Rhea Perlman

Biography

Rhea Jo Perlman (born March 31, 1948) is an American actress and writer. She is best known for her role as head-waitress Carla Tortelli in the sitcom Cheers (1982–1993). Over the course of 11 seasons, Perlman was nominated for ten Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress – winning four times – and was nominated for a record seven Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series. She has also appeared in films, including Canadian Bacon (1995), Matilda (1996), The Sessions (2012), and Poms (2019).

Known For

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

The Simpsons

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

American Dad!

Saturday Night Live

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Frasier

The View

All Movies (73)

• Barbie2023 · as Ruth
• You People2023 · as Bubby
• 13: The Musical2022 · as Grandma Ruth
• Marvelous and the Black Hole2022 · as Margot
• Funny Face2021 · as Fernie
• Mr. Bungle: The Night They Came Home2020 · as Spooky Narration
• Saving Flora2019 · as Gabriella
• Poms2019 · as Alice
• The Matchmaker2018 · as Irene
• Lemon2017 · as Esther
• Sing2016 · as Judith (voice)
• Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows2016 · as Self
• I'll See You in My Dreams2015 · as Sally
• The Sessions2012 · as Mikvah Lady
• Oliver's Ghost2011 · as Eloise
• The Trouble with Bliss2011 · as Maria (uncredited)
• The Nightman Cometh: Live2009 · as Gladys
• The Christmas Choir2008 · as Sister Agatha
• Beethoven's Big Break2008 · as Patricia
• Love Comes Lately2007 · as Reisel
• 10 Items or Less2006 · as Mrs. D
• My Movie About Making 'Matilda' by Mara Wilson2005 · as Self
• Matilda's Movie Magic: The Making of 'Matilda'2005 · as Self
• NBC 75th Anniversary Special2002 · as Self
• How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale2000 · as Jacqueline Kennedy
• Painful Secrets2000 · as Dr. Parella
• A Tale of Two Bunnies2000 · as Thelma
• H.E. Double Hockey Sticks1999 · as Ms. Beelzebub
• The Frasier Story1999 · as Self
• Houdini1998 · as Esther
• In the Doghouse1998 · as Phil Markowitz
• Monty Python: Live at Aspen1998 · as Audience Member (uncredited)
• Carpool1996 · as Martha
• Matilda1996 · as Zinnia Wormwood
• Sunset Park1996 · as Phyllis Saroka
• Canadian Bacon1995 · as Deputy Honey
• The World of Jim Henson1994 · as Self (archive footage)
• Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!1994 · as Worm TV Host
• Spoils of War1994 · as Emma
• We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story1993 · as Mother Bird (voice)
• A Place to Be Loved1993 · as Jerry Blair
• To Grandmother's House We Go1992 · as Shirley
• There Goes the Neighborhood1992 · as Lydia Nunn
• Class Act1992 · as Miss Simpson
• The Last Halloween1991 · as Mrs. Gizborne
• Ted & Venus1991 · as Grace
• Amazing Stories: The Movie II1990 · as Lois (archive footage)
• Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration1990 · as Self
• Enid Is Sleeping1990 · as Mavis
• Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!1990 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Earth Day Special1990 · as Paula
• Two Daddies?1989 · as Rose Johnson (voice)
• Mickey's 60th Birthday1988 · as Carla Tortelli
• A Family Again1988 · as Aunt Dee
• Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie1988 · as Self
• Stamp of a Killer1987 · as Claudia
• Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville1987 · as Maisy - Constitutional Caterer
• My Little Pony: The Movie1986 · as Reeka (voice)
• Happily Ever After1985 · as Rose Johnson (voice)
• The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There1985
• The Ratings Game1984 · as Francine Kester
• Love Child1982 · as June Burns
• Drop-Out Father1982 · as Tawney Shapiro
• National Lampoon's Movie Madness1982 · as Little Jewish Prostitute ("Municipalians")
• Swap Meet1979 · as Mother
• Like Normal People1979 · as Jan
• Intimate Strangers1977 · as Barbara
• Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night1977 · as Judy
• I Want to Keep My Baby!1976 · as Rae Finer
• Stalk the Wild Child1976 · as Jean
• The Selling of Vince D'Angelo1976 · as Vince's Wife
• Minestrone1975 · as Tessy
• Hot Dogs for Gauguin1972 · as Woman on Ferry

All TV Shows (59)

• Too Much2025 · as Dottie
• Mid-Century Modern2025 · as Judy
• The Studio2025 · as Matt's Mom (voice)
• The Studio2025 · as Matt's Mom
• Curses!2023 · as Margie (voice)
• Not Dead Yet2023 · as Janice
• Poker Face2023 · as Beatrix Hasp (voice)
• Poker Face2023 · as Beatrix Hasp
• Star Wars: The Bad Batch2021 · as Cid (voice)
• Harley Quinn2019 · as Golda (voice)
• Me and My Grandma2017 · as Grandma
• Shooter2016 · as Supreme Court Justice Gibson
• Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories2014 · as Maureen
• Kirstie2013 · as Thelma Katz
• Getting On2013 · as Crystal Buff
• The Goldbergs2013 · as Margot Letien
• Mom2013 · as Anya
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine2013 · as Estelle
• The Mindy Project2012 · as Annette Castellano
• Robot and Monster2012 · as Nessie (voice)
• Wilfred2011 · as Mittens
• Hot in Cleveland2010 · as Jacki
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• Hung2009
• The Megan Mullally Show2006 · as Self - Guest
• Crumbs2006 · as Camille Spadaro
• It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia2005 · as Bertha Fussy
• Fat Actress2005 · as Rhea Perlman
• American Dad!2005 · as Old Stripper (voice)
• Kevin Hill2004 · as Eleanor Frank
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show2003 · as Self
• What's New, Scooby-Doo?2002 · as Agnes (voice)
• Kate Brasher2001 · as Abbie Schaeffer
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Roxana Fox
• Becker1998 · as Dr. Katherine Simmons
• Union Square1997 · as Eileen Mulrooney
• Ally McBeal1997 · as Dr. Helen Tooth
• The View1997 · as Self
• Pearl1996 · as Pearl Caraldo
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show1996 · as Self - Guest
• Almost Perfect1995
• The Critic1994 · as Ardeth (voice)
• Frasier1993 · as Carla Tortelli
• Mad About You1992 · as Mrs. Ramona DiChristophoro
• Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories1992 · as Narrator (voice)
• Roc1991
• Blossom1990 · as The Godfather
• The Simpsons1989 · as Carla Tortelli (voice)
• The Tortellis1987 · as Carla Tortelli
• My Little Pony1986
• Matlock1986 · as Rhea Perlman
• Amazing Stories1985 · as Lois
• St. Elsewhere1982 · as Carla Tortelli
• Cheers1982 · as Carla Tortelli
• Taxi1978 · as Zena Sherman
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Co-Host
• Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Audience Member
• Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Nominee
• Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self