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Rhea Jo Perlman (born March 31, 1948, Brooklyn, New York) is an American actress and author best known for originating the sharp‑tongued waitress Carla Tortelli on the NBC sitcom Cheers (1982–1993). A Hunter College drama graduate (BA, 1968), Perlman began performing on stage and had early screen work in the 1970s before moving into recurring television roles (including Taxi) and feature films. Over an extended career she has balanced television, film and theatre, winning four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on Cheers and receiving numerous additional nominations. Perlman has also written a children’s book series (Otto Undercover), provided voice work for animated projects, and continued to act in films such as Matilda (1996), Canadian Bacon (1995), Poms (2019) and Barbie (2023).

... Rhea Perlman grew up in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, the daughter of Philip and Adele Perlman. She studied drama at Hunter College, earning a BA in 1968, and began her career onstage in New York before taking small film and television parts in the 1970s. Her early screen credits include a bit role in the 1972 short Hot Dogs for Gauguin and a recurring part as Zena on the sitcom Taxi. Perlman’s breakthrough came when she was cast as Carla Tortelli in Cheers, a role that defined her public profile and earned her four Emmy Awards (1984, 1985, 1986 and 1989) from multiple nominations. Beyond Cheers, Perlman has built a diverse body of work across film, television and stage: she played Zinnia Wormwood in the film Matilda (1996), appeared in John Waters’s‑adjacent comedies and dramas, took supporting parts in independent films, and continued recurring television work—including a multi‑season arc on The Mindy Project. She is also the author of the Otto Undercover children’s series. Throughout her career Perlman has frequently collaborated with fellow actors and filmmakers, including her husband Danny DeVito, and has balanced mainstream studio roles with smaller, character‑driven projects on stage and screen. Then & Now The 1980s In the 1980s Perlman rose to national prominence as the original Carla Tortelli on Cheers, a role she originated in 1982 and that became her signature — the sharp‑tongued, fast‑witted waitress anchoring much of the show’s comic energy. Her performance earned her four Primetime Emmy Awards (1984, 1985, 1986 and 1989) and made her one of television’s most recognizable character actresses. Drawing on a stage background and earlier TV work (including Taxi), she helped define the ensemble sitcom model and influenced portrayals of brassy, working‑class women in comedy. Now (2026) As of 2026 Perlman remains a respected figure in entertainment, continuing to take occasional film and voice roles while supporting stage work and maintaining a parallel career as an author of children’s books (notably the Otto Undercover series). Her later screen appearances — from Matilda and Canadian Bacon to Poms and a cameo in Barbie (2023) — reflect a steady, varied career beyond her Cheers fame. She is widely celebrated for her Emmy‑winning turn as Carla and for shaping generations of female comedians, a legacy that endures through syndication, retrospectives and ongoing influence on television comedy. Career timeline 1948 Born Rhea Jo Perlman on March 31 in Brooklyn, New York. 1968 Graduated from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts in drama. 1972 One of her earliest screen appearances in the short film Hot Dogs for Gauguin. 1979 Began a recurring television role as Zena Sherman on the sitcom Taxi. 1982 Cast as Carla Tortelli on the NBC sitcom Cheers; married fellow actor Danny DeVito the same year. 1984 Won her first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Cheers (she won four Emmys in total). 1992 Starred in the television film To Grandmother's House We Go opposite Mary‑Kate and Ashley Olsen. 1996 Appeared as Zinnia Wormwood in the feature film Matilda. 2014 Began a recurring role as Annette Castellano on the comedy series The Mindy Project (2014–2017). 2023 Portrayed Ruth Handler in Greta Gerwig’s film Barbie and appeared in the ensemble comedy You People. Public reference sources Public biography and credit reference.Rhea Perlman – Wikipedia reference search Public biography and credit reference.Rhea Perlman – IMDb name search Biographical and credit details were checked against Rhea Perlman – Wikipedia reference search, Rhea Perlman – IMDb name search.