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Lisa Edelstein

Highest Rated: 88% The Everything Pot (2024)

Lowest Rated: 16% Say Uncle (2005)

Birthday: May 21, 1966

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Brassy and beautiful actress Lisa Edelstein had been catching the eye of television audiences for the better part of the last two decades with brave and funny performances in a variety of network series ranging from "Seinfeld" (NBC, 1990-98) and "The West Wing" (NBC, 1999-2006), to her breakout role of tough hospital administrator Dr. Lisa Cuddy on the Fox medical drama, "House" (2004-12). Born in Boston, MA on May 21, 1966, Edelstein made a splash in New York in the '80s as a celebrated member of the city's nightlife scene (so much so that the New York press dubbed her a "top celebutante" in 1986). At the same time, Edelstein was also pursuing a degree in theater at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, and used her training to co-write and produce one of the first AIDS-related musical productions, "Positive Me," which made its debut at La Mama in 1989. The following year, television viewers got their first look at Edelstein when she co-hosted MTV's ill-fated attempt at a morning program, "Awake on the Wild Side" (1990). The program lasted less than a year, and Edelstein quickly graduated to small roles in films like "The Doors" (1991) and "Love Affair" (1994). Her first attention-grabbing role was Karen, the risotto-loving girlfriend to George Costanza (Jason Alexander) in two 1993 episodes of "Seinfeld;" the turn (which continued to garner Edelstein praise through the years) was followed by nine episodes on the forgettable CBS comedy "Almost Perfect" (1995-96), which thankfully introduced her to TV producer, Thomas Schlamme, with whom she would work on several subsequent shows. A memorable turn as a lesbian on Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick's short-lived cult series "Relativity" (ABC, 1996-97) came later, as did an appearance as a documentarian on the 1997 live episode of "ER" (NBC, 1994-2009). Edelstein also branched out into voice-over work for the video game adaptation of "Blade Runner" (1997) and the highly regarded "Superman: The Animated Series" (WB, 1996-2000), for which she voiced Mercy Graves, henchwoman to Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown); Edelstein returned to the character for "The Superman/Batman Movie" in 1998, and several episodes of "Justice League" (Cartoon Network, 2001-06). Edelstein logged numerous episodic appearances for the next few years, as well as a few supporting roles in features like "As Good As It Gets" (1997) and "30 Days" (1999), before reuniting with Schlamme for writer Aaron Sorkin's criminally underrated comedy series, "Sports Night" (ABC, 1998-2000), in which Edelstein appeared twice as Bobbi Bernstein, a sports anchor with a perceived grudge against series regular Josh Charles. The collaboration scored again with Sorkin and Schlamme's next program, "The West Wing," in which she enjoyed several appearances as Rob Lowe's romantic interest, a law student who also moonlights as an escort. In 2000, Edelstein took on another challenging role, that of James LeGros' transsexual girlfriend on "Ally McBeal" (Fox, 1997-2002). The following year, Edelstein earned the wrath of "Felicity" (WB, 1998-2002) fans by playing Lauren, who lures away and becomes pregnant by Felicity's love interest, Scott Speedman's Ben. More episodic appearances followed, including that of James Spader's love interest on "The Practice" (ABC, 1997-2004), as well as features like "Daddy Day Care" (2003), before Edelstein landed on "House." The role of Cuddy was ostensibly that of foil to Hugh Laurie's eccentric and brilliant Dr. House, but Edelstein's particular knack with comedy granted the character a sharp wit of her own that gave their sparring a witty sparkle. And the show's creators wisely added a wrinkle to her character - that Cuddy wishes to have a baby so thus, seeks a sperm donor - which allowed for some likable romantic tension between these two ostensible foes. After "House" came to an end, Edelstein kept busy with short guest-star arcs on television series ranging from courtroom drama "The Good Wife" (CBS 2009-16) and romantic mystery-drama "Castle" (ABC 2009-16) to Seth MacFarlane's satiric cartoon "American Dad" (Fox 2005-14; TBS, 2014- ) and scabrous media satire "House of Lies" (Showtime 2012-16). Her next major TV role came as the star of the cable comedy-drama "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce" (Bravo 2014- ), playing self-help author Abby McCarthy, whose divorce puts her life into an unexpected tailspin.

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Highest rated movies

88% The Everything Pot
Watchlist
81% 55% Joshy Watchlist
80% 77% The Batman-Superman Movie
Watchlist
80% 71% Phoenix, Oregon
Watchlist
80% 75% Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets Watchlist
69% 59% Keeping the Faith
Watchlist
54% 54% What Women Want Watchlist
27% 48% Daddy Day Care
Watchlist
16% 41% Say Uncle
Watchlist
Unzipping
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
88% No Score Yet The Everything Pot Rachel (Character),
Producer
- 2024
No Score Yet No Score Yet Shadow Brother Sunday Sandra (Character) - 2023
80% 75% Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets Elly (Character) - 2021
80% 71% Phoenix, Oregon Tanya (Character) - 2019
No Score Yet No Score Yet Unzipping Ella (Character),
Director,
Screenwriter,
Producer
- 2018
81% 55% Joshy Claudia (Character) - 2016
No Score Yet No Score Yet Three Hours Between Planes Unknown (Character) - 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet She Loves Me Not Amy (Character) - 2013
No Score Yet 53% Blue-Eyed Butcher Kelly Siegler (Character) - 2012
No Score Yet 48% Special Delivery Maxine Carter (Character) - 2008
No Score Yet 53% Fathers and Sons Irene (Character) - 2005
16% 41% Say Uncle Sarah (Character) $5.2K 2005
27% 48% Daddy Day Care Crispin's Mom (Character) $104.1M 2003
No Score Yet 75% A Date With Darkness: The Trial and Capture of Andrew Luster Maeve Fox (Character) - 2003
No Score Yet 38% Obsessed Charlotte (Character) - 2002
No Score Yet 50% Black River Laura Crosby (Character) - 2001
54% 54% What Women Want Dina (Character) $182.8M 2000
69% 59% Keeping the Faith Ali Decker (Character) $37.0M 2000
No Score Yet 63% L.A. Without a Map Sandra (Character) - 1998
80% 77% The Batman-Superman Movie Mercy Graves (Voice) - 1998
No Score Yet 21% Susan's Plan Penny Myers (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet 43% Indiscreet Beth Sussman (Character) - 1998

TV

Credit
100% 100% Little Bird Golda Rosemblum (Character) 2023
No Score Yet 73% 9-1-1: Lone Star Gwyn (Guest Star) 2021-2022
93% 88% The Kominsky Method Phoebe (Guest Star) 2021
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Wendy Williams Show Guest 2010 2015 2017 2021
No Score Yet 68% The Good Doctor Dr. Marina Blaize (Guest Star) 2018-2019
No Score Yet 46% Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce Abby McCarthy (Character) 2014-2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet Harry Guest 2017
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Chew Guest 2017
No Score Yet No Score Yet Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen Guest 2015 2017
No Score Yet No Score Yet FABLife Guest 2016
No Score Yet No Score Yet Rachael Ray Guest 2014
89% 79% The Legend of Korra Kya (Guest Voice) 2013-2014
82% 87% Castle Unknown (Guest Star) 2013
93% 72% Scandal Sarah Stanner (Guest Star) 2013
95% 89% Elementary Heather Vanowen (Guest Star) 2012
93% 90% The Good Wife Celeste Serrano (Guest Star) 2011
No Score Yet 90% American Dad! Sharri Rothberg (Guest Voice) 2007-2008 2010-2011
90% 96% House Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Character) 2004-2011
No Score Yet No Score Yet Lopez Tonight Guest 2010
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Bonnie Hunt Show Guest 2010
No Score Yet 77% King of the Hill Alexis (Guest Voice) 2007
No Score Yet No Score Yet Judging Amy Unknown (Guest Star) 2004
No Score Yet 75% Without a Trace Unknown (Guest Star) 2003
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Practice Unknown (Guest Star) 2003
27% No Score Yet Presidio Med Unknown (Guest Star) 2003
No Score Yet 71% Felicity Lauren (Guest Star) 2001-2002
40% No Score Yet Leap of Faith Patty (Character) 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet Family Law Unknown (Guest Star) 2001
61% 78% Ally McBeal Unknown (Guest Star) 2000-2001
47% No Score Yet Grosse Pointe Unknown (Guest Star) 2000
81% 95% The West Wing Laurie (Guest Star) 1999-2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Grapevine Unknown (Guest Star) 2000
90% 93% Sports Night Bobbi Bernstein (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet L.A. Doctors Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
7% No Score Yet Conrad Bloom Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
95% 95% Frasier Caitlin (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Just Shoot Me Erin Simon (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet 85% ER Aggie Orton (Guest Star) 1997
81% No Score Yet Relativity Rhonda Roth (Character) 1996-1997
86% No Score Yet Almost Perfect Unknown (Guest Star) 1995-1996
38% No Score Yet Partners Unknown (Guest Star) 1995
89% 92% Seinfeld Karen (Guest Star) 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mad About You Lynne Stoddard (Guest Star) 1992
71% No Score Yet Nothing Sacred Unknown (Guest Star)