---
name: "Susie Essman"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/susie-essman"
fi1m_id: "susie-essman"
imdb_id: "nm0261435"
tmdb_id: 56910
wikidata_id: "Q40220"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "31 May 1955"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 67
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-05T05:35:59.556251+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."
---

# Susie Essman

## Identity

Susie Essman

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/susie-essman
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** susie-essman
- **IMDb ID:** nm0261435
- **TMDB ID:** 56910
- **Wikidata ID:** Q40220
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susie_Essman, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40220, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0261435/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/56910

Actor. Born 31 May 1955 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 31 May 1955, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1988–present
- **Also known as:** Sussie Essman , Susan Essman 
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 6: 5 acting, 1 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 67, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 44 (1), 2000s 79 (2), 2010s 80 (1), 2020s 62 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 67 to 64 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 5, Adventure 2, Animation 1, Drama 1, Family 1
- **Screen time:** 3 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $550m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susie_Essman, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40220, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0261435/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/56910

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Curb Your Enthusiasm*](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md) (84)
- **Disney+:** [*Bolt*](https://film.one/film/bolt.md) (74)

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

## Fi1m on Susie Essman

> Susie Essman makes a tirade feel like a reasonable response to Larry David. We rate her Susie Greene highly: the force of the performance stops him wriggling away, while its timing keeps the embarrassment believable.

When Susie Essman launches into a tirade in *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000), Larry David’s explanations cease to be much use. As Susie Greene, she brings enough force to a disagreement that he cannot keep talking his way round it. We found the repeated quarrels in *Curb Your Enthusiasm* wearing at times; the programme keeps returning to disagreements, even with actors who can let a conversation become awkward without signalling that a joke is about to arrive. The laughs depend on when she pushes back and how firmly she means it.

Her route to that part ran through New York stand-up in the mid-1980s and small film roles such as *Punchline* (1988). David cast her after seeing her at a roast, and Susie grew from a recurring presence into a central character across the programme’s twelve seasons. That expansion makes sense: Essman gives the conversations somewhere to go when David’s evasions might otherwise become repetitive. She can change the pace without making the other actors seem to be waiting for their next cue.

She improvises within David’s parameters, which helps explain why the exchanges sound like arguments happening now. Jeff Garlin’s ease as Jeff Greene helps keep the disagreements plausible, allowing Essman to push harder without the scene becoming a separate comic turn. She also helps create Susie’s clashing wardrobe, which the character regards as high fashion. Her confidence in those clothes makes it easier to believe she would be just as certain of herself in an argument.

As the streetwise Mittens in *Bolt* (2008), she takes a related comic manner into voice work. Her recurring role as Bobbi Wexler, Ilana’s mother in *Broad City*, began in 2015 and gave her another setting for her comedy. The repeated quarrels can still become wearing, and Essman’s force cannot solve that on its own.

## Biography

Susie Essman is an American comedian, actress, producer and writer. She is best known for playing Susie Greene on the HBO series *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000–2024).

Essman began performing stand-up comedy in the late 1970s and made early screen appearances in the films *Crocodile Dundee II* (1988) and *Punchline* (1988). She trained at the State University of New York at Purchase, where she earned a BFA. Other credits include the voice of Mittens in the animated film *Bolt* (2008) and the role of Bobbi Wexler on *Broad City* (2015–2019).

She has been married to Jim Harder since 2008.

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

## On Fi1m (6)

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

- *Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America* (2026), Fi1m 55, as Susan B. Anthony — [page](https://film.one/tv/life-larry-and-the-pursuit-of-unhappiness-an-almost-history-of-america.md)
- *Broad City* (2014), Fi1m 80, as Bobbi Wexler — [page](https://film.one/tv/broad-city.md)
- *Bolt* (2008), Fi1m 74, as Mittens (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/bolt.md)
- *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000), Fi1m 84, as Susie Greene — [page](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md)
- *Crocodile Dundee II* (1988), Fi1m 44, as Tour Guide — [page](https://film.one/film/crocodile-dundee-ii.md)

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

- *Theater Camp* (2023), Fi1m 70, as Woman in Hospital Bed (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/theater-camp.md)

## Complete filmography (46)

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

- *Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America* (2026), series, as Susan B. Anthony — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/life-larry-and-the-pursuit-of-unhappiness-an-almost-history-of-america.md)
- *Adults* (2025), series, as Arlene Walters
- *LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition* (2024), as Gloria (voice)
- *The Easy Kind* (2024), as Janice
- *Theater Camp* (2023), as Woman in Hospital Bed (uncredited) — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/theater-camp.md)
- *And Just Like That…* (2021), series, as Rhonda
- *Hacks* (2021), series, as Elaine — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/hacks.md)
- *Harley Quinn* (2019), series, as Sharon / Grandma (voice), Sharon (voice)
- *Bless This Mess* (2019), series, as Donna
- *Band Aid* (2017), as Shirley
- *Weird Loners* (2015), series, as Evelyn Goldfarb
- *Broad City* (2014), series, as Bobbi Wexler — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/broad-city.md)
- *The Goldbergs* (2013), series, as Edie Robb
- *Match Game* (2012), series, Actor
- *Putzel* (2012), as Gilda
- *Blue Bloods* (2010), series, as Judge Clarice Karl
- *Adventure Time* (2010), series, Actor
- *Cop Out* (2010), as Laura
- *Super Rhino* (2009), as Mittens (voice)
- *Loving Leah* (2009), as Malka
- *Bolt* (2008), as Mittens (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/bolt.md)
- *Better Half* (2007), series, Actor
- *The Man* (2005), as Lieutenant Rita Carbone
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as Esther Lonstein (voice)
- *The Secret Lives of Dentists* (2002), as Nurse
- *Kim Possible* (2002), series, as Sadie (voice)
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Ron Sherwood's Secretary
- *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000), series, as Susie Greene — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md)
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Arlene Heller
- *The Siege* (1998), as Protest Speaker
- *The King of Queens* (1998), series, as Marcia
- *Volcano* (1997), as Anita
- *What's Your Sign?* (1997), as Carla
- *Ned & Stacey* (1995), series, as Aunt Ceil
- *Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist* (1995), series, as Susie (voice), Additional Writing
- *Hardcore TV* (1992), series, as Sports Lady
- *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze* (1991), as Soho Woman
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Veronica Reynolds, Ms. Shapiro — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Aunt Sadie (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *One Night Stand* (1989), series, Actor
- *Punchline* (1988), as Lilah's Hairdresser
- *Baby Boom* (1988), series, as Charlotte Elkman
- *Crocodile Dundee II* (1988), as Tour Guide — Fi1m 44, [page](https://film.one/film/crocodile-dundee-ii.md)
- *Tax Attack '87* (1987), as Voice
- *Kate & Allie* (1984), series, Actor
- *Off Color*, series, Actor

## Gallery

- ![David Steinberg and Susie Essman at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Woody Allen's film Whatever Works.](https://film.one/media/person/62394/gallery-78a26cd61145.jpg) David Steinberg and Susie Essman at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Woody Allen's film Whatever Works. — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/David_Steinberg_and_Susie_Essman_2009.jpg/1280px-David_Steinberg_and_Susie_Essman_2009.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Steinberg and Susie Essman at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Woody Allen's film Whatever Works.](https://film.one/media/person/62394/gallery-012d89849b42.jpg) David Steinberg and Susie Essman at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Woody Allen's film Whatever Works. — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/David_Steinberg_and_Susie_Essman_2009_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-David_Steinberg_and_Susie_Essman_2009_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Susie Essman, actress, at the 63rd annual New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center in 2025 for the film Blue Moon](https://film.one/media/person/62394/gallery-d376c8dab614.jpg) Susie Essman, actress, at the 63rd annual New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center in 2025 for the film Blue Moon — Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Susie_Essman_Blue_Moon-06.jpg/1280px-Susie_Essman_Blue_Moon-06.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Susie Essman](https://film.one/media/person/62394/gallery-3397eb1b0edd.jpg) Susie Essman — Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Susie_Essman_Blue_Moon-06_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Susie_Essman_Blue_Moon-06_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Susie Essman](https://film.one/media/person/62394/gallery-ff686bff1c21.jpg) Susie Essman — Image via TMDB
- ![Susie Essman at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Woody Allen's film Whatever Works.](https://film.one/media/person/62394/gallery-ba55b2303b17.jpg) Susie Essman at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Woody Allen's film Whatever Works. — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Susie_Essman_at_the_2009_Tribeca_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-Susie_Essman_at_the_2009_Tribeca_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© 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/susie-essman