---
name: "Joanna Merlin"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/joanna-merlin"
fi1m_id: "joanna-merlin"
imdb_id: "nm0581008"
tmdb_id: 11903
wikidata_id: "Q1690817"
roles: ["Producer"]
born: "16 July 1931"
died: "15 October 2023"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 79
average_as: "producer"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-10-05T01:25:55.089887+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."
---

# Joanna Merlin

## Identity

Joanna Merlin

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/joanna-merlin
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** joanna-merlin
- **IMDb ID:** nm0581008
- **TMDB ID:** 11903
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1690817
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Merlin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1690817, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581008/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11903

Producer. Born 16 July 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Died 15 October 2023.

## Details

- **Work:** Producer
- **Born:** 16 July 1931, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- **Died:** 15 October 2023
- **Active:** 1956–1998
- **Also known as:** Joann Ratner
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 8: 6 acting, 2 producing
- **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as producer, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 67 (1), 1970s 84 (1), 1980s 78 (4), 1990s 68 (2)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Merlin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1690817, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581008/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11903

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*City of Angels*](https://film.one/film/city-of-angels.md) (55)

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

## Biography

Joanna Merlin was an American actress, casting director and acting teacher. Born Joann Ratner on 15 July 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, she later adopted her mother's maiden name. She made her screen debut as Jethro's daughter in Cecil B. DeMille's *The Ten Commandments* (1956).

On Broadway she originated the role of Tzeitel in the original production of *Fiddler on the Roof* (1964) and appeared in *Becket* (1961). She subsequently worked as a casting director for several Harold Prince and Stephen Sondheim productions, including *Into the Woods*. Merlin taught at New York University's graduate acting programme and was a proponent of the Michael Chekhov acting technique.

Her later screen credits include *Fame* (1980), *The Killing Fields* (1984), *City of Angels* (1998) as Teresa, and a recurring role as Judge Lena Petrovsky in *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (2000–2011). She died on 15 October 2023 in Los Angeles.

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

## On Fi1m (8)

### Performed in (6)

- *City of Angels* (1998), Fi1m 55, as Teresa — [page](https://film.one/film/city-of-angels.md)
- *Northern Exposure* (1990), Fi1m 82, as Nadine Fleischman — [page](https://film.one/tv/northern-exposure.md)
- *The Killing Fields* (1984), Fi1m 82, as Schanberg's Sister — [page](https://film.one/film/the-killing-fields.md)
- *Fame* (1980), Fi1m 70, as Miss Berg — [page](https://film.one/film/fame.md)
- *All That Jazz* (1979), Fi1m 84, as Nurse Pierce — [page](https://film.one/film/all-that-jazz.md)
- *The Ten Commandments* (1956), Fi1m 67, as Jethro's Daughter — [page](https://film.one/film/the-ten-commandments.md)

### Produced (2) — the average rests on these

- *The Last Emperor* (1987), Fi1m 80, Casting — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-emperor.md)
- *Big Trouble in Little China* (1986), Fi1m 78, Casting — [page](https://film.one/film/big-trouble-in-little-china.md)

## Complete filmography (51)

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

- *Active Adults* (2017), as Miriam
- *Homeland* (2011), series, as Grandma — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/homeland.md)
- *Sarah's Key* (2010), as Mrs. Rainsferd
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Loni Goslin — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *The Wackness* (2008), as Grandma Shapiro
- *The Invasion* (2007), as Joan Kaufman
- *The Jury* (2004), series, Actor
- *The Jimmy Show* (2002), as Emily
- *Witness Protection* (1999), as Cindy's Mother
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Lena Petrovsky
- *City of Angels* (1998), as Teresa — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/city-of-angels.md)
- *The Prosecutors* (1996), as Jewel
- *MURDER and murder* (1996), as Doris
- *Two Bits* (1995), as Guendolina
- *Jefferson in Paris* (1995), Casting
- *New York Undercover* (1994), series, Actor
- *Little Buddha* (1993), Casting
- *Mr. Wonderful* (1993), as Loretta
- *Love, Honor & Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage* (1993), as Rose Profaci
- *In a Child's Name* (1991), series, as Frances Silvano
- *Class Action* (1991), as Estelle Ward
- *Into the Woods* (1991), Casting
- *Baby Talk* (1991), series, as Gina
- *Mr. & Mrs. Bridge* (1990), Casting
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Deirdre Powell, Defense Attorney Carla Bowman — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Northern Exposure* (1990), series, as Nadine Fleischman — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/northern-exposure.md)
- *Murder in Black and White* (1990), as Dr. Bromberg
- *Mystic Pizza* (1988), as Mrs. Arujo
- *American Experience* (1988), series, as Family Member (voice)
- *Prince of Darkness* (1987), as Bag Lady
- *The Last Emperor* (1987), Casting — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-emperor.md)
- *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as Ellen Kennedy
- *Big Trouble in Little China* (1986), Casting — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/big-trouble-in-little-china.md)
- *Amazing Stories* (1985), series, as Marie
- *The Killing Fields* (1984), as Schanberg's Sister — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-killing-fields.md)
- *Jacobo Timerman: Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number* (1983), Actor
- *Baby It's You* (1983), as Mrs. Rosen
- *Love Child* (1982), as Mrs. Sturgis
- *Soup for One* (1982), as Allan's Mother
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Dolly Stieglitz
- *Starstruck* (1981), as Inez Marin
- *Fame* (1980), as Miss Berg — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/fame.md)
- *Nurse* (1980), as Nan Riley
- *All That Jazz* (1979), as Nurse Pierce — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/all-that-jazz.md)
- *The Last Tenant* (1978), as Mrs. Farelli
- *Hester Street* (1975), as Jake's Landlady
- *Another World* (1964), series, Actor
- *The Power and the Glory* (1963), Actor
- *Weddings and Babies* (1960), as Josie
- *Naked City* (1958), series, as Gloria Werminski
- *The Ten Commandments* (1956), as Jethro's Daughter — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-ten-commandments.md)

## Gallery

- ![Joanna Merlin](https://film.one/media/person/287357/gallery-f6c9ecfc5458.jpg) Joanna Merlin — Friedman-Abeles, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Joanna_Merlin_Fiddler_on_the_Roof_1964_press_photo.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Joanna Merlin](https://film.one/media/person/287357/gallery-138a0ef8f5b4.jpg) Joanna Merlin — Image via TMDB

---
© 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/joanna-merlin