Bebe Neuwirth
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Bebe Neuwirth first caught attention as a Tony Award-winning musical performer but also enjoyed success as a voice artist, film star and TV actress, most notably with recurring roles in "Cheers" (NBC, 1982-1993) and "Madam Secretary" (CBS, 2014-). Born in Newark, NJ in 1958 to a painter mother and mathematician father, Neuwirth initially pursued a career as a dancer. She studied ballet while attending Juilliard and later showcased her talents in various Princeton Ballet Company productions. She debuted on the Broadway stage in a 1980 production of "A Chorus Line," and would later win Tonys in 1986 and 1997 for performances in "Sweet Charity" and "Chicago," respectively. Her first screen role, Dr. Lilith Sternin, was both her most memorable and longest-running. She portrayed the ice queen in eight seasons of hit sitcom "Cheers" (NBC, 1982-1993), and also reprised the character for 12 episodes of spin-off "Frasier" (ABC, 1993-2004). After making her film debut as guidance counselor Mrs. Evans in "Say Anything" (1989), Neuwirth played Andie MacDowell's best friend Lauren in "Green Card" (1990) and portrayed real-life figures Gloria Allred in "Without Her Consent" (1990) and heiress Countess di Frasso in "Bugsy" (1991). Following a five-episode stint as Oscar-winning actress Tabba Schwartzkopf in sci-fi miniseries "Wild Palms" (ABC, 1993), Neuwirth appeared as detective Dana Harris in "Malice" (1993), Margaret in "Painted Heart" (1993) and aunt Nora in "Jumanji" (1995). Neuwirth also became a regular in the recording booth, voicing Mirage in "Aladdin" (Disney Channel, 1994-95) and angelic wolfhound Annabelle in "All Dogs Go to Heaven" (1996) and its various spin-offs. Neuwirth then played thief Felinet in "The Adventures of Pinocchio" (1996), schemer Camille in "The Associate" (1996) and magazine art director Annie in TV pilot-turned-Oscar-winning short "Dear Diary" (1996). Neuwirth then appeared as hooker Nina in "Celebrity" (1998), Principal Valerie Drake in "The Faculty" (1998), hairdresser Gloria in "Summer of Sam" (1999) and real-life poet Dorothy Parker in Emmy-nominated "Dash and Lilly" (1999) before landing supporting roles in "Getting to Know You" (1999), "Liberty Heights" (1999) and "Cupid and Cate" (2000). Neuwirth then shared top billing in romantic comedy "Tadpole" (2000), played editor Nikki in newsroom drama "Deadline" (NBC, 2000-01) and Faith in vigilante series "Hack" (CBS, 2002-04) and showed up as Kate Hudson's boss in "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days" (2003). Roles as art curator Julia in "Le Divorce" (2003), criminal Alison in "The Big Bounce" (2004) and producer Joanne in "Game 6" (2005) then followed, as did a 13-episode stint as A.D.A. Tracey Kibre in "Law and Order: Trial by Jury" (NBC, 2005-06). Neuwirth then starred opposite Peter Coyote in "Adopt a Sailor" (2008), played literary editor Caroline in "Bored to Death" (HBO, 2009-2011) and portrayed Ms. Kraft in "Fame" (2009). Neuwirth returned to the legal TV drama with the recurring roles of Judge Claudia Friend in "The Good Wife" (CBS, 2009-2016) and NYPD Inspector General Kelly Peterson in "Blue Bloods" (CBS, 2010-). before joining the cast of "Madam Secretary" (CBS, 2014-) as chief-of-staff Nadine Tolliver.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Music (Special)
Misc. Crew (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1980
Made Broadway debut as Sheila in "A Chorus Line"
1982
Appeared on Broadway in revival of "Little Me"
1985
Directed by Bob Fosse in a revival of "Sweet Charity"
1986
Landed role of Dr. Lilith Sternin in "Cheers" (NBC, 1982-1993)
1989
Made film debut in "Say Anything" as a high school counselor
1992
Character of Lilith written out of "Cheers" at Neuwirth's request so that she could focus her energies on feature film work
1994
Starred as Lola opposite Victor Garber in the Broadway revival of "Damn Yankees"
1994
Reprised her role as Dr. Lilith Sternin in several episodes of the "Cheers" spin-off, "Frasier"; earned an Emmy (1995) nomination
1996
Returned to Broadway in the revival of "Chicago" as showgirl and killer Velma Kelly
1997
Won second Tony Award for performance in "Chicago"
1998
Played a Hooker in Woody Allen's "Celebrity"
1999
Played the mother of a 1950s Jewish family in Barry Levinson's "Liberty Heights"
1999
Portrayed Dorothy Parker in the A&E biopic "Dash & Lilly"; received Emmy nomination
2000
Returned to TV as a regular on the NBC drama series "Deadline"
2001
Appeared in the Broadway show "Fosse"
2001
Made rare non-musical stage appearance in the Off-Broadway play "Everett Beekin"
2002
Garnered praise for supporting turn in the Sundance-screened independent "Tadpole"
2003
Again starred opposite Kate Hudson in "Le Divorce"
2003
Played Kate Hudson's boss in the romantic comedy "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days"
2004
Performed in the NY musical, "Here Lies Jenny"
2005
Starred in the short-lived spin-off series, "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (NBC) as prosecutor Tracey Kibre
2006
Cast opposite Michael Keaton in "Game 6," a film centered around the historic 1986 World Series
2006
Returned to the Broadway production of "Chicago" in the role of Roxie Hart
2007
Co-starred with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in the comedy "The Game Plan"
2009
Played a dance instructor in the feature remake of "Fame"
2009
Toured a one-woman cabaret show, "Bebe Neuwirth: Stories with Piano"
2009
Had a recurring guest spot on HBO's "Bored to Death"
2010
Co-starred with Nathan Lane in "The Addams Family" at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
2012
Appeared on several episodes of "The Good Wife"
2013
Had a recurring role on cop drama "Blue Bloods"
2014
Cast as Nadine Tolliver in "Madam Secretary" (CBS, 2014-)
Family
Companions
