---
name: "Mercedes Ruehl"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/mercedes-ruehl"
fi1m_id: "mercedes-ruehl"
imdb_id: "nm0001689"
tmdb_id: 2167
wikidata_id: "Q232933"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "28 February 1948"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 68
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-04T23:17:05.741491+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."
---

# Mercedes Ruehl

## Identity

Mercedes Ruehl

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/mercedes-ruehl
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** mercedes-ruehl
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001689
- **TMDB ID:** 2167
- **Wikidata ID:** Q232933
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes_Ruehl, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232933, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001689/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2167

Actor. Born 28 February 1948 in Queens, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 28 February 1948, Queens, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1986–1993
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 6: 5 acting, 1 other
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 68, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 70 (4), 1990s 71 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 71 to 65 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 5, Drama 3, Fantasy 2, Action 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $495m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes_Ruehl, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232933, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001689/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2167

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Big*](https://film.one/film/big.md) (81)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Last Action Hero*](https://film.one/film/last-action-hero.md) (62)

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

## Fi1m on Mercedes Ruehl

> Mercedes Ruehl is good at playing women who sound tough and have reason to be hurt. We rate her highly when she gets room for both, particularly in *The Fisher King*.

In *The Fisher King* (1991), Anne is a video-shop owner with enough force to interrupt Terry Gilliam's fondness for sentiment. Mercedes Ruehl makes it possible to believe that this woman might decline to be tender, which matters in a film so eager for romance. We were moved by her because the kindness never felt compulsory. She gives Anne emotional needs of her own, rather than letting her become another reason to feel warmly towards the people around her.

Her film breakthrough came in 1988 with supporting parts in *Big* and *Married to the Mob*. As Mrs Baskin in *Big* (1988), she is the mother of the child who becomes an adult, within a comedy Penny Marshall keeps warm and gentle. We like the film, though its sweetness makes adult life look a little too easy to dismiss. Connie Russo, the brash mafia wife in *Married to the Mob* (1988), helped establish the more forceful screen presence for which Ruehl became known.

That force can become a casting habit, and the repeated offers of tough-talking urban women have limited what films let her do. Her ability to move between comedy and vulnerability needs more room than a brash supporting part necessarily provides. In *The Fisher King*, Gilliam gives her that room, even if we would exchange some of the plot's complications for longer scenes with Anne. Ruehl and Jeff Bridges keep the sentiment honest, while Amanda Plummer gives Lydia an awkwardness that feels individual. The romance benefits from women who do not seem to have been supplied simply to make it charming.

Film opportunities narrowed after 1991, and the later credits offer only intermittent reminders of what she can do. *Lost in Yonkers* (1993) brought her stage role, Bella Kurnitz, to film; *Hustlers* (2019) later cast her as a strip-club matron. The theatre remained a substantial part of her work, alongside guest and recurring television roles. Start with Anne, and allow for Gilliam's wandering plot; Ruehl makes the time spent with her worth it.

## Biography

Mercedes Ruehl is an American actress who has worked in film, television and theatre. Born on 28 February 1948 in Queens, New York, she graduated with a BA in English from the College of New Rochelle and trained at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts. She began her career in regional theatre, including with the Denver Center Theatre Company.

Ruehl is known for her performance as Anne in *The Fisher King* (1991), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as a Golden Globe. On stage she won a Tony Award for her leading role in *Lost in Yonkers* (1991). Other film credits include *Big* (1988), *Married to the Mob* (1988), *Last Action Hero* (1993), *Roseanna's Grave* (1997) and *Hustlers* (2019). She has also appeared in television series such as *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, *NCIS* and *2 Broke Girls*.

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

## On Fi1m (6)

### Performed in (5) — the average rests on these

- *Last Action Hero* (1993), Fi1m 62, as Irene Madigan — [page](https://film.one/film/last-action-hero.md)
- *The Fisher King* (1991), Fi1m 80, as Anne — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fisher-king.md)
- *Big* (1988), Fi1m 81, as Mrs. Baskin — [page](https://film.one/film/big.md)
- *The Secret of My Success* (1987), Fi1m 62, as Sheila — [page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-of-my-success.md)
- *Heartburn* (1986), Fi1m 55, as Eve — [page](https://film.one/film/heartburn.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Crimes and Misdemeanors* (1989), Fi1m 84, as Party Guest (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/crimes-and-misdemeanors.md)

## Complete filmography (65)

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

- *The Nana Project* (2023), as Nana
- *Accused* (2023), series, as Connie
- *Hustlers* (2019), as Mother
- *New Amsterdam* (2018), series, as Grace
- *Bull* (2016), series, as Judge Tessa Hudson, Judge Hudson
- *Life in Pieces* (2015), series, as Mia
- *The Mysteries of Laura* (2014), series, as Val Santiani
- *Chu and Blossom* (2014), as Mrs. Fefterg
- *Star Spangled Banners* (2013), as Rosalind Banner
- *Monday Mornings* (2013), series, as Judge Beverly Natheson
- *Doubt* (2013), as Mrs. Syd Newman
- *2 Broke Girls* (2011), series, as Olga
- *Doctors of the Dark Side* (2011), as Narrator
- *Goldstar, Ohio* (2010), as Adriana Rock
- *Loving Leah* (2009), as Janice
- *Psych* (2006), series, as Detective Goochberg
- *A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story* (2006), as Sylvia Guerrero
- *Mom at Sixteen* (2005), as Terry Jeffries
- *Entourage* (2004), series, as Rita Chase — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md)
- *Zeyda and the Hitman* (2004), as Esther
- *Bad Apple* (2004), as Lorraine Gibbons
- *NCIS* (2003), series, as Marie Quinn — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/ncis.md)
- *Widows* (2002), series, as Dolly Rawlins
- *Spooky House* (2002), as Boss
- *Guilt by Association* (2002), as Susan Walker
- *The Amati Girls* (2001), as Grace
- *The Lost Child* (2000), as Rebecca
- *More Dogs Than Bones* (2000), as Victoria 'Vic' Galletti
- *What's Cooking?* (2000), as Elizabeth Avila
- *All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story* (2000), as Jane Newhall
- *The Minus Man* (1999), as Jane
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Lucia Barba
- *Out of the Cold* (1999), as Tina
- *Gia* (1998), as Kathleen Carangi
- *Subway Stories* (1997), as Leyla  (segment "Underground")
- *Roseanna's Grave* (1997), as Roseanna
- *North Shore Fish* (1997), as Florence
- *Indictment: The McMartin Trial* (1995), as Lael Rubin
- *On Hope* (1994), Actor
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Kate Costas — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Last Action Hero* (1993), as Irene Madigan — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/last-action-hero.md)
- *Lost in Yonkers* (1993), as Bella Kurnitz
- *The Fisher King* (1991), as Anne — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fisher-king.md)
- *Another You* (1991), as Elaine
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Zina Rybakov, Clara Lloyd — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Crazy People* (1990), as Dr. Liz Baylor
- *Crimes and Misdemeanors* (1989), as Party Guest (uncredited) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/crimes-and-misdemeanors.md)
- *Slaves of New York* (1989), as Samantha
- *Married to the Mob* (1988), as Connie Russo
- *Big* (1988), as Mrs. Baskin — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/big.md)
- *Leader of the Band* (1987), as Miss Cooper
- *The Secret of My Success* (1987), as Sheila — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-of-my-success.md)
- *84 Charing Cross Road* (1987), as Kay
- *Radio Days* (1987), as Ad Man
- *Heartburn* (1986), as Eve — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/heartburn.md)
- *Twisted* (1985), as Cybelle
- *Mom's on Strike* (1984), as Sandy
- *The Cosby Show* (1984), series, as Bernadette Foley
- *Kate & Allie* (1984), series, Actor
- *Four Friends* (1981), as Woman in Taxi
- *The Warriors* (1979), as Policewoman
- *Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands* (1976), as American girl in casino
- *ABC Afterschool Special* (1972), series, as Sandy
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Rebecca
- *People Not Places*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![w:Mercedes Ruehl in w:East Hampton, New York at Animal Rescue Fund Dog Walk (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/78573/gallery-bf2247784aa9.jpg) w:Mercedes Ruehl in w:East Hampton, New York at Animal Rescue Fund Dog Walk (2009) — Americasroof, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Mercedes-Ruehl-eh.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Mercedes Ruehl](https://film.one/media/person/78573/gallery-2d111e2aa285.jpg) Mercedes Ruehl — Image via TMDB
- ![Mercedes Ruehl](https://film.one/media/person/78573/gallery-38fd094c0b8e.jpg) Mercedes Ruehl — Image via TMDB
- ![Mercedes Ruehl](https://film.one/media/person/78573/gallery-67a46d2a7e07.jpg) Mercedes Ruehl — Image via TMDB
- ![Mercedes Ruehl](https://film.one/media/person/78573/gallery-65774e88d400.jpg) Mercedes Ruehl — Image via TMDB
- ![Mercedes Ruehl](https://film.one/media/person/78573/gallery-a265d5032422.jpg) Mercedes Ruehl — Image via TMDB
- ![Mercedes Ruehl](https://film.one/media/person/78573/gallery-35ba6128048a.jpg) Mercedes Ruehl — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won

- 1992: Best Supporting Actress (won), for *The Fisher King*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 1992: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (won), for *The Fisher King*

### Other awards — 2 won, 2 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2002: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 1995: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play 1991: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play (won), for *Lost in Yonkers*
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 1991: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (won), for *Lost in Yonkers*

*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/mercedes-ruehl