Acting · Coney Island, New York, USA · Born March 31, 1948
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).
TVToo Much
2025
as Dottie
TVMid-Century Modern
2025
as Judy
TVThe Studio
2025
as Matt's Mom (voice)
TVCurses!
2023
as Margie (voice)
MovieBarbie
2023
as Ruth
TVNot Dead Yet
2023
as Janice
TVPoker Face
2023
as Beatrix Hasp (voice)
MovieYou People
2023
as Bubby
Movie13: The Musical
2022
as Grandma Ruth
MovieMarvelous and the Black Hole
2022
as Margot
TVStar Wars: The Bad Batch
2021
as Cid (voice)
MovieFunny Face
2021
as Fernie
MovieMr. Bungle: The Night They Came Home
2020
as Spooky Narration
MovieSaving Flora
2019
as Gabriella
TVHarley Quinn
2019
as Golda (voice)
MoviePoms
2019
as Alice
MovieThe Matchmaker
2018
as Irene
TVMe and My Grandma
2017
as Grandma
MovieLemon
2017
as Esther
MovieSing
2016
as Judith (voice)
TVShooter
2016
as Supreme Court Justice Gibson
MovieMust See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows
2016
as Self
MovieI'll See You in My Dreams
2015
as Sally
TVTim and Eric's Bedtime Stories
2014
as Maureen
TVKirstie
2013
as Thelma Katz
TVGetting On
2013
as Crystal Buff
TVThe Goldbergs
2013
as Margot Letien
TVMom
2013
as Anya
TVBrooklyn Nine-Nine
2013
as Estelle
TVThe Mindy Project
2012
as Annette Castellano
TVRobot and Monster
2012
as Nessie (voice)
MovieThe Sessions
2012
as Mikvah Lady
MovieOliver's Ghost
2011
as Eloise
MovieThe Trouble with Bliss
2011
as Maria (uncredited)
TVWilfred
2011
as Mittens
TVHot in Cleveland
2010
as Jacki
MovieThe Nightman Cometh: Live
2009
as Gladys
TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
TVHung
2009
MovieThe Christmas Choir
2008
as Sister Agatha
MovieBeethoven's Big Break
2008
as Patricia
MovieLove Comes Lately
2007
as Reisel
TVThe Megan Mullally Show
2006
as Self - Guest
Movie10 Items or Less
2006
as Mrs. D
TVCrumbs
2006
as Camille Spadaro
TVIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
2005
as Bertha Fussy
MovieMy Movie About Making 'Matilda' by Mara Wilson
2005
as Self
MovieMatilda's Movie Magic: The Making of 'Matilda'
2005
as Self
TVFat Actress
2005
as Rhea Perlman
TVAmerican Dad!
2005
as Old Stripper (voice)
TVKevin Hill
2004
as Eleanor Frank
TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003
as Self
TVWhat's New, Scooby-Doo?
2002
as Agnes (voice)
MovieNBC 75th Anniversary Special
2002
as Self
TVKate Brasher
2001
as Abbie Schaeffer
MovieHow to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale
2000
as Jacqueline Kennedy
MoviePainful Secrets
2000
as Dr. Parella
MovieA Tale of Two Bunnies
2000
as Thelma
MovieH.E. Double Hockey Sticks
1999
as Ms. Beelzebub
TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
as Roxana Fox
MovieThe Frasier Story
1999
as Self
MovieHoudini
1998
as Esther
TVBecker
1998
as Dr. Katherine Simmons
MovieIn the Doghouse
1998
as Phil Markowitz
MovieMonty Python: Live at Aspen
1998
as Audience Member (uncredited)
TVUnion Square
1997
as Eileen Mulrooney
TVAlly McBeal
1997
as Dr. Helen Tooth
TVThe View
1997
as Self
TVPearl
1996
as Pearl Caraldo
MovieCarpool
1996
as Martha
MovieMatilda
1996
as Zinnia Wormwood
TVThe Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996
as Self - Guest
MovieSunset Park
1996
as Phyllis Saroka
TVAlmost Perfect
1995
MovieCanadian Bacon
1995
as Deputy Honey
MovieThe World of Jim Henson
1994
as Self (archive footage)
MovieSesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
1994
as Worm TV Host
MovieSpoils of War
1994
as Emma
TVThe Critic
1994
as Ardeth (voice)
MovieWe're Back! A Dinosaur's Story
1993
as Mother Bird (voice)
TVFrasier
1993
as Carla Tortelli
MovieA Place to Be Loved
1993
as Jerry Blair
MovieTo Grandmother's House We Go
1992
as Shirley
MovieThere Goes the Neighborhood
1992
as Lydia Nunn
TVMad About You
1992
as Mrs. Ramona DiChristophoro
MovieClass Act
1992
as Miss Simpson
TVShelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
1992
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThe Last Halloween
1991
as Mrs. Gizborne
TVRoc
1991
MovieTed & Venus
1991
as Grace
MovieAmazing Stories: The Movie II
1990
as Lois (archive footage)
TVBlossom
1990
as The Godfather
MovieDisneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration
1990
as Carla Tortelli
MovieEnid Is Sleeping
1990
as Mavis
MovieSesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
1990
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Earth Day Special
1990
as Paula
TVThe Simpsons
1989
as Carla Tortelli (voice)
MovieTwo Daddies?
1989
as Rose Johnson (voice)
MovieMickey's 60th Birthday
1988
as Carla Tortelli
A Family Again
1988
as Aunt Dee
MovieSesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
1988
as Self
MovieStamp of a Killer
1987
as Claudia
MovieFunny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville
1987
as Maisy - Constitutional Caterer
TVThe Tortellis
1987
as Carla Tortelli
TVMy Little Pony
1986
MovieMy Little Pony: The Movie
1986
as Reeka (voice)
TVMatlock
1986
as Rhea Perlman
MovieHappily Ever After
1985
as Rose Johnson (voice)
TVAmazing Stories
1985
as Lois
MovieThe NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
1985
MovieThe Ratings Game
1984
as Francine Kester
TVSt. Elsewhere
1982
as Carla Tortelli
MovieLove Child
1982
as June Burns
TVCheers
1982
as Carla Tortelli
MovieDrop-Out Father
1982
as Tawney Shapiro
MovieNational Lampoon's Movie Madness
1982
as Little Jewish Prostitute ("Municipalians")
MovieSwap Meet
1979
as Mother
Like Normal People
1979
as Jan
TVTaxi
1978
as Zena Sherman
MovieIntimate Strangers
1977
as Barbara
MovieMary Jane Harper Cried Last Night
1977
as Judy
MovieI Want to Keep My Baby!
1976
as Rae Finer
MovieStalk the Wild Child
1976
as Jean
The Selling of Vince D'Angelo
1976
as Vince's Wife
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Co-Host
MovieMinestrone
1975
as Tessy
MovieHot Dogs for Gauguin
1972
as Woman on Ferry
TVThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Carla Tortelli LeBec
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Audience Member
