Rita Rudner
Rita Rudner is an American comedian, actress and writer. She began her career as a dancer, appearing in several Broadway musicals, but switched to stand up comedy at the age of 25 when she saw a gap in the market for female comedians in New York City. She became one of the premier American female comedians to come to success in the 1980s and '90s and at one point Rudner was working successfully both in her native America (with HBO specials and acclaimed appearances on The Tonight Show) and in the UK (with her own six part TV series for BBC2). In 1989 Rudner married her long term partner, the English producer Martin Bergman and together they have collaborated on numerous films, writing and producing Peter's Friends in 1992 which starred Kenneth Branagh, Fry and Laurie, Emma Thompson, Imelda Staunton and Rudner herself, and in Bergman's 1995 directorial debut A Month In The Country which she starred in alongside Jack Lemmon, Dudley Moore and Richard Lewis. Presently she has the longest running solo comedy show in Las Vegas history a twelve year run with over 2,000 shows and one and a half million tickets sold to date.
Acting
TV
The Nanny
as Margot
1993
TV
Tales from the Crypt
as Rolanda (segment "Whirlpool")
1989
TV
Magnum P.I.
as Patty Talbot
2018
TV
Hell's Kitchen
as Self - Restaurant Patron
2005
TV
RuPaul's Drag Race
as Self - Guest Judge
2009
Movie
Peter's Friends
as Carol Benson
1992
Movie
The Aristocrats
as Self
2005
Movie
Gleaming the Cube
as Mrs. Yabbo
1989
TV
As Told by Ginger
as Mrs. Fleming (voice)
2000
TV
V.I.P.
as Bidder at Art Auction
1998
TV
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
as Rita (voice)
1995
Movie
Love Hurts
as Dr. Lisa Levanthorp
2009
TV
Great Performances
as Self
1971
TV
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
2003
TV
Celebrity Ghost Stories
as Self
2009
Movie
The Wrong Guys
as Pam
1988
TV
One Night Stand
1989
Movie
That's Adequate
as Frieda Philby
1989
TV
Hollywood Squares
as Self - Panelist
1998
Movie
Rodney Dangerfield Hosts the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special
as herself
1985
Movie
A Weekend in the Country
as Sally Shelton
1996
Movie
Why We Laugh: Funny Women
as Self
2013
Movie
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
as Ursula
1995
Movie
Thanks
as Bunny
2011
Crew
Movie
Peter's Friends
Writer
1992
TV
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Additional Writing
1995
Movie
A Weekend in the Country
Writer
1996
Movie
Rita Rudner: Born to be Mild
Writer
1990
Movie
Rita Rudner: A Tale of Two Dresses
Writer
2018
Movie
Rita Rudner: Live from Las Vegas
Writer
2008
TV
Ask Rita
Writer
2003
TV
Rita Rudner
Writer
1990
TV
Landing on their Feet
Creator