# Rita Taggart

Rita Taggart is an American film and television actress. She is known for playing Carla Bouvier on Night Court.

## Biography

Taggart was the third wife of cinematographer Haskell Wexler from 1989 until his death at age 93 in 2015.
On television, Taggart portrayed Blanche on Steambath,$^{:1017}$ Marie Roscini in Hello, Larry,$^{:450}$ Diane in Eye to Eye,$^{:319}$ and Joan Foley in Almost Grown. Her TV acting credits included guest role appearances on such shows as Rhoda, Taxi, Kate & Allie, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Quantum Leap, Coach, and Cagney and Lacey.
Her film credits include the made-for-TV movie James Dean (1976), Coming Home (1978), The China Syndrome (1979) and the TV movie Wait Till Your Mother Gets Home! (1983). She has most recently appeared in the films Circle in 2010 and Go for Sisters in 2013.

## Filmography
### Feature films

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1978 | Coming Home | Johnson | |
| 1978 | Straight Time | Carol Schue | |
| 1979 | The China Syndrome | Rita Jacovich | |
| 1979 | 1941 | Reporter | |
| 1980 | Die Laughing | Thelma | |
| 1980 | Used Cars | Woman In Bed | |
| 1985 | Torchlight | Rita | |
| 1987 | Weeds | Lillian Bingington | |
| 1989 | The Horror Show | Donna McCarthy | |
| 1990 | Coupe de Ville | Betty Libner | |
| 1992 | Crossing the Bridge | Kate Golden | |
| 1995 | Steal Big Steal Little | Autumn McBride | |
| 1999 | Limbo | Lou | |
| 1999 | Inspector Gadget: Gadget's Greatest Gadgets | Nurse | video |
| 2001 | Mulholland Drive | Linney James | |
| 2005 | The Big Empty | Bookstore Co-Worker | Short film |
| 2008 | A Quiet Little Marriage | Nurse Green | |
| 2010 | Circle | Professor McAdams | |
| 2012 | Tracer Gun | Abby's Mother | Short film |
| 2013 | Go for Sisters | Rhonda | |
| 2019 | Where Are You | Jeanne | |

### Television films

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1976 | James Dean | — | Uncredited |
| 1980 | Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case | Amy Morrison | |
| 1980 | Seizure: The Story of Kathy Morris | Nina | |
| 1981 | Inmates: A Love Story | Salt | |
| 1981 | Every Stray Dog and Kid | — | |
| 1981 | Born to Be Sold | Janet Carlson | |
| 1982 | Mae West | Sally | |
| 1983 | Wait till Your Mother Gets Home! | Mrs. Walt Johnson | |
| 1984 | The Cartier Affair | Monica | |
| 1988 | Splash, Too | Fern Hooten | |
| 1993 | At Home with the Webbers | Emma Webber | |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1975 | Rhoda | Groovy Girl | Episode: "Somebody Down There Likes Him " |
| 1978 | Taxi | Vivian Harrow | Episode: "Paper Marriage" |
| 1979 | David Cassidy: Man Undercover | Helen | Episode: "Death Is a Close Friend, Too" |
| 1980 | Hello, Larry | Marie | Episode: "Love Around the Corner" |
| 1981 | Knots Landing | Rose | Episode: "Moments of Truth " |
| 1982–84 | Cagney & Lacey | Rochelle Zimmer | 2 episodes |
| 1984 | Night Court | Carla Bouvier | 4 episodes |
| 1984 | Steambath | Blanche | 6 episodes |
| 1985 | Inspector Gadget | Various roles | 6 episodes; voice |
| 1986 | The Colbys | Brenda | Episode: "Double Jeopardy " |
| 1986 | Hotel | Sheila Jessup | Episode: "Scapegoats" |
| 1988–89 | Almost Grown | Joan Foley | 13 episodes |
| 1990 | Columbo | Mrs. Staplin | Uncredited; Episode: "Agenda for Murder" |
| 1991 | Quantum Leap | Marsha | Episode: "Southern Comforts - August 4, 1961" |
| 1992–94 | Northern Exposure | Edna Hancock | 3 episodes |
| 1992 | Murder, She Wrote | Janine Foster | Episode: "The Classic Murder" |
| 1994–95 | Coach | Ruthanne | 7 episodes |
| 2002 | Liberty's Kids | Various roles | 5 episodes; voice |
| 2004 | Line of Fire | Dr. Kathryn Metters | Episode: "Mother & Child Reunion" |
| 2012 | FutureStates | Dr. Antal | Episode: "Laura Keller: NB" |
| 2015–17 | Where the Bears Are | Doris Dorkoff | 13 episodes |