Mercedes J. Ruehl is an American theater, television, and film actress.
Background
Ruehl was born in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City, the daughter of Mercedes J. Ruehl, a school teacher, and Vincent Ruehl, an Federal Bureau of Investigation agent. Her father was of German and Irish descent and her mother was of Cuban and Irish ancestry.
Education
Ruehl attended College of New Rochelle and graduated in 1969.
Career
Ruehl began her career in regional theatre with the Denver Center Theatre Company, taking odd jobs between engagements. Her first starring role on Broadway came in 1984"s I"m Not Rappaport. She also received a 1991 Tony Award as Best Actress (Play) for Neil Simon"s Lost in Yonkers and continued her role in the show during its tour with co-star Mercedes McCambridge.
Her performances in two other plays earned her two other Tony nominations: in 1995, as Best Actress (Featured Role – Play) for a revival of The Shadow Box.
And in 2002, as Best Actress (Play) for Edward Albee"s The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?. She played KACL station manager Kate Costas in five episodes of Frasier, and had a major role in the made-for-television film All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story.
She later played the mother of main character Vincent Chase in Home Box Office"s Entourage. In 2009, Ruehl returned to the Broadway stage in Manhattan Club"s production of Richard Greenberg"s The American Plan playing the role of Eva Adler.
The production opened at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre and the limited engagement ran From January 22 until March 22.
In his rave review in The New York Times, Ben Brantley called Ruehl"s performance "masterly". Ruehl next appeared in the drama/horror film What Ever Happened to Barker Daniels?, which was released in 2009. In January 2012, Ruehl starred in Sarah Treem"s play The How and The Why, directed by Emily Mann at McCarter Theatre of Princeton University.