---
name: "Cathy Moriarty"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/cathy-moriarty"
fi1m_id: "cathy-moriarty"
imdb_id: "nm0001550"
tmdb_id: 14702
wikidata_id: "Q242732"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "29 November 1960"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-10-04T21:15:58.784392+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Cathy Moriarty

## Identity

Cathy Moriarty

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/cathy-moriarty
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** cathy-moriarty
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001550
- **TMDB ID:** 14702
- **Wikidata ID:** Q242732
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathy_Moriarty, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q242732, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001550/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14702

Actor. Born 29 November 1960 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 29 November 1960, The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1980–1995
- **Also known as:** Cathy Moriarty-Gentile
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 91 (1), 1990s 65 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathy_Moriarty, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q242732, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001550/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14702

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Raging Bull*](https://film.one/film/raging-bull.md) (91)
- **Apple TV:** [*Kindergarten Cop*](https://film.one/film/kindergarten-cop.md) (65)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Cathy Moriarty

> Cathy Moriarty has a husky voice that suits a threat or a joke, but we value her most when she is listening. *Raging Bull* gives her watchfulness room; too many later roles settle for the formidable woman.

Cathy Moriarty’s Vickie LaMotta watches Jake in *Raging Bull* (1980), and we become curious about what she is thinking. Robert De Niro makes him frighteningly hard to dismiss, but Moriarty gives us a reason to look elsewhere. We felt uneasy watching her, because her alertness makes Jake’s habit of deciding what she thinks more oppressive. Moriarty suggests that Vickie has thoughts she is keeping to herself, without making her seem merely withdrawn. We want the conversation to give her a chance to speak.

Martin Scorsese gets considerable value from that watchfulness in scenes built around a man who allows others little say. Mardik Martin and Paul Schrader’s screenplay needs the people around Jake to remain interesting even when he will not listen to them. Joe Pesci’s Joey brings a quicker rhythm to the dialogue, briefly making those exchanges less dangerous; Moriarty keeps us looking for Vickie’s response. The repetition outside the ring can weary us, but her presence gives us a reason to stay attentive. She does not have to match De Niro’s force to hold our attention.

Her debut was followed by a career weighted towards supporting parts, often as tough women or comic villains. In *Soapdish* (1991), Montana Moorehead gives her room for broad farce, while *Casper* (1995) puts her to work as the villainous Carrigan Crittenden. There is pleasure in that comic force, and no reason to wish every part were another Vickie. *Cop Land* (1997), with Moriarty as Rose Donlan, provides a return to serious ensemble acting. Still, the repeated casting as formidable women makes too narrow a use of what she can do.

Her husky voice makes that casting understandable, but it should not determine how much a character gets to reveal. We value her work with Scorsese because Vickie remains interesting beyond the strength she needs to withstand Jake. We would like more parts that let Moriarty listen, consider and leave us unsure what she will say, rather than arrive with her toughness already established. Start with *Raging Bull*, and give her as much attention as the men.

## Biography

Cathy Moriarty, also credited as Cathy Moriarty-Gentile, is an American actress. Born on 29 November 1960 in the Bronx, New York City, she made her film debut as Vickie LaMotta in Martin Scorsese's *Raging Bull* (1980), opposite Robert De Niro. Her performance earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and a BAFTA Film Award.

She has appeared in films including *Kindergarten Cop* (1990), *Casper* (1995) as Carrigan Crittenden, *Cop Land* (1997) as Rose Donlan and *Analyze That* (2002) as Patti LoPresti. Moriarty has also worked in television, with roles in series such as *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, *This Is Us* and others. Her career spans five decades.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Kindergarten Cop* (1990), Fi1m 65, as Sylvester's Mother — [page](https://film.one/film/kindergarten-cop.md)
- *Raging Bull* (1980), Fi1m 91, as Vickie LaMotta — [page](https://film.one/film/raging-bull.md)

## Complete filmography (76)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Sunday Sauce* (2025), as Nancy
- *Saint Nick of Bethlehem* (2024), as Betty
- *Beyond the Rush* (2024), as Grandma Judy
- *Line of Fire* (2024), as Marie
- *Elsbeth* (2024), series, as Marie Drabowski
- *Will Trent* (2023), series, as Valentina Talvesko
- *Great Kills* (2022), as Victoria
- *Last Call* (2021), as Mrs. C
- *Flinch* (2021), as Gloria
- *Disclosure* (2020), as Montana Moorehead (archive footage)
- *Shooting Heroin* (2020), as Beth
- *Into the Arms of Danger* (2020), as Momma
- *City on a Hill* (2019), series, as Dottie Ryan
- *Patti Cake$* (2017), as Nana
- *This Is Us* (2016), series, as The Super — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-us.md)
- *Oiled Up* (2016), as Betty
- *American Crime Story* (2016), series, as Vivian Oliva — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md)
- *Outlaws* (2015), as Waitress
- *The Double* (2014), as Kiki
- *A Cry from Within* (2014), as Alice
- *Rob the Mob* (2014), as Constance Uva
- *Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn* (2013), as Sarah Baldano
- *The Bounty Hunter* (2010), as Irene
- *Analyze That* (2002), as Patti LoPresti
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Annie Gentillo
- *Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure* (2001), as Ruby (voice)
- *Welcome to Hollywood* (2000), as Cathy Moriarty
- *Prince of Central Park* (2000), as Mrs. Ardis
- *But I'm a Cheerleader* (2000), as Mary Brown
- *Crazy in Alabama* (1999), as Earlene Bullis
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Denise Eldridge, Toni Howard
- *New Waterford Girl* (1999), as Midge Benzoa
- *Red Team* (1999), as Stephanie Dobson
- *Gloria* (1999), as Diane
- *P.U.N.K.S* (1999), as Mrs. Utley
- *Casper Meets Wendy* (1998), as Geri
- *Hugo Pool* (1997), as Minerva
- *Dream with the Fishes* (1997), as Aunt Elise
- *Recess* (1997), series, as Dr. Fitzenberg (voice)
- *Cop Land* (1997), as Rose Donlan
- *The Hunger* (1997), series, as Maris (aunt)
- *Digging to China* (1997), as Mrs. Frankovitz
- *A Brother's Kiss* (1997), as Doreen
- *Opposite Corners* (1997), as Kathy Donatello
- *Hey Arnold!* (1996), series, as Tish Wittenberg (voice)
- *Foxfire* (1996), as Martha Wirtz
- *The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space* (1995), as Alumina (voice)
- *Bless This House* (1995), series, as Alice Clayton
- *Casper* (1995), as Carrigan
- *Forget Paris* (1995), as Lois
- *Santo Bugito* (1995), series, as Queen Muddah (voice)
- *Pontiac Moon* (1994), as Lorraine
- *The Tick* (1994), series, as Betty (voice)
- *Runaway Daughters* (1994), as Marie (uncredited)
- *Rebel Highway* (1994), series, as Marie (uncredited)
- *Duckman* (1994), series, as Prisoner (voice)
- *Another Midnight Run* (1994), as Helen Bishop
- *Me and the Kid* (1993), as Rose
- *Another Stakeout* (1993), as Luella Delano
- *Matinee* (1993), as Ruth Corday / Carole
- *The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag* (1992), as Reba
- *The Mambo Kings* (1992), as Lanna Lake
- *Soapdish* (1991), as Montana Moorehead
- *Kindergarten Cop* (1990), as Sylvester's Mother — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/kindergarten-cop.md)
- *Burndown* (1990), as Patti Smart
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Lorraine Cobin — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Alison Peters
- *Wiseguy* (1987), series, Actor
- *White of the Eye* (1987), as Joan White
- *Neighbors* (1981), as Ramona
- *Raging Bull* (1980), as Vickie LaMotta — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/raging-bull.md)
- *Loser*, as Dr. Faccio
- *The Very Best People*, Actor
- *Boot Lake*, Actor
- *Out of Tune: Lost in Rosario*, Actor
- *Butch Cassidy's Forgotten Outlaw*, as Elmira Ann Meeks

## Gallery

- ![Cathy Moriarty](https://film.one/media/person/59585/gallery-5830511f5be5.jpg) Cathy Moriarty — Sbukley1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Cathy_2017.jpg/1280px-Cathy_2017.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Title: Jake LaMotta, prizefighter Creator(s): Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer Date Created/Published: [1980 or 1987] Medium: 1 photograph : color transparency ; ](https://film.one/media/person/59585/gallery-dee131a25cd8.jpg) Title: Jake LaMotta, prizefighter Creator(s): Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer Date Created/Published: [1980 or 1987] Medium: 1 photograph : color transparency ;  — Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Cathy_Moriarty%2C_Jake_and_Vikki_LaMotta%2C_cropped.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Title: Jake LaMotta, prizefighter Creator(s): Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer Date Created/Published: [1980 or 1987] Medium: 1 photograph : color transparency ; ](https://film.one/media/person/59585/gallery-f6c897e22a25.jpg) Title: Jake LaMotta, prizefighter Creator(s): Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer Date Created/Published: [1980 or 1987] Medium: 1 photograph : color transparency ;  — Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Cathy_Moriarty%2C_Jake_and_Vikki_LaMotta.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Press photo from 1980 of Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci on the set on Raging Bull](https://film.one/media/person/59585/gallery-d0931de2add4.jpg) Press photo from 1980 of Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci on the set on Raging Bull — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Cathy_Moriarty_and_Joe_Pesci%2C_1980.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Cathy Moriarty](https://film.one/media/person/59585/gallery-6cf78eec0ef7.jpg) Cathy Moriarty — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1981: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Raging Bull*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/cathy-moriarty