Bebe Neuwirth

Bebe Neuwirth Headshot

Actress • Singer • Dancer

Birth Date: December 31, 1958

Age: 65 years old

Birth Place: Princeton, New Jersey

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.

Credits

Captain FallStream

Voice
Alexis Fall
Series
2023

JuliaStream

Actor
Avis
Series
2022
96%

The Tony Awards Present: Broadway's Back!

Self
Show
2021

Teenage EuthanasiaStream

Voice
Baba
Series
2021

Ultra City SmithsStream

Voice
Lady Andrea The Giant
Series
2021
88%

DuncanvilleStream

Guest Voice
Patricia
Series
2020

Modern Persuasion

Actor
Vanessa Perry
Movie
2020

The Good FightStream

Guest Star
Series
2017
95%

Humor Me

Actor
CC Rudin
Movie
2017

Match GameStream

Guest
Game Show
2016

Must See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burrows

Guest
Show
2016

Madam SecretaryStream

Actor
Nadine Tolliver
Series
2014

Browsers

Actor
Show
2013

Just Gender

Narrator
Movie
2013

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

Defiant Requiem

Voice
Movie
2012

Blue BloodsStream

Guest Star
Series
2010

Move

Actor
Movie
2010

The Cleveland ShowStream

Guest Voice
Sarah Friedman
Series
2009

The Good WifeStream

Guest Star
Judge Claudia Friend
Series
2009
93%

FameStream

Actor
Lynn Kraft
Movie
2009
23%

Ingredients

Narrator
Movie
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Adopt a Sailor

Actor
Patricia
Movie
2008

The Better Show

Guest
Show
2007

Law & Order: Trial by JuryStream

Actor
Asst. D.A. Tracey Kibre
Series
2005

Game 6Stream

Actor
Joanna Bourne
Movie
2005
62%

The Big BounceStream

Actor
Alison Ritchie
Movie
2004
15%

How to Lose a Guy in 10 DaysStream

Actor
Lana
Movie
2003
42%

Le DivorceStream

Actor
Julia Manchevering
Movie
2003
36%

Hack

Guest Star
Show
2002

The Adventures of Tom Thumb & Thumbelina

Voice
Thumbelina's mother
Movie
2002

Tadpole

Actor
Diane
Movie
2002

Deadline

Actor
Nikki Masucci
Show
2000

An Extremely Goofy Movie

Actor
Sylvia Marpole
Movie
2000

Cupid & Cate

Actor
Francesca
Movie
2000

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Nina Laszlo
Series
1999
78%

The Daily Show With Jon StewartStream

Guest
Talk
1999

Getting to Know You

Actor
Trix
Movie
1999

Dash and Lilly

Actor
Dorothy Parker
Movie
1999

Summer of SamStream

Actor
Gloria
Movie
1999
50%

Liberty Heights

Actor
Ada Kurtzman
Movie
1999

Will & GraceStream

Guest Star
Bebe Neuwirth
Series
1998

CelebrityStream

Actor
Nina
Movie
1998
42%

An All Dogs Christmas Carol

Voice
Anabelle / Belladonna
Movie
1998

The FacultyStream

Actor
Principal Valerie Drake
Movie
1998
56%

All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series

Voice
Show
1996

Sabrina the Teenage WitchStream

Actor
Series
1996

All Dogs Go to Heaven 2

Voice
Anabelle
Movie
1996

The Adventures of Pinocchio

Actor
Felinet
Movie
1996

Dear Diary

Actor
Movie
1996

NewsRadioStream

Guest Star
Sandi Angelini
Series
1995
95%

JumanjiStream

Actor
Aunt Nora Shepherd
Movie
1995
52%

Aladdin

Guest Voice
Series
1994

FrasierStream

Guest Star
Dr. Lilith Sternin
Series
1993
95%

Wild Palms

Actor
Show
1993

Malice

Actor
Det. Dana Harris
Movie
1993

The Paint Job

Actor
Margaret
Movie
1992

BugsyStream

Actor
Countess di Frasso
Movie
1991
84%

WingsStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

Actos Inconfesables

Actor
Movie
1990

Unspeakable Acts

Actor
Susan Maxwell
Movie
1990

Without Her Consent

Actor
Gloria Allred
Movie
1990

Green Card

Actor
Lauren Adler
Movie
1990

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStream

Guest Star
Lanel
Series
1987
92%

Star Trek: The Next Generation 2.0

Guest Star
Show
1987

CheersStream

Actor
Dr. Lilith Sternin
Series
1982
87%

CheersStream

Guest Star
Dr. Lilith Sternin
Series
1982
87%

Fame

Guest Star
Series
1982

CBS News Sunday Morning

Guest
News
1979

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

The Dick Cavett ShowStream

Guest
Talk
1968

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutBebe Neuwirth