perlman, Dies at 95". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ a b Lacher, Irene (December 28, 1998). "No Religious Ballyhoo in Her Family". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ a b c Kennedy, Dana (October 4, 1996). "Rhea Perlman's real life is super sweet". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ Hunter College Commencement Exercises (PDF). Hunter College. June 11, 1968. p. 14. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ "Dracula Sabbat at Judson Poets Theater and others 1970-1971". About The Artists. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ "Cheers: funniest lines". The Daily Telegraph. May 20, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ a b Raftery, Brian (September 27, 2012). "Cheers Oral History". GQ. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ Shapiro, Mitchell E.; Jicha, Tom (2015). The Top 100 American Situation Comedies: An Objective Ranking. McFarland. pp. 8–9. ISBN 9781476623405. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ "Rhea Perlman". Television Academy. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ "50 Greatest TV Characters". March 29, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ 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). . People. Archived from the original on November 20, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ^ a b c . Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ^ Perman and DeVito family
- ^ Boon, Jon. "Single In The City! Danny DeVito Moving To New York: He Misses The Big Apple!", RadarOnline, October 15, 2012. Accessed January 24, 2023. "Danny and Rhea used to stay at his vacation home in Interlaken, New Jersey whenever they wanted a break away from Los Angeles. He never really felt an affinity to California and lived there purely for work reasons."
- ^ "Monmouth County, New Jersey Tax Assessor's Office property record for Danny De Vito and Rhea Perlman". Tax1.co.monmouth.nj.us. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
- ^ Leonard, Elizabeth (March 15, 2013). "Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman Are Back Together". People. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- ^ a b "Why Rhea Perlman won't divorce Danny DeVito". New York Post. March 8, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
- ^ Squires, Bethy (May 10, 2019). "Rhea Perlman and Danny DeVito May Be Separated, but They're Still Bros". Vulture. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
- ^ "Sing - Full Cast and Credits". Hollywood.com. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
- ^ "Diabetic Lesbians and a Blushing Bride". the Futon Critic. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ^ "Rhea Perlman cast alongside Eva Gutowski on 'Me and My Grandma'". Tubefilter. November 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
- ^ Dawn, Randee (September 17, 2019). "A mini-'Cheers' reunion is coming to TV! See the pics". Today. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
External links
- Rhea Perlman at IMDb
- Rhea Perlman at the Internet Broadway Database
- Rhea Perlman at the Internet Off-Broadway Database