Rhea Perlman

Rhea Jo Perlman (born March 31, 1948) is an American actress, best known for her role as head-waitress Carla Tortelli on the sitcom Cheers from 1982 to 1993.[3] Over the course of 11 seasons, she was nominated for 10 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress – winning four times – and was nominated for a record six Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series.
== Early life and family ==
Rhea Perlman was born in Coney Island, Brooklyn, the daughter of Philip Perlman (1919–2015), a Polish immigrant who was a manager at a doll parts factory and Adele (born 1922), 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, their parents moved to Los Angeles and their 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 Artsdegree in 1968.[2][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.[2][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 Comedyfour 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 Storiestitled "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 Goopposite 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 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.[14] They moved in together two weeks after meeting.[15] The couple married on January 28, 1982.[16] They have three children: Lucy Chet DeVito (born March 1983), Grace Fan DeVito (born March 1985), and Jacob Daniel DeVito (born October 1987).[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]
The family had resided in Beverly Hills, California, and had also spent time at their vacation home in Interlaken, New Jersey.[18]
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.[19] The couple later separated again for a second time in March 2017 on amicable terms.[20] Although the two no longer lived together, Perlman said she had no intent of filing for divorce from DeVito.[21]
In late March 2018, Radar Online reported that they had again reconciled and were planning on renewing their wedding vows.[22]
Perlman is an active Democrat.[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	
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 	Voice[24]
2017	Lemon 	Esther 	
2018	Half Magic 	Linda 	
2019	Poms 	 	Post-production
=== 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
1983 	Saturday Night Live 	Herself (co-host) 	Episode: "Danny DeVito & Rhea Perlman/Eddy Grant"
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 	Annie 	Rose Johnson 	Voice; 12 Episodes
1987 	The Tortellis 	Carla Tortelli 	Episode: "Pilot"
1987 	Stamp of a Killer 	Claudia 	Television movie
1988 	A Family Again 	Aunt Dee 	Television movie
1988 	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
2012–2013	Robot and Monster 	Nessie 	Voice; 13 episodes
2013 	Robot Chicken 	Crypt Keeper's Wife / Grandmother / Witch	Voice; Episode: "Caffeine-Induced Aneurysm"
2013–2014	Kirstie 	Thelma 	12 episodes
2014 	The Neighbors 	Janet 	Episode: "Uncle Benjamin"
2014–2017	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"
2016 	Brooklyn Nine-Nine 	Estelle 	Episode: "Coral Palms, Part 1"
2017 	Me and My Grandma[26] 	Grandma Skalecki 	6 episodes
2017 	Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories 	Maureen 	Episode: "The Duke"
2018 	Shooter 	Associate Justice Gibson 	Episodes: "Red Light" and "Patron Saint"
Category:People
Category:1948 births
Category:Living people
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American Jews
Category:Actresses from New York City
Category:American film actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:American voice actresses
Category:American stage actresses
Category:American people of Polish-Jewish descent
Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent
Category:American women comedians
Category:Jewish American actresses
Category:Emmy Award winners