Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Rhea Perlman
open-in-new
<p>Rhea Jo Perlman (born March 31, 1948) is an American actress and author. She is well-known for playing head waitress <a href="/facts/Carla_Tortelli/LdNa75eV">Carla Tortelli</a> in the <a href="/facts/Sitcom/a01VwMsV">sitcom</a> <i><a href="/facts/Cheers/4Db9ed3W">Cheers</a></i> (1982–1993). Over the course of eleven seasons, Perlman was nominated for ten <a href="/facts/Emmy_Award/M6GvMDJc">Emmy Awards</a> for <a href="/facts/Primetime_Emmy_Award_for_Outstanding_Supporting_Actress_in_a_Comedy_Series/ph0kpJeJ">Outstanding Supporting Actress</a>, winning four, and was nominated for a record six <a href="/facts/Golden_Globe_Award/1v50C2Tb">Golden Globe Awards</a> for <a href="/facts/Golden_Globe_Award_for_Best_Supporting_Actress_%25E2%2580%2593_Series%2c_Miniseries_or_Television_Film/Hyt5Mryo">Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series</a>. She has also appeared in films, including <i><a href="/facts/Canadian_Bacon/bqWf8d2q">Canadian Bacon</a></i> (1995), <a href="/facts/Matilda_(1996_film)/HQH5REs3"><i>Matilda</i></a> (1996), <a href="/facts/The_Sessions_(2012_film)/yWSkahN4"><i>The Sessions</i></a> (2012), <a href="/facts/Poms_(film)/g72gRw1I"><i>Poms</i></a> (2019), and <a href="/facts/Barbie_(2023_film)/a8JKBjNx"><i>Barbie</i></a> (2023). In 2025, she had a guest role in the second season of the crime mystery series <i><a href="/facts/Poker_Face_(TV_series)/DyNf36nL">Poker Face</a></i>. </p>