Christine Lahti
Biography
Christine Ann Lahti is an American actress and filmmaker born on April 4, 1950, in Birmingham, Michigan. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 1984 film Swing Shift. Her other film appearances include And Justice for All in 1979, Housekeeping in 1987, Running on Empty in 1988, Leaving Normal in 1992, and The Fear Inside. For her directorial debut with the 1995 short film Lieberman in Love, she won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. Lahti made her Broadway debut in 1980 as a replacement in Loose Ends and later starred in the Broadway productions of Present Laughter in 1982 and The Heidi Chronicles in 1989.
Career overview
Christine Ann Lahti is an American actress and filmmaker born on April 4, 1950, in Birmingham, Michigan, United States. Over the course of her career, she has built an extensive filmography encompassing numerous feature films and short subjects. Among her notable early film roles are appearances in the 1979 film And Justice for All and the 1984 film Swing Shift, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Her subsequent film credits include Housekeeping in 1987, Running on Empty in 1988, Leaving Normal in 1992, and The Fear Inside. In addition to her acting work in cinema, Lahti made her directorial debut with the 1995 short film Lieberman in Love, winning the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for her work on the project.
Alongside her work in film, Lahti has maintained a presence in theatre. She made her Broadway debut in 1980 as a replacement in Loose Ends and later starred in the Broadway productions of Present Laughter in 1982 and The Heidi Chronicles in 1989. Her professional recognition includes multiple nominations, notably being an eight-time Golden Globe nominee and a six-time Emmy Award nominee.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Sheriff Country (2025) as Ruby Quinn
- Bird in Hand (2025) as Carlotta
- Fire Country (2022) as Ruby Quinn
- My Name Is Andrea (2022) as Pariah
- Gloria: A Life (2020) as Gloria Steinem
- Evil (2019) as Sheryl Luria
- A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) as Ellen
- Becks (2018) as Ann
- The Good Fight (2017) as Andrea Stevens
- Touched with Fire (2016) as Sara
- Operator (2016) as Beth Larsen
- The Steps (2016) as Sherry
- Grace and Frankie (2015) as Lydia Foster
- Safelight (2015) as Peg
- Hateship Loveship (2014) as Eileen
- The Blacklist (2013) as Laurel Hitchin
- Petunia (2013) as Felicia Petunia
- 8 (2012) as Kris Perry
- Touchback (2011) as Thelma
- Hawaii Five-0 (2010) as Doris McGarrett
- Flying Lessons (2010) as Caroline Conway
- The Good Wife (2009) as Andrea Stevens
- Obsessed (2009) as Detective Monica Reese
- Operating Instructions (2009) as Commander Helen Keller
- Smart People (2008) as Nancy
- Yonkers Joe (2008) as Janice
- Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006) as Martha O'Dell
- The Tony Danza Show (2004) as Self - Guest
- Jack & Bobby (2004) as Grace McCallister
- Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman (2004) as Rose
- Uta Hagen's Acting Class (2004) as Self
- The Book of Ruth (2004) as Maylene
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Open House (2003) as Samantha Morrow
- Out of the Ashes (2003) as Gisella Perl
- The Pilot's Wife (2002) as Kathryn Lyons
- Women vs. Men (2002) as Dana
- My First Mister (2001) Director
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000) as Christine Lahti
- An American Daughter (2000) as Lyssa Dent Hughes
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Sonya Paxton
- The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999) as Self - Guest
- The Making of Ladies and Gentlemen, Fabulous Stains (1999) as Self
- Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler Story (1999) as Ellie Nesler
- The View (1997) as Self
- Ally McBeal (1997) as Sydney Gale
- Subway Stories (1997) as Red Shoe Woman (segment "The Red Shoes")
- Hope (1997) as Emma Percy
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- Pie in the Sky (1996) as Ruby
- A Weekend in the Country (1996) as Ruth Oakley
- Lieberman in Love (1995) as Shaleen
- Lieberman in Love (1995) Director
- MADtv (1995) as Self
- Hideaway (1995) as Lindsey
- The Four Diamonds (1995) as Dr. Burke / Sorceress Reptannehan
- Chicago Hope (1994) as Kathryn Austin
- Chicago Hope (1994) Director
- Ellen (1994) as Ellen Screen Test #4
- Frasier (1993) as Laura (voice)
- Intimate Portrait (1993) as Self
- Leaving Normal (1992) as Darly
- The Fear Inside (1992) as Meredith Cole
- The Good Fight (1992) as Grace Cragin
- Crazy From the Heart (1991) as Charlotte Bain
- The Doctor (1991) as Anne
- Funny About Love (1990) as Meg
- No Place Like Home (1989) as Zan Cooper
- Miss Firecracker (1989) as Clara Archer
- Gross Anatomy (1989) as Dr. Rachel Woodruff
- Running on Empty (1988) as Annie Pope
- Amerika (1987) as Alethea Milford
- Housekeeping (1987) as Sylvie Fisher
- Stacking (1987) as Kathleen Morgan
- Desert Bloom (1986) as Voice of adult "Rose" (narrator)
- Just Between Friends (1986) as Sandy Dunlap
- Love Lives On (1985) as Marilyn
- Swing Shift (1984) as Hazel Zanussi
- Single Bars, Single Women (1984) as Elsie
- American Playhouse (1982) as Kathleen Morgan
- The Executioner's Song (1982) as Brenda Nicol
- The Executioner's Song (1982) as Brenda Nicol
- Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains (1982) as Aunt Linda
- Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) as Dr. Clare Scott
- Wolcott (1981) as Melinda Marin
- The Henderson Monster (1980) as Dr. Louise Casimir
- ...And Justice for All (1979) as Gail Packer
- The Last Tenant (1978) as Carol
- The Harvey Korman Show (1978)
- Dr. Scorpion (1978) as Tania Reston
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Beverly Hills Cop as Helen