---
name: "Rachel Ticotin"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/rachel-ticotin"
fi1m_id: "rachel-ticotin"
imdb_id: "nm0001797"
tmdb_id: 10768
wikidata_id: "Q262091"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "1 November 1958"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-05T02:54:51.359742+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."
---

# Rachel Ticotin

## Identity

Rachel Ticotin

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/rachel-ticotin
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** rachel-ticotin
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001797
- **TMDB ID:** 10768
- **Wikidata ID:** Q262091
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Ticotin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q262091, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001797/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10768

Actor. Born 1 November 1958 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 1 November 1958, The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1981–2003
- **Also known as:** ریچل تیکوتین
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 56 (1), 1990s 76 (3), 2000s 72 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 67 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 3, Crime 3, Drama 3, Thriller 2, Adventure 1, Comedy 1
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $861m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Ticotin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q262091, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001797/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10768

## Streaming the US now

- **Hulu:** [*Total Recall*](https://film.one/film/total-recall.md) (84)
- **Disney+:** [*Something's Gotta Give*](https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give.md) (72)

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

## Fi1m on Rachel Ticotin

> Rachel Ticotin makes capable women convincing, with athletic assurance and emotional credibility. We rate her supporting work; the frustration is how often detective or guard seems to be the limit of the assignment.

In *Total Recall* (1990), Rachel Ticotin makes the fighting look like something Melina is equipped to do. Her athleticism gives the action conviction, and she is persuasive as someone who can handle a difficult situation. We value that credibility, especially when the surrounding film is getting carried away. Paul Verhoeven's science-fiction thriller makes good use of her physical assurance alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, though its violence sometimes crowds out the questions that make it interesting.

Her breakthrough was Isabella, opposite Paul Newman in *Fort Apache, the Bronx* (1981), before supporting roles in action films and dramas became the pattern. In *Falling Down* (1993), her detective Sandra benefits from the same ability to make professional competence convincing. We were glad of her steadiness here, because a credible professional is welcome amid the resentment and violence driving Michael Douglas's character. Joel Schumacher's thriller remains gripping, but Ebbe Roe Smith's script becomes less persuasive when it tries to explain society; Ticotin's conviction cannot mend that.

The limitation is how often competence becomes the whole assignment. Sandra is a detective; Sally Bishop, her part in *Con Air* (1997), is a prison guard. These are sensible uses of her authority, but the repetition suggests casting directors know rather too quickly what they want from her. We would welcome more parts in which being capable was the beginning of a character, with time left to discover something else about her.

Later films include *Man on Fire* (2004) and *The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants* (2005), alongside television work in *Lost* and *Law & Order: LA*. Her ability to make a supporting character believable is useful across ensembles, though it can leave us wishing a film would spend longer with her. Start with *Total Recall* for the physical assurance, then *Falling Down* for a quieter performance that remains convincing when the script does not.

## Biography

Rachel Ticotin is an American actress. Born on 1 November 1958 in the Bronx, New York City, she trained in dance from a young age with Ballet Hispanico and worked with choreographers including Alvin Ailey and Geoffrey Holder before moving into acting.

She made her film debut in a small role in *King of the Gypsies* (1978) and gained notice for her performance opposite Paul Newman in *Fort Apache, the Bronx* (1981). Ticotin is known for her roles as Melina in *Total Recall* (1990) and Sandra in *Falling Down* (1993), as well as appearances in *Con Air* (1997), *Man on Fire* (2004) and television series including *Law & Order: LA* (2010–11) as Lt. Arleen Gonzales and *Grey's Anatomy*.

She was married to actor David Caruso from 1984 to 1987 and has been married to actor Peter Strauss since 1998. In her fifties she earned a BA in English from Columbia University, graduating in 2019.

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

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Something's Gotta Give* (2003), Fi1m 72, as Dr. Martinez — [page](https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give.md)
- *Con Air* (1997), Fi1m 74, as Guard Sally Bishop — [page](https://film.one/film/con-air.md)
- *Falling Down* (1993), Fi1m 71, as Sandra — [page](https://film.one/film/falling-down.md)
- *Total Recall* (1990), Fi1m 84, as Melina — [page](https://film.one/film/total-recall.md)
- *Fort Apache, the Bronx* (1981), Fi1m 56, as Isabella — [page](https://film.one/film/fort-apache-the-bronx.md)

## Complete filmography (61)

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

- *Diamond* (2026), as Mrs. Echevarria
- *Sheriff Country* (2025), series, as Eva Santos
- *Grassland* (2025), Actor
- *Superintelligence* (2020), as Director Tyson
- *The Act* (2019), series, as Gina
- *Homeland* (2011), series, as Mercedes Acosta — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/homeland.md)
- *Unforgettable* (2011), series, as Sharon Vega
- *America* (2011), as Esther
- *Law & Order: LA* (2010), series, as Arleen Gonzales
- *Blue Bloods* (2010), series, as Carmen Castillo
- *NCIS: Los Angeles* (2009), series, as Monica Tenez
- *The Burning Plain* (2008), as Ana
- *The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2* (2008), as Christina Lowell
- *The Eye* (2008), as Rosa Martinez
- *John from Cincinnati* (2007), series, as Woman in Jail Cell
- *Weeds* (2005), series, as Candela — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/weeds.md)
- *The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants* (2005), as Christina Lowell
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Marie Cerone — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Lost* (2004), series, as Teresa Cortez — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/lost.md)
- *Man on Fire* (2004), as Mariana Garcia Guerrero
- *Something's Gotta Give* (2003), as Dr. Martinez — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give.md)
- *Skin* (2003), series, as Laura Roam
- *NCIS* (2003), series, as Joy Aaronson — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/ncis.md)
- *Desert Saints* (2002), as Dora
- *Warden of Red Rock* (2001), as Mrs. Maria McVale
- *Full Disclosure* (2001), as Armiti Khalq
- *Civility* (2000), as Rebecca Russo
- *Can't Be Heaven* (1999), as Maggie
- *Aftershock: Earthquake in New York* (1999), series, as Elizabeth Perez
- *First Time Felon* (1997), as McBride
- *Con Air* (1997), as Guard Sally Bishop — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/con-air.md)
- *Turbulence* (1997), as Rachel Taper
- *The Wharf Rat* (1996), as Dexter Ireland
- *Steal Big Steal Little* (1995), as Laura
- *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Theodora 'Teddi' Madden
- *Deconstructing Sarah* (1994), as Elizabeth Davis
- *Gargoyles* (1994), series, as Tony Dracon (voice), Maria Chavez (voice), Maria Chavez/Police Dispatcher (voice)
- *Don Juan DeMarco* (1994), as Doña Inez
- *Criminal Passion* (1994), as Tracy Perry
- *Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story* (1994), as Diane
- *Crime & Punishment* (1993), series, Actor
- *Falling Down* (1993), as Sandra — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/falling-down.md)
- *From the Files of Joseph Wambaugh: A Jury of One* (1992), as Christine Avila
- *Where the Day Takes You* (1992), as Officer Landers
- *Keep the Change* (1992), as Astrid
- *One Good Cop* (1991), as Grace
- *F/X2* (1991), as Kim Brandon
- *Prison Stories: Women on the Inside* (1991), as Iris
- *Total Recall* (1990), as Melina — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/total-recall.md)
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Charbonnet / Lilian
- *Spies, Lies & Naked Thighs* (1988), as Sonia
- *Ohara* (1987), series, as Teresa Storm
- *Critical Condition* (1987), as Rachel Atwood
- *When the Bough Breaks* (1986), as Raquel Santos
- *Rockabye* (1986), as Victoria Garcia
- *Love, Mary* (1985), as Rachel Martin
- *Stingray* (1985), series, Actor
- *For Love and Honor* (1983), series, Actor
- *For Love and Honor* (1983), as Cpl. Grace Pavlik
- *Fort Apache, the Bronx* (1981), as Isabella — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/fort-apache-the-bronx.md)
- *Obsession* (1976), Production Assistant

## Gallery

- ![Rachel Ticotin](https://film.one/media/person/77422/gallery-cfcfb512c04c.jpg) Rachel Ticotin — Image via TMDB
- ![Rachel Ticotin](https://film.one/media/person/77422/gallery-98e8b86e7c80.jpg) Rachel Ticotin — Image via TMDB
- ![Rachel Ticotin](https://film.one/media/person/77422/gallery-0ce77d2400e8.jpg) Rachel Ticotin — 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/rachel-ticotin