Mercedes Ruehl
Birth Place: USA
Jessica Hecht, Marsha Mason and More to Join HB Studio's THE LIGHT WE CARRY Festival (Apr 24, 2026)
Catherine Curtin and Marcia Cross to Join PEN PALS Off-Broadway (Oct 23, 2025)
HEISENBERG Comes to the Chain Theatre Next Month (Apr 4, 2025)
BIO
Mercedes Ruehl won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as video store owner and romantic interest in Terry Gilliam's fantasy comedy drama The Fisher King (1991). She also acted in the films The Warriors (1979), Heartburn (1986), 84 Charing Cross Road (1987), Big (1988), Married to the Mob (1988), Last Action Hero (1993), Indictment: The McMartin Trial (1995), Roseanna's Grave (1997), Gia (1998), The Minus Man (1999) and Hustlers (2019). On television, she had a recurring role as a radio station manager in the NBC sitcom Frasier from 1995 to 1996.
On stage, she made her Broadway debut in the Herb Gardner play I'm Not Rappaport (1985). She won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role in the Neil Simon drama Lost in Yonkers (1991). She reprised the role in the 1993 film of the same name. She was further Tony-nominated for her performances in Michael Cristofer's The Shadow Box (1995) and Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (2002). She has also acted in Broadway productions of The Rose Tattoo (1995), The American Plan (2009), and Torch Song (2017).
Since then, she appeared in New Amsterdam, Accused, and The Nana Project.
Photos
STAGE CREDITS
Movies
[ 1979 ] Policewoman
[ 1981 ] Woman in Taxi
[ 1986 ] Cybelle
[ 1986 ] Eve
[ 1987 ] Ad Man
[ 1987 ] Kay
[ 1987 ] Miss Cooper
[ 1987 ] Sheila
[ 1988 ] Connie Russo
[ 1988 ] Mrs. Bkin
[ 1989 ] Samantha
[ 1990 ] Dr. Liz Baylor
[ 1991 ] Anne
[ 1991 ] Elaine
[ 1993 ] Bella
[ 1993 ] Mom
[ 1997 ] Roseanna
[ 1999 ] Jane
[ 1999 ] Tina
[ 2000 ] Elizabeth Avila
[ 2000 ] Grace
[ 2000 ] VictoriaVicGalletti
[ 2002 ] Boss
[ 2004 ] Esther
[ 2014 ] Mrs. Fefterg
[ 2019 ] Mother
TV Shows
Judge Tessa Hudson
Rita Chase
Kate Costas
Judge Clara Lloyd, Zina Rybakov
Connie Teresi
Nurse Ursula
Connie
Awards and Nominations
Mercedes Ruehl , Woman Before a Glass
winner
Mercedes Ruehl, The Goat
winner
Mercedes Ruehl, The Goat
Mercedes Ruehl, The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?
Mercedes Ruehl, The Rose Tattoo
Mercedes Ruehl , The Shadow Box
winner
Mercedes RuehlLost In Yonkers
winner
Mercedes Ruehl, Lost in Yonkers
winner
Mercedes Ruehl, Lost in Yonkers
winner
Mercedes Ruehl , Lost in Yonkers
Videos
PLAY OF THE DAY! Today's Play: THE ROSE TATTOO By Tennessee Williams
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2020-04-02 09:11:30
VIDEO: On This Day, February 28- Happy Birthday, Bernadette Peters!
by A.A. Cristi - 2019-02-28 16:44:47
TV: TORCH SONG Lights Up Broadway Again! Inside Opening Night with Michael Urie & Company
by TV - Opening Night Special - 2018-11-02 11:51:24
TV: Watch Highlights of Michael Urie and Company in TORCH SONG on Broadway!
by Nicole Rosky - 2018-10-31 14:31:45
VIDEO: Harvey Fierstein Talks Playing Edna vs. Albin, the HAIRSPRAY Film, and More on Watch What Happens Live
by Stephi Wild - 2018-10-17 07:22:05
TV: Michael Urie & Harvey Fierstein Are Getting Ready to Bring Back TORCH SONG!
by Nicole Rosky - 2017-09-20 15:53:14
TV: Watch Performances from FUN HOME, GIGANTIC & More at the Vineyard Theatre Gala!
by Nicole Rosky - 2016-03-21 12:01:06
MasterCard Presents: Broadway Beat's Priceless Moments #33 Mercedes Ruehl
by Broadway Beat Priceless Moments - 2008-03-27 23:27:50
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 24, 2026
HB Studio will present its first annual The Light We Carry Festival, featuring performances, screenings, masterclasses, and conversations with artists including Jessica Hecht, Mercedes Ruehl, and Marsha Mason.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 23, 2025
The Off-Broadway play Pen Pals at the DR2 Theatre with its moving portrayal of enduring friendship—and this fall, the production welcomes acclaimed actresses Catherine Curtin and Marcia Cross. Learn more!
by Stephi Wild - Apr 4, 2025
New Music Theatre Project & Rapeteta Theatre Company will present Heisenberg, a new play, by Simon Stephens, directed by Tony and Oscar award-winning Mercedes Ruehl in her directorial debut.
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 10, 2024
L.A. Theatre Works has announced the availability of four audio theater productions of classic plays by Tennessee Williams.
by Josh Sharpe - Nov 19, 2024
BroadwayWorld is excited to debut an exclusive clip from a new episode of Accused, which stars Christine Ebersole. In the episode, a widow finds herself on trial after becoming mixed up in a dance teacher’s shady dealings. Watch the clip now!
by Bruce Glikas - Oct 28, 2024
Michael Urie, the star of Once Upon a Mattress, received his very own caricature at the legendary Sardi's! Check out photos here.
by Josh Sharpe - Aug 19, 2024
Tony Award-winners Mercedes Ruehl and Christine Ebersole will both appear in the second season of Fox's Accursed, playing Connie and Deb, respectively. They will appear alongside Debra Winger and Matthew James Thomas (who will play a new role) in the 'Margot's Story' episode.
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Aug 11, 2024
This time, the reader question was: What is the history of established movie stars making their Broadway debuts?
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 10, 2024
Marin Theatre Company will close out its 2023/24 season with Torch Song, the seminal comic drama by Harvey Fierstein, directed by Evren Odcikin. Learn how to purchase tickets.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 26, 2024
Co-Founders Patrick Reilly and Tucker Aust have launched The Queer Ensemble. The collective's inaugural event will be a staged reading of Craig Lucas' The Dying Gaul. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets.
by Stephi Wild - Nov 7, 2023
As part of its new Building the Box Developmental Reading Series, Out of the Box Theatrics will present readings of SQUEAKY, a poignant autobiographical comedy by Drama Desk Award winner Jeff Cohen.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 13, 2023
Join in for a concert staging of the new comedy with music 'A Milonga for Gabriel Issacs' on October 21 at 7:30 p.m. Written by John McCaffrey and Mark Singer, directed by Paul Lincoln, and featuring music by The Oscar Feldman Trio and live tango by Sandra Antognazzi. Tickets available online.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 7, 2023
The Hispanic Organization of Latino Actors (HOLA) announced this year’s HOLA Awards nominees. Learn more about this year's nominees here!
by James Blinken - Jul 13, 2023
Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts held its Summer Gala on Saturday, July 8, at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor with Lifetime Achievement Awards honoring Julie Andrews, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.
by Blair Ingenthron - Jul 9, 2023
According to various reports, Jeffrey Carlson, best known for originating the role of Marilyn in TABOO and Billy in Edward Albee's THE GOAT on Broadway, has passed away. He was 48.
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 23, 2023
The Ensemble Company, now in their fifth year in residence at Penguin Point Productions located within the Oviedo Mall, continues its 2023 season with a production of Edward Albee's masterpiece, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which celebrated 60 years in 2022. Virginia Woolf is rescheduled from The Ensemble Company's 2022 season.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 31, 2022
The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors has announced the 21st. Annual HOLA Awards Gala Benefit which honors top Latino and Hispanic talents who have shown excellence in film, television, and theatre.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 21, 2022
Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts has shared photographs from its Mini Gala Dinner and Reception, A Night In The Tropics, held Saturday, July 16, at the home of Bay Street Theater Board of Trustee Stewart Lane and Bonnie Comley.
by James Blinken - Jul 20, 2022
Board Member Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley hosted the event! On Saturday, July 16, 2022, Bay Street Board Member Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley hosted a celebration at their East Hampton estate for Bay Street Theater, honoring Mercedes Ruehl and Harris Yulin. Ruehl and Yulin were honored with Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center For The Arts's Joel Grey Lifetime Achievement Award as actors and for their many years of support for the East End's arts community.
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 30, 2022
Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is hosting a series of summertime Mini Gala Dinners and Cocktail Receptions honoring performers, artists, and patrons of the arts, including Harris Yulin, Mercedes Ruehl, and Jules Feiffer.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Mercedes Ruehl has appeared on Broadway in 7 shows.
Mercedes Ruehl has not appeared in the West End.
Outstanding Solo Performance (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Woman Before a Glass, Outstanding Actress - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Goat, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Goat, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?, Outstanding Actress - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Rose Tattoo, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Shadow Box, Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Lost In Yonkers, Outstanding Actress - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Lost in Yonkers, Best Actress - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Lost in Yonkers and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Lost in Yonkers.
Outstanding Actress - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Goat; Outstanding Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Goat; Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Lost In Yonkers; Outstanding Actress - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Lost in Yonkers; Best Actress - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Lost in Yonkers; Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Lost in Yonkers.
Videos
