Mercedes Ruehl
Biography
Mercedes J. Ruehl is a distinguished American actress celebrated for her work across film, television, and theater. Over her impressive career, she has garnered numerous prestigious awards, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, two Obie Awards, and two Outer Critics Circle Awards.
Ruehl's performance in the critically acclaimed film *The Fisher King* (1991) stands out as her most notable role, earning her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as accolades from the American Comedy Awards, the Boston Society of Film Critics, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and a Golden Globe.
On stage, she is particularly recognized for her leading role in Neil Simon's *Lost in Yonkers* (1990), which further established her reputation as a versatile performer. Her filmography includes notable appearances in *Big* (1988), *Married to the Mob* (1988), *Last Action Hero* (1993), *Roseanna's Grave* (1997), and *Hustlers* (2019).
Additionally, Ruehl made a memorable impact on television, portraying the mother of Vincent Chase in HBO's popular series *Entourage*. With a career spanning several decades, Mercedes Ruehl continues to be a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, renowned for her exceptional talent and dynamic performances.
Filmography
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Crazy People
1990
84 Charing Cross Road
1987 • Kay
Gia
1998 • Kathleen Carangi
Doctors of the Dark Side
2011 • Narrator
Chu and Blossom
2014 • Mrs. Fefterg
Hustlers
2019 • Mother
The Lost Child
2000 • Rebecca
Mom at Sixteen
2005 • Terry Jeffries
The Warriors
1979
Spooky House
2002 • Boss
The Nana Project
2023 • Nana
Guilt by Association
2002 • Susan Walker
The Secret of My Success
1987
Last Action Hero
1993
Loving Leah
2009 • Janice
Lost in Yonkers
1993 • Bella Kurnitz
Slaves of New York
1989 • Samantha
Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict
2015 • Self
Married to the Mob
1988 • Connie Russo
Big
1988 • Mrs. Baskin
Indictment: The McMartin Trial
1995 • Lael Rubin
Another You
1991 • Elaine