Rhea Perlman

Rhea Perlman
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Name	Rhea Perlman
Caption	Perlman in 2012
Birth date	31 March 1948
Birth place	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, author
Years active	1972–present
Spouse	Danny DeVito, 1982, 2012

Rhea Perlman is an American actress and author best known for her role as the sharp-tongued waitress Carla Tortelli on the long-running NBC sitcom Cheers, a performance for which she won four Primetime Emmy Awards. With a career spanning over five decades, she has appeared in numerous films and television series, including Matilda, The Sessions, and Barbie. Perlman is also a noted children's book author and a co-founder of the production company Jersey Films with her former husband, actor and director Danny DeVito.

Early life and education

Rhea Perlman was born on March 31, 1948, in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn, to a Jewish family. Her parents, Philip Perlman, a parts manager for a doll company, and Adele Perlman, a bookkeeper, were both immigrants from Poland. She attended P.S. 188 and later graduated from Hunter College High School in Manhattan. Perlman pursued higher education at Hunter College, where she studied drama and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Career

Perlman began her professional acting career in the early 1970s with stage work in New York City, including performances with The Public Theater. Her breakthrough came in 1982 when she was cast as Carla Tortelli on the iconic television series Cheers, set in a Boston bar; she remained with the show for its entire eleven-season run, becoming one of its most beloved characters. Concurrently, she appeared in films such as Enormous Changes at the Last Minute, Crimes and Misdemeanors, and Canadian Bacon. Following Cheers, she starred in her own short-lived sitcom, Pearl, and had recurring roles on series like Kate & Allie and The Mindy Project. Her film work includes notable roles in family features like Matilda, directed by DeVito, and acclaimed performances in independent films like The Sessions alongside John Hawkes and Helen Hunt. She has also voiced characters in animated projects such as Cars and Storks, and appeared in Greta Gerwig's blockbuster Barbie. Beyond acting, Perlman is a published author of children's books, including the Lilly series, and was a principal in the Los Angeles-based Jersey Films.

Personal life

Perlman married actor and director Danny DeVito in 1982 after meeting him in 1970 while both were working on a production of The Shrinking Bride. They have three children: Lucy, Gracie, and Jake. The couple separated in 2012 but have never finalized their divorce, maintaining a close relationship and family unit. Perlman has been involved with various charitable organizations, including those supporting children's health and the arts.

Filmography

A selected list of Perlman's acting credits includes the television series Cheers (1982–1993), Pearl (1996–1997), and The Mindy Project (2013–2017). Her notable film roles encompass Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), Matilda (1996), The Sessions (2012), and Barbie (2023). She has also provided voice work for animated features like Cars (2006) and Storks (2016).

Awards and nominations

For her portrayal of Carla Tortelli on Cheers, Perlman won four Primetime Emmy Awards (in 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1989) out of ten nominations. She has also received two American Comedy Awards and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1994. Her performance in The Sessions earned her critical acclaim and nominations from groups like the Screen Actors Guild.

Legacy and influence

Rhea Perlman is widely regarded as one of the great comedic character actors of her generation, with her portrayal of the fiercely independent and witty Carla Tortelli on Cheers leaving an indelible mark on American television. Her career longevity and versatility, moving seamlessly between television, film, and voice acting, have inspired subsequent generations of performers. Perlman's work with Jersey Films contributed to notable projects in the 1990s, and her success as a children's author demonstrates her multifaceted artistic influence.

Category:American television actresses Category:American film actresses Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners