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Mercedes Ruehl

Acting Born Feb 28, 1948 Queens, New York, USA 73 credits

Biography

Mercedes J. Ruehl is an American actress who has worked in film, television, and on stage. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, two Obie Awards, and two Outer Critics Circle Awards. Her most acclaimed film role was in the 1991 production The Fisher King. Her performance in that film earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as an American Comedy Award, a Boston Society of Film Critics Award, and a Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award. Additionally, Ruehl is known for her leading performance in the 1990 play Lost in Yonkers.

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Known for

Accused

as Connie
Film

Disclosure

as Self (archive footage)
Film

Hustlers

as Mother

New Amsterdam

as Grace

Bull

as Judge Tessa Hudson

Bull

as Judge Hudson

Life in Pieces

as Mia

The Mysteries of Laura

as Val Santiani
Film

Behind Convent Walls

as Olga

Psych

as Detective Goochberg
Film

Porgy and Bess

as Rita Chase
Film

The Sum of All Fears

as Marie Quinn

Frequent co-stars

Gary Klar 2 shared titles
Tom Hanks 1 shared title
Elizabeth Perkins 1 shared title
Robert Loggia 1 shared title
John Heard 1 shared title
Jared Rushton 1 shared title
David Moscow 1 shared title
Jon Lovitz 1 shared title
Josh Clark 1 shared title
Kimberlee M. Davis 1 shared title

Career timeline

AccusedThe Nana Project
Disclosure
Hustlers
New Amsterdam
BullBullRobin Williams: Behind Closed Doors
Life in PiecesPeggy Guggenheim: Art Addict
The Mysteries of LauraChu and Blossom
Monday MorningsDoubtStar Spangled Banners
2 Broke GirlsDoctors of the Dark Side
Goldstar, Ohio
Loving Leah
PsychA Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story
Mom at Sixteen
EntourageBad AppleZeyda and the Hitman
NCIS
WidowsGuilt by AssociationSpooky House
The Amati Girls
What's Cooking?More Dogs Than BonesAll-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau StoryThe Lost Child
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitThe Minus ManOut of the Cold
Gia
Subway StoriesNorth Shore FishRoseanna's Grave
Indictment: The McMartin Trial
On Hope
FrasierLate Night with Conan O'BrienLast Action HeroLost in Yonkers
The Fisher KingAnother You
Law & OrderLaw & OrderCrazy People
Crimes and MisdemeanorsSlaves of New York
BigMarried to the Mob
The Secret of My Success84 Charing Cross RoadRadio DaysLeader of the Band
Heartburn

Full filmography

  • Accused (2023) as Connie
  • The Nana Project (2023) as Nana
  • Disclosure (2020) as Self (archive footage)
  • Hustlers (2019) as Mother
  • New Amsterdam (2018) as Grace
  • Bull (2016) as Judge Tessa Hudson
  • Bull (2016) as Judge Hudson
  • Robin Williams: Behind Closed Doors (2016) as Self
  • Life in Pieces (2015) as Mia
  • Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict (2015) as Self
  • The Mysteries of Laura (2014) as Val Santiani
  • Chu and Blossom (2014) as Mrs. Fefterg
  • Monday Mornings (2013) as Judge Beverly Natheson
  • Doubt (2013) as Mrs. Syd Newman
  • Star Spangled Banners (2013) as Rosalind Banner
  • 2 Broke Girls (2011) as Olga
  • Doctors of the Dark Side (2011) as Narrator
  • Goldstar, Ohio (2010) as Adriana Rock
  • Loving Leah (2009) as Janice
  • Psych (2006) as Detective Goochberg
  • A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story (2006) as Sylvia Guerrero
  • Mom at Sixteen (2005) as Terry Jeffries
  • Entourage (2004) as Rita Chase
  • Bad Apple (2004) as Lorraine Gibbons
  • Zeyda and the Hitman (2004) as Esther
  • NCIS (2003) as Marie Quinn
  • Widows (2002) as Dolly Rawlins
  • Guilt by Association (2002) as Susan Walker
  • Spooky House (2002) as Boss
  • The Amati Girls (2001) as Grace
  • What's Cooking? (2000) as Elizabeth Avila
  • More Dogs Than Bones (2000) as Victoria 'Vic' Galletti
  • All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story (2000) as Jane Newhall
  • The Lost Child (2000) as Rebecca
  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Lucia Barba
  • The Minus Man (1999) as Jane
  • Out of the Cold (1999) as Tina
  • Gia (1998) as Kathleen Carangi
  • Subway Stories (1997) as Leyla (segment "Underground")
  • North Shore Fish (1997) as Florence
  • Roseanna's Grave (1997) as Roseanna
  • Indictment: The McMartin Trial (1995) as Lael Rubin
  • On Hope (1994)
  • Frasier (1993) as Kate Costas
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
  • Last Action Hero (1993) as Irene Madigan
  • Lost in Yonkers (1993) as Bella Kurnitz
  • The Fisher King (1991) as Anne
  • Another You (1991) as Elaine
  • Law & Order (1990) as Zina Rybakov
  • Law & Order (1990) as Clara Lloyd
  • Crazy People (1990) as Dr. Liz Baylor
  • Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) as Party Guest (uncredited)
  • Slaves of New York (1989) as Samantha
  • Big (1988) as Mrs. Baskin
  • Married to the Mob (1988) as Connie Russo
  • The Secret of My Success (1987) as Sheila
  • 84 Charing Cross Road (1987) as Kay
  • Radio Days (1987) as Ad Man
  • Leader of the Band (1987) as Miss Cooper
  • Heartburn (1986) as Eve
  • Twisted (1985) as Cybelle
  • The Cosby Show (1984) as Bernadette Foley
  • Kate & Allie (1984)
  • Mom's on Strike (1984) as Sandy
  • Four Friends (1981) as Woman in Taxi
  • The Warriors (1979) as Policewoman
  • Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands (1976) as American girl in casino
  • ABC Afterschool Special (1972) as Sandy
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
  • The Oscars (1953) as Self
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Rebecca
  • People Not Places