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Mercedes Ruehl

Highest Rated: 98% Big (1988)

Lowest Rated: 5% Another You (1991)

Birthday: Feb 28, 1948

Birthplace: Queens, New York, USA

Like many who achieve "overnight success," Mercedes Ruehl had spent many years honing her craft on stage and in small roles in film and TV before breaking through in 1988 with two high profile parts. The New York native spent a somewhat peripatetic childhood, moving frequently until her FBI agent father and teacher mother finally settled in Silver Spring, Maryland. After returning to New York to attend college, Ruehl settled in Manhattan and studied acting with Uta Hagen while supporting herself with the usual battery of odd jobs (e.g., waitressing). She landed her first film role (a bit part as a policewoman) in 1979's "The Warriors." Ruehl went on to spend the next two years as a company member of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, acting in such works as "Medea" and "Much Ado About Nothing."

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Highest rated movies

98% 82% Big Watchlist
88% 49% Married to the Mob
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88% 82% Gia
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88% 65% Hustlers Watchlist 85% 85% The Fisher King Watchlist
85% 81% 84 Charing Cross Road
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78% 63% Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands
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71% 77% Lost in Yonkers
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58% 45% The Minus Man
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52% 65% What's Cooking?
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Nana Project Nana (Character) - 2023
88% 65% Hustlers Mom (Character) $105.0M 2019
No Score Yet 56% Chu and Blossom Mrs. Fefterg (Character) - 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet Banner 4th of July Rosalind Banner (Character) - 2013
No Score Yet No Score Yet Doctors of the Dark Side Narrator - 2011
No Score Yet 72% Loving Leah Janice Lever (Character) - 2009
No Score Yet 90% A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story Sylvia Guerrero (Character) - 2006
No Score Yet 79% Mom at Sixteen Terry Jeffries (Character) - 2005
No Score Yet 12% Bad Apple Lorraine Gibbons (Character) - 2004
No Score Yet 30% Zeyda and the Hitman Esther (Character) - 2004
No Score Yet 64% Guilt by Association Susan Walker (Character) - 2002
No Score Yet 20% Widows Unknown (Character) - 2002
46% 64% The Amati Girls Grace (Character) $47.8K 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Mary Kay Letourneau Story: All-American Girl Jane Newhall (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 43% Spooky House Boss (Character) $64.5K 2000
No Score Yet 57% More Dogs Than Bones Victoria "Vic" Galletti (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 58% The Lost Child Rebecca (Character) - 2000
52% 65% What's Cooking? Elizabeth Avila (Character) $1.0M 2000
58% 45% The Minus Man Jane (Character) $368.8K 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Out of the Cold Tina (Character) - 1999
88% 82% Gia Kathleen Carangi (Character) - 1998
38% 82% For Roseanna Roseanna 'Rosa' (Character) $120.4K 1997
No Score Yet 61% Subway Stories Leyla (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet North Shore Fish Florence (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet 77% Indictment: The McMartin Trial Lael Rubin (Character) - 1995
42% 48% Last Action Hero Irene Madigan (Character) - 1993
71% 77% Lost in Yonkers Bella Kurnitz (Character) $9.1M 1993
5% 35% Another You Elaine/Mimi Kravitz (Character) $2.5M 1991
85% 85% The Fisher King Anne Napolitano (Character) $39.4M 1991
35% 62% Crazy People Dr. Liz Baylor (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Locos, Locos de Remate Unknown (Character) - 1990
22% 70% Slaves of New York Samantha (Character) $294.4K 1989
88% 49% Married to the Mob Connie Russo (Character) $19.7M 1988
98% 82% Big Mrs. Baskin (Character) $113.5M 1988
48% 58% The Secret of My Success Sheila (Character) $65.3M 1987
85% 81% 84 Charing Cross Road Kay (Character) $572.7K 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Leader of the Band Miss Cooper (Character) - 1987
48% 46% Heartburn Eve (Character) $24.3M 1986
78% 63% Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands American girl in casino (Character) - 1976

TV

Credit
61% 62% Accused Connie (Guest Star) 2024
No Score Yet 50% New Amsterdam Grace Ramirez (Guest Star) 2022
No Score Yet 61% Bull Judge Hudson (Guest Star) 2018-2020
No Score Yet 84% NCIS Marie Quinn (Guest Star) 2017
No Score Yet 63% 2 Broke Girls Olga (Guest Star) 2016
24% 78% The Mysteries of Laura Unknown (Guest Star) 2016
No Score Yet 84% Life in Pieces Mia (Guest Star) 2016
78% 83% Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Lucia Barba (Guest Star) 2015
52% No Score Yet Monday Mornings Unknown (Guest Star) 2013
No Score Yet 83% Law & Order Unknown (Guest Star) 2004 2009
65% 82% Entourage Rita Chase (Guest Star) 2006 2008
No Score Yet No Score Yet 1-800-Missing Emanuelle Baker (Character) 2004
95% 95% Frasier Kate Costas (Guest Star) 1995-1996
No Score Yet 68% The Cosby Show Unknown (Guest Star) 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Kate & Allie Unknown (Guest Star) 1986