Ellen Muth
Encyclopedia
Ellen Anna Muth is an American actress, known for her role as George Lass in Showtime's series Dead Like Me
. Muth is a member of Intertel and Mensa
.
and Rascal's Agency, Muth pursued a career in acting, studying at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute
in New York City, and getting her first professional experience doing commercials in 1993. Her first major role was in the 1995 film Dolores Claiborne
. She followed that with a role in the eighth season premiere of Law & Order
.
Muth's appearance as the daughter in the 1999 film The Young Girl and the Monsoon
prompted the following review by Stephen Holden
of The New York Times:
In 2000, her work included appearances in episodes of The Beat and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
, as well as a role in The American Collection
adaptation of "Cora Unashamed", a short story
by Langston Hughes
from his 1934 collection The Ways of White Folks
. Muth also had a guest role in "Don't Ask", the original unaired pilot episode of the 2000 Fox show eventually airing as Normal, Ohio
, but the show was revamped, resulting in the elimination of her role.
Muth's most widely known work was as the star of the 2003-4 Showtime television series Dead Like Me
, where she played Georgia "George" Lass, the protagonist and one of a team of reapers led by Rube, played by Mandy Patinkin
.
Muth's more recent roles have been lower in profile. She appeared in Jack 'n' Jill, a 2007 MFA
thesis film. She voiced the character of Addie Vost in the first animated short of Tofu the Vegan Zombie and a character in the audio dramatization "Anne Manx in the Empress Blair Project". In September 2008 she joined three other actors at the Theatre Artist Workshop in Norwalk, Connecticut
in a reading of Fleece the Flock, an original musical comedy in development and directed by Joel Vig.
After some delay, Dead Like Me: Life After Death a film directed by Stephen Herek
, based on Dead Like Me, and featuring many members of the show's cast, was released direct-to-video
in March 2009.
, the daughter of Rachel and Erich Muth.
Muth qualifies for membership in Intertel
and Mensa
and has attended the Skip Barber Racing School
.
, recognition Muth earned for her screen debut in Dolores Claiborne
. In 1999 she won the American Film Institute
(AFI) Best Actress Award for The Young Girl and the Monsoon
.
In 2004, Muth was nominated twice for Dead Like Me
. This included a Saturn Award
nomination in the Best Actress in a Television Series category. She was nominated for a Satellite Award in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama series.
Dead Like Me
Dead Like Me was an American-Canadian comedy-drama television series starring Ellen Muth and Mandy Patinkin as grim reapers who reside and work in Seattle, Washington. Filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, the show was created by Bryan Fuller for the Showtime network, where it ran for two seasons...
. Muth is a member of Intertel and Mensa
Mensa International
Mensa is the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world. It is a non-profit organization open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test...
.
Career
After a brief stint as a model with Ford ModelsFord Models
The Ford Modeling Agency, or as it is known today Ford Models, is a modeling agency in New York City. It was established in 1946 by Eileen and the late Gerard W. Ford.-Company:...
and Rascal's Agency, Muth pursued a career in acting, studying at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute
Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute
__notoc__The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute is an acting school located at 115 East 15th Street between Union Square East and Irving Place in the Union Square neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, as well as at 7936 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, California...
in New York City, and getting her first professional experience doing commercials in 1993. Her first major role was in the 1995 film Dolores Claiborne
Dolores Claiborne (film)
Dolores Claiborne is a 1995 film based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King, starring Kathy Bates and Jennifer Jason Leigh. It was directed by Taylor Hackford.-Plot:...
. She followed that with a role in the eighth season premiere of Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
.
Muth's appearance as the daughter in the 1999 film The Young Girl and the Monsoon
The Young Girl and the Monsoon
The Young Girl and the Monsoon is a 1999 comedy-drama from Monsoon Productions and starring Terry Kinney and Ellen Muth. Writer-director, James Ryan, won Best Screenplay and the Gold Medal at the Wine Country Film Festival in 2000 for the film....
prompted the following review by Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden is an American writer, music critic, film critic, and poet.Holden earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Yale University in 1963...
of The New York Times:
Ellen Muth, a 19-year-old actress who looks considerably younger, virtually explodes in the role of Constance, the volatile 13-year-old only child of divorced parents. An emotional powder keg who one minute can be as clinging as a baby and the next delights in cruelly demolishing the nearest grownup with laser-like sarcasm, Constance is a flailing mood swing on a circuitous warpath. The film ... crackles dangerously to life whenever Constance (who narrates the film) is on the screen with her father Hank (Terry KinneyTerry KinneyTerry Kinney is an American actor and theatre director, and is a founding member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, with Gary Sinise and Jeff Perry.-Early life:...
).
In 2000, her work included appearances in episodes of The Beat and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
, as well as a role in The American Collection
The American Collection
The American Collection was a spinoff series of Masterpiece Theater, which ran from 2000 to 2003, for the former series' 30th anniversary. It was funded originally by Exxon Mobil ; however, funding for both series was withdrawn in 2005. It aired on PBS...
adaptation of "Cora Unashamed", a short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes
James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance...
from his 1934 collection The Ways of White Folks
The Ways of White Folks
The Ways of White Folks is a collection of short stories written by Langston Hughes, published in 1934. Hughes wrote the book during a year he spent living in Carmel, California. The collection, "marked by pessimism about race relations, as well as a sardonic realism," is among his most well...
. Muth also had a guest role in "Don't Ask", the original unaired pilot episode of the 2000 Fox show eventually airing as Normal, Ohio
Normal, Ohio
Normal, Ohio is an American television sitcom, which aired on the Fox Network in 2000. The show stars John Goodman as William "Butch" Gamble, a gay man returning to his Midwestern home town...
, but the show was revamped, resulting in the elimination of her role.
Muth's most widely known work was as the star of the 2003-4 Showtime television series Dead Like Me
Dead Like Me
Dead Like Me was an American-Canadian comedy-drama television series starring Ellen Muth and Mandy Patinkin as grim reapers who reside and work in Seattle, Washington. Filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, the show was created by Bryan Fuller for the Showtime network, where it ran for two seasons...
, where she played Georgia "George" Lass, the protagonist and one of a team of reapers led by Rube, played by Mandy Patinkin
Mandy Patinkin
Mandel Bruce "Mandy" Patinkin is an award-winning American actor of stage and screen and a tenor vocalist. He is a noted interpreter of the musical works of Stephen Sondheim, and is best-known for his work in musical theatre, originating iconic roles such as Georges Seurat in Sunday in the Park...
.
Muth's more recent roles have been lower in profile. She appeared in Jack 'n' Jill, a 2007 MFA
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
thesis film. She voiced the character of Addie Vost in the first animated short of Tofu the Vegan Zombie and a character in the audio dramatization "Anne Manx in the Empress Blair Project". In September 2008 she joined three other actors at the Theatre Artist Workshop in Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
in a reading of Fleece the Flock, an original musical comedy in development and directed by Joel Vig.
After some delay, Dead Like Me: Life After Death a film directed by Stephen Herek
Stephen Herek
Stephen Robert Herek is an American film director.Herek was born in San Antonio, Texas. He attended the University of Texas at Austin. His career as film director took off in 1986 with Critters followed by Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure where he worked with Keanu Reeves in 1989...
, based on Dead Like Me, and featuring many members of the show's cast, was released direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
in March 2009.
Biography
Muth was born in Milford, ConnecticutMilford, Connecticut
Milford is a coastal city in southwestern New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located between Bridgeport and New Haven. The population was 52,759 at the 2010 census...
, the daughter of Rachel and Erich Muth.
Muth qualifies for membership in Intertel
Intertel (group)
Intertel is a high IQ society specifically for people who test in the top one percent of IQ. Intertel believes that highly-intelligent people have special intellectual, emotional, and social needs which remain with them throughout life. Its theme is "participation and excellence" both within the...
and Mensa
Mensa International
Mensa is the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world. It is a non-profit organization open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test...
and has attended the Skip Barber Racing School
Skip Barber Racing School
The Skip Barber Racing School is one of the largest racing schools in the world. It conducts racing schools, defensive and high performance driving schools, amateur and professional racing championships and corporate entertainment schools. Skip Barber started the school in 1975 with two borrowed...
.
Awards and nominations
Muth was one of two actresses who shared a best supporting actress award at the 1995 Tokyo International Film FestivalTokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo International Film Festival is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held biannually from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter...
, recognition Muth earned for her screen debut in Dolores Claiborne
Dolores Claiborne (film)
Dolores Claiborne is a 1995 film based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King, starring Kathy Bates and Jennifer Jason Leigh. It was directed by Taylor Hackford.-Plot:...
. In 1999 she won the American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
(AFI) Best Actress Award for The Young Girl and the Monsoon
The Young Girl and the Monsoon
The Young Girl and the Monsoon is a 1999 comedy-drama from Monsoon Productions and starring Terry Kinney and Ellen Muth. Writer-director, James Ryan, won Best Screenplay and the Gold Medal at the Wine Country Film Festival in 2000 for the film....
.
In 2004, Muth was nominated twice for Dead Like Me
Dead Like Me
Dead Like Me was an American-Canadian comedy-drama television series starring Ellen Muth and Mandy Patinkin as grim reapers who reside and work in Seattle, Washington. Filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, the show was created by Bryan Fuller for the Showtime network, where it ran for two seasons...
. This included a Saturn Award
Saturn Award
The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within...
nomination in the Best Actress in a Television Series category. She was nominated for a Satellite Award in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama series.
Filmography
| Year | Film/Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Dolores Claiborne Dolores Claiborne (film) Dolores Claiborne is a 1995 film based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King, starring Kathy Bates and Jennifer Jason Leigh. It was directed by Taylor Hackford.-Plot:... |
Young Selena | |
| 1997 | Law & Order Law & Order Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,... |
Adele Green | Episode: "Thrill" |
| 1998 | Only Love | Rachel | |
| 1999 | The Young Girl and the Monsoon The Young Girl and the Monsoon The Young Girl and the Monsoon is a 1999 comedy-drama from Monsoon Productions and starring Terry Kinney and Ellen Muth. Writer-director, James Ryan, won Best Screenplay and the Gold Medal at the Wine Country Film Festival in 2000 for the film.... |
Constance | |
| 2000 | The Truth About Jane | Jane | |
| Cora Unashamed Cora Unashamed Cora Unashamed is a TV movie from The American Collection directed by Deborah M. Pratt, starring Regina Taylor and Cherry Jones, and released in 2000. The movie is based on a short story by the same name in The Ways of White Folks, a collection of short stories by Langston Hughes... |
Jessie Studevant at 18 | ||
| The Beat | Jacqueline Hutchinson | Episode: "The Beat Goes On" | |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced... |
Elaine Harrington | Episode: "Chat Room Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 1) Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, an American police procedural television series, premiered on September 20, 1999 on NBC. Created by Dick Wolf, it is the first spin-off of Law & Order and follows the detectives of a fictionalized version of the New York City Police Department's Special Victims... " |
|
| 2001 | A Gentleman's Game | Mollie Kildruff | |
| Rain | Jenny | ||
| 2002 | Superfire | Jill Perkins | |
| Two Against Time | Emma Portman | ||
| 2003–2004 | Dead Like Me Dead Like Me Dead Like Me was an American-Canadian comedy-drama television series starring Ellen Muth and Mandy Patinkin as grim reapers who reside and work in Seattle, Washington. Filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, the show was created by Bryan Fuller for the Showtime network, where it ran for two seasons... |
Georgia "George" Lass | |
| 2007 | Tofu the Vegan Zombie in Zombie Dearest | Addie Vost (voice) | Animation |
| Jack N Jill | Jill | Student film | |
| 2009 | Dead Like Me: Life After Death | Georgia "George" Lass | Direct-to-DVD movie |
| 2012 | Rudyard Kipling's Mark of the Beast | Natalie |