Judith Light

Judith Light - Film & Theater Personalities, Timeline and Facts

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Judith Light's Personal Details

Judith Light is an American actress known for her role in the series ‘One Life to Live.’

InformationDetail
BirthdayFebruary 9, 1949
NationalityAmerican
FamousCarnegie Mellon University, Film & Theater Personalities, Actresses
City/StateNew Jersey
SpousesRobert Desiderio (m. 1985)
Known asJudith Ellen Light
Universities
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • St. Mary's Hall–Doane Academy
  • Carnegie Mellon University
Notable Alumnis
  • Carnegie Mellon University
Birth PlaceTrenton, New Jersey, United States
Height170
GenderFemale
FatherSidney Licht
MotherPearl Sue
Net Worth$5 million as of May 20,2017
Sun SignAquarius
Born inTrenton, New Jersey, United States
Famous asActress
Socials

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Judith Light's photo

Who is Judith Light?

Judith Light is a Tony Award-winning American actress and producer best known for her work in the soap opera ‘One Life to Live.’ Passionate about acting from a young age, she made her professional stage debut at the age of 21. Making her debut as a stage actress in 1970, she soon moved on to television and starred on the soap opera ‘One Life to Live’ for six years, followed by a number of significant guest appearances on other prime time series. She came to prominence with her role on the popular series ‘Who’s the Boss?’ The recipient of Tony Awards for her roles in ‘Other Desert Cities’, and ‘The Assembled Parties’, the veteran actress has also won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. With more than 40 television series, 11 films and 10 plays to her credit, her performance of a reformed prostitute in ‘One Life to Live’, and that of a strong advertising executive and a divorced mother in ‘Who's the Boss?’ were highly praised by the critics. Besides, acting, she likes to spend time doing social work with organizations like National Council on Aging, and the Flu + You. She takes the initiative to educate people, particularly senior citizens, about prevention of flu and spread awareness about the vaccine options. She is also a gay rights activist.

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Childhood & Early Life

Judith Light was born on February 9, 1949, in Trenton, New Jersey, to Pearl Sue, a model, and Sidney Light, an accountant.

In 1966, she graduated high school from St. Mary's Hall–Doane Academy in Burlington, New Jersey. She then earned a degree in drama from Carnegie Mellon University.

Career

In 1970, Judith Light started off her acting career on stage, making her debut in ‘Richard III’ at the California Shakespeare Festival. Five years later, she made her Broadway debut in ‘A Doll's House,’ followed by her role in the Broadway play ‘Herzl’ in 1976.

Despite getting such a good beginning to her career, she was completely out of acting assignments for a few years in the 1970s. Almost on the verge of being broke, she was toying with the idea of quitting her dream career—acting.

The year 1977 proved to be a lucky one for her as she was called to audition for a role in a soap opera titled ‘One Life to Live’, to be aired on ABC. Judith was confused about accepting the offer as she never wanted to act in soap operas or sitcoms and get typecast. Eventually, the attractive pay package that was attached to it lured her to accept the offer.

She played the role of Karen Wolek on ‘One Life to Live’, and according to her, it was one of her most-remembered roles and shows of her life, which made her a household name for the next six years. This role helped her to get some significant guest appearances on a number of television series like ‘St. Elsewhere’ and ‘Family Ties’.

In 1984, she landed another important role in her career in ‘Who's the Boss?,’ a show that lasted for eight seasons. On the popular sitcom, she portrayed Angela Bower, an uptight advertising executive and a divorced mother. The role gave her the opportunity to do some comedy, and the romantic tension between the characters Angela and Tony was really enjoyed by the viewers as well as the critics.

Around this time, she also did some television films such as ‘Stamp of a Killer’ in 1987, the biographical drama ‘The Ryan White Story’ in 1989, and ‘Wife, Mother, Murderer’ in 1991.

After the show ‘Who's the Boss?’ ended in 1992, she took up some TV movies and a few television series. During this period, she did ‘Phenom’ in 1993, ‘Men Don't Tell’ in 1997, and ‘The Simple Life’ in 1998.

Realizing how much she missed the stage, she returned to it in 1999, in ‘Wit’, an off-Broadway production. However, she didn’t stay away from the television as well, and in 2002, she starred in ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’, where she played the role of a tough and outspoken judge.

As she had enjoyed playing a comedy role in ‘Who's the Boss?’, she took up another dramatic comedy role in ‘Ugly Betty’, where she portrayed Claire Meade, a heavy drinking wife of a publishing giant. She continued in the show till the last episode in 2010.

During the 2000s, she acted in a few significant films like the romantic comedy film ‘Ira & Abby’ in 2005 and ‘Save Me’ in 2007, where she played the role of a radical Christian woman who headed a Christian ministry called Genesis House.

In 2010-11, she did another witty role of an alcoholic Marie Lombardi in the play ‘Lombardi’. In 2011 she did two television pilots, which did not do well. The first was ABC's sitcom ‘Other People's Kids’, and the other one was USA Network’s drama ‘Eden’.

In 2013, she was featured in the television series ‘Dallas’ as an evil and sharp-tongued mother. She also returned to Broadway in the play ‘The Assembled Parties’.

In 2014, she took up a challenging role in the Amazon series ‘Transparent’, which earned her critical acclaim and garnered her first Golden Globe nomination. Light portrayed Shelly Pfefferman, the ex-wife of a transgender, played by Tambor. Around the same period, she appeared in two films ‘Last Weekend’ and ‘We'll Never Have Paris’.

In 2015, she took up the role of Madame Raquin, an overprotective mother in director Evan Cabnet's Broadway production ‘Thérèse Raquin’.

Major Works

Judith Light’s performance on ‘One Life to Live’ helped the show get good ratings and earned her critical acclaim from critics. Her dramatic performance of a housewife-turned-prostitute and the strong courtroom scene is still regarded as one of the most memorable scenes in television dramas.

Her role in ‘Who's the Boss?’ was applauded, and TV Guide ranked the show as the 109th best sitcom of all time. She earned strong reviews for her performance as a university professor who was battling ovarian cancer in the play ‘Wit’. In the television series ‘Dallas’, her villainous role of Judith Brown Ryland was applauded, and Entertainment Weekly praised her as a "scene-stealer".

Awards & Achievements

Judith Light won the Soapy Award in the Outstanding Actress category in 1979 for ‘One Life to Live’. The next year, she bagged the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and another Soapy Award for ‘One Life to Live’.

In 1998, she was given the GLAAD Media Award.

She received the Prism Award for Best Performance in a Comedy Series for ‘Ugly Betty’ in 2007.

In 2012, she won a Drama Desk Award and a Tony Award for the play ‘Other Desert Cities’.

In 2013, she once again received a Drama Desk Award, and a Tony Award for the Play ‘The Assembled Parties.’

Her role as Shelly Pfefferman on ‘Transparent’ netted her an Emmy nomination.

Personal Life

Judith Light married television actor Robert Desiderio in January 1985. She met her future husband while she was working on the soap opera ‘One Life to Live’ in 1968.

She never wanted to have children because with an acting career she would not have been able to be a full-time mother.

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Judith Light biography timelines

  • // 9th Feb 1949
    Judith Light was born on February 9, 1949, in Trenton, New Jersey, to Pearl Sue, a model, and Sidney Light, an accountant.
  • // 1966
    In 1966, she graduated high school from St. Mary's Hall–Doane Academy in Burlington, New Jersey. She then earned a degree in drama from Carnegie Mellon University.
  • // Jan 1968 To Jan 1985
    Judith Light married television actor Robert Desiderio in January 1985. She met her future husband while she was working on the soap opera ‘One Life to Live’ in 1968.
  • // 1970 To 1976
    In 1970, Judith Light started off her acting career on stage, making her debut in ‘Richard III’ at the California Shakespeare Festival. Five years later, she made her Broadway debut in ‘A Doll's House,’ followed by her role in the Broadway play ‘Herzl’ in 1976.
  • // 1970
    Despite getting such a good beginning to her career, she was completely out of acting assignments for a few years in the 1970s. Almost on the verge of being broke, she was toying with the idea of quitting her dream career—acting.
  • // 1977
    The year 1977 proved to be a lucky one for her as she was called to audition for a role in a soap opera titled ‘One Life to Live’, to be aired on ABC. Judith was confused about accepting the offer as she never wanted to act in soap operas or sitcoms and get typecast. Eventually, the attractive pay package that was attached to it lured her to accept the offer.
  • // 1979
    Judith Light won the Soapy Award in the Outstanding Actress category in 1979 for ‘One Life to Live’. The next year, she bagged the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and another Soapy Award for ‘One Life to Live’.
  • // 1984
    In 1984, she landed another important role in her career in ‘Who's the Boss?,’ a show that lasted for eight seasons. On the popular sitcom, she portrayed Angela Bower, an uptight advertising executive and a divorced mother. The role gave her the opportunity to do some comedy, and the romantic tension between the characters Angela and Tony was really enjoyed by the viewers as well as the critics.
  • // 1998
    In 1998, she was given the GLAAD Media Award.
  • // 1999 To 2002
    Realizing how much she missed the stage, she returned to it in 1999, in ‘Wit’, an off-Broadway production. However, she didn’t stay away from the television as well, and in 2002, she starred in ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’, where she played the role of a tough and outspoken judge.
  • // 2005 To 2007
    During the 2000s, she acted in a few significant films like the romantic comedy film ‘Ira & Abby’ in 2005 and ‘Save Me’ in 2007, where she played the role of a radical Christian woman who headed a Christian ministry called Genesis House.
  • // 2007
    She received the Prism Award for Best Performance in a Comedy Series for ‘Ugly Betty’ in 2007.
  • // 2010
    As she had enjoyed playing a comedy role in ‘Who's the Boss?’, she took up another dramatic comedy role in ‘Ugly Betty’, where she portrayed Claire Meade, a heavy drinking wife of a publishing giant. She continued in the show till the last episode in 2010.
  • // 2010 To 2011
    In 2010-11, she did another witty role of an alcoholic Marie Lombardi in the play ‘Lombardi’. In 2011 she did two television pilots, which did not do well. The first was ABC's sitcom ‘Other People's Kids’, and the other one was USA Network’s drama ‘Eden’.
  • // 2012
    In 2012, she won a Drama Desk Award and a Tony Award for the play ‘Other Desert Cities’.
  • // 2013
    In 2013, she was featured in the television series ‘Dallas’ as an evil and sharp-tongued mother. She also returned to Broadway in the play ‘The Assembled Parties’.
  • // 2013
    In 2013, she once again received a Drama Desk Award, and a Tony Award for the Play ‘The Assembled Parties.’
  • // 2014
    In 2014, she took up a challenging role in the Amazon series ‘Transparent’, which earned her critical acclaim and garnered her first Golden Globe nomination. Light portrayed Shelly Pfefferman, the ex-wife of a transgender, played by Tambor. Around the same period, she appeared in two films ‘Last Weekend’ and ‘We'll Never Have Paris’.
  • // 2015
    In 2015, she took up the role of Madame Raquin, an overprotective mother in director Evan Cabnet's Broadway production ‘Thérèse Raquin’.

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Judith Light's FAQ

  • What is Judith Light birthday?

    Judith Light was born at 1949-02-09

  • Where is Judith Light's birth place?

    Judith Light was born in Trenton, New Jersey, United States

  • What is Judith Light nationalities?

    Judith Light's nationalities is American

  • Who is Judith Light spouses?

    Judith Light's spouses is Robert Desiderio (m. 1985)

  • What was Judith Light universities?

    Judith Light studied at Carnegie Mellon University, St. Mary's Hall–Doane Academy, Carnegie Mellon University

  • What was Judith Light notable alumnis?

    Judith Light's notable alumnis is Carnegie Mellon University

  • How tall is Judith Light?

    Judith Light's height is 170

  • Who is Judith Light's father?

    Judith Light's father is Sidney Licht

  • Who is Judith Light's mother?

    Judith Light's mother is Pearl Sue

  • What is Judith Light's sun sign?

    Judith Light is Aquarius

  • How famous is Judith Light?

    Judith Light is famouse as Actress

  • What is Judith Light's facebook?

    Judith Light's facebook is https://www.facebook.com/officialjudithlight/

  • What is Judith Light's twitter?

    Judith Light's twitter is https://twitter.com/judithlight/

  • What is Judith Light's instagram?

    Judith Light's instagram is https://www.instagram.com/judithlight/