Sara Rue
Encyclopedia
Sara Rue is an American television actress. She is best known for the roles she played as Carmen Ferrara on the comedy-drama Popular
and Claude Casey on the sitcom Less Than Perfect
. She is also known as a spokesperson for Jenny Craig. In 2011 she hosted The CW reality series Shedding for the Wedding
. She currently has a recurring role in the comedy Rules of Engagement
.
, the daughter of Joan Schlackman (née
Rue), a municipal employee and former actress, and Marc Schlackman, a stage manager. The elder of two daughters, she was raised in New York, where her parents were active in Broadway
theatres. She began her acting career at the age of nine, appearing in the 1988 film Rocket Gibraltar
as Kevin Spacey
's daughter (and as the late Burt Lancaster
's granddaughter). She also played a young Roseanne in the first meeting of Roseanne and Dan at a dance on the TV show Roseanne
.
, before going on to work on Phenom
; Minor Adjustments
; Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane; ER
; The Division
; and Popular
.
She has appeared in several films (A Map of the World
, Can't Hardly Wait
, A Slipping Down Life, Idiocracy
, Gypsy 83
and had a small part as a babysitter in Gore Verbinski
's adaptation of The Ring
), and so impressed director Michael Bay
that a role was written into the movie Pearl Harbor for her. Rue briefly appeared in the 2006 Mike Judge
film Idiocracy
, in the role of the Attorney General.
In 2006, Rue starred in the stage musical Little Egypt with French Stewart
, Jenny O'Hara, and Gregg Henry
at The Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles.
Rue guest starred in Two and a Half Men
as Berta's youngest daughter Naomi who is pregnant and, as the episode progresses, eventually has her baby on Charlie's couch. She had a stint on the CBS
sitcom The Big Bang Theory
, playing the character of Leonard Hofstadter
's girlfriend, Stephanie for 3 episodes. Her first appearance on the show occurred on November 17, 2008.
In 2009, Rue appeared in the movies Man Maid and For Christ's Sake, both of which are in post production. Rue starred on the 2009 ABC show Eastwick
. The show was based on the novel and movie The Witches of Eastwick
.
In December of 2009 it was announced that Rue would be a new spokesperson for Jenny Craig. Her diet was successful, as she lost fifty pounds and subsequently ran a half-marathon.
In October of 2010, Rue joined the cast of Rules of Engagement in a recurring role as Brenda, Jeff and Audrey's new surrogate.
Popular (TV series)
Popular is an American teenage comedy-drama on The WB Television Network in the United States, created by Ryan Murphy and Gina Matthews, starring Leslie Bibb and Carly Pope as two teenage girls that reside on polar opposite sides of the popularity spectrum at their high school, but are forced to...
and Claude Casey on the sitcom Less Than Perfect
Less Than Perfect
Less Than Perfect is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from October 1, 2002, to June 6, 2006. The show was about a young female office employee and her co-workers...
. She is also known as a spokesperson for Jenny Craig. In 2011 she hosted The CW reality series Shedding for the Wedding
Shedding for the Wedding
Shedding For The Wedding is a reality competition series that will follow nine overweight couples as they attempt to lose their unwanted weight and win a dream wedding. The show premiered on Wednesday February 23, 2011 at 9:00 pm Eastern/8:00 pm Central on The CW following the season premiere of...
. She currently has a recurring role in the comedy Rules of Engagement
Rules of Engagement (TV series)
Rules of Engagement is a sitcom that debuted on CBS on February 5, 2007, as a midseason replacement, immediately following Two and a Half Men, in the time slot that was occupied by now-cancelled The New Adventures of Old Christine...
.
Early life
Sara Rue was born Sara Schlackman in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the daughter of Joan Schlackman (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Rue), a municipal employee and former actress, and Marc Schlackman, a stage manager. The elder of two daughters, she was raised in New York, where her parents were active in Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
theatres. She began her acting career at the age of nine, appearing in the 1988 film Rocket Gibraltar
Rocket Gibraltar
Rocket Gibraltar is an American film released in 1988, directed by Daniel Petrie and starring Burt Lancaster and Patricia Clarkson. In the movie, an aging patriarch reunites his entire family for his birthday, but personal and social problems abound.-Cast:...
as Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey, CBE is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television...
's daughter (and as the late Burt Lancaster
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
's granddaughter). She also played a young Roseanne in the first meeting of Roseanne and Dan at a dance on the TV show Roseanne
Roseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
.
Career
Rue won critical acclaim for her television series debut, starring in the comedy GrandGrand (TV series)
Grand was a half-hour situation comedy that aired on the NBC network in 1990. The series featured an ensemble cast including Pamela Reed, Bonnie Hunt, Michael McKean, John Randolph, Andrew Lauer, John Neville, Joel Murray and Sara Rue. It was created by Michael Leeson, executive produced by...
, before going on to work on Phenom
Phenom (TV series)
Phenom is an American sitcom about a tennis wunderkind that aired on ABC from September 14, 1993 to May 10, 1994. The series stars Angela Goethals, Judith Light, and William Devane.-Synopsis:...
; Minor Adjustments
Minor Adjustments
Minor Adjustments is an American television sitcom that appeared on the NBC network in the United States during the 1995–96 season. The show was then transferred to UPN to be rebroadcast during the 1996-1997 season.-Synopsis:...
; Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane; ER
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
; The Division
The Division
The Division is an American Lifetime Television original series about a team of women police officers in the San Francisco Police Department. The series premiered on January 7, 2001 and ended on June 28, 2004 after 88 episodes.-Synopsis:...
; and Popular
Popular (TV series)
Popular is an American teenage comedy-drama on The WB Television Network in the United States, created by Ryan Murphy and Gina Matthews, starring Leslie Bibb and Carly Pope as two teenage girls that reside on polar opposite sides of the popularity spectrum at their high school, but are forced to...
.
She has appeared in several films (A Map of the World
A Map of the World
A Map of the World is a novel by Jane Hamilton. It was the Oprah's Book Club selection for December 1999. It was made into a movie released in 1999 starring Sigourney Weaver, Julianne Moore, David Strathairn, Chloë Sevigny, Louise Fletcher and Marc Donato with a soundtrack by Pat Metheny.- Plot...
, Can't Hardly Wait
Can't Hardly Wait
Can't Hardly Wait is a 1998 American teen comedy film written and directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. It stars Ethan Embry, Charlie Korsmo, Lauren Ambrose, Peter Facinelli, Seth Green, and Jennifer Love Hewitt, and is notable for a number of "before-they-were-famous" appearances by various...
, A Slipping Down Life, Idiocracy
Idiocracy
Idiocracy is a 2006 American film, a satirical science fiction comedy, directed by Mike Judge and starring Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard, and Terry Crews....
, Gypsy 83
Gypsy 83
Gypsy 83 is a 2001 drama film, written and directed by Todd Stephens, about two young goths, Gypsy and Clive, who travel to New York for an annual festival celebrating their idol, Stevie Nicks.-Plot:...
and had a small part as a babysitter in Gore Verbinski
Gore Verbinski
Gregor "Gore" Verbinski is an American film director, writer and musician. He is best known for directing the films The Ring, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Rango.-Early life:...
's adaptation of The Ring
The Ring (2002 film)
The Ring is a 2002 American psychological horror film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson. It is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ring....
), and so impressed director Michael Bay
Michael Bay
Michael Benjamin Bay is an American film director and producer. He is known for directing high-budget action films characterized by their fast edits, stylistic visuals and substantial practical special effects...
that a role was written into the movie Pearl Harbor for her. Rue briefly appeared in the 2006 Mike Judge
Mike Judge
Michael Craig Judge is an American animator, film director, writer and voice actor, best known as the creator and star of the animated television series Beavis and Butt-head , King of the Hill , and The Goode Family .He also wrote, directed and in some instances produced the films Beavis and...
film Idiocracy
Idiocracy
Idiocracy is a 2006 American film, a satirical science fiction comedy, directed by Mike Judge and starring Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard, and Terry Crews....
, in the role of the Attorney General.
In 2006, Rue starred in the stage musical Little Egypt with French Stewart
French Stewart
Milton French Stewart , better known by his stage name French Stewart, is an American actor, best known for his role as Harry Solomon on the 1990s sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun.-Early life:...
, Jenny O'Hara, and Gregg Henry
Gregg Henry
Gregg Lee Henry is an American theatre, film and television character actor and rock, blues and country musician.-Biography:...
at The Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles.
Rue guest starred in Two and a Half Men
Two and a Half Men
Two and a Half Men is an American television sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2003. Starring Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, and Angus T. Jones, the show was originally about a hedonistic jingle writer, Charlie Harper; his uptight brother, Alan; and Alan's growing son, Jake...
as Berta's youngest daughter Naomi who is pregnant and, as the episode progresses, eventually has her baby on Charlie's couch. She had a stint on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sitcom The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the show, along with Steven Molaro. All three also serve as head writers...
, playing the character of Leonard Hofstadter
Leonard Hofstadter
Leonard Leakey Hofstadter, Ph.D., is a fictional character on the CBS television series The Big Bang Theory, portrayed by actor Johnny Galecki. Leonard is an experimental physicist from New Jersey who shares an apartment with colleague and best friend Sheldon Cooper...
's girlfriend, Stephanie for 3 episodes. Her first appearance on the show occurred on November 17, 2008.
In 2009, Rue appeared in the movies Man Maid and For Christ's Sake, both of which are in post production. Rue starred on the 2009 ABC show Eastwick
Eastwick (TV series)
Eastwick is a 2009 screwball comedy series based on John Updike's novel, The Witches of Eastwick. The series was developed by Maggie Friedman, and starred Paul Gross as the infamous Darryl Van Horne, alongside Jaime Ray Newman , Lindsay Price, and Rebecca Romijn as the eponymous...
. The show was based on the novel and movie The Witches of Eastwick
The Witches of Eastwick (film)
The Witches of Eastwick is a 1987 American horror comedy based on John Updike's novel of the same name. Directed by George Miller, the film stars Jack Nicholson as Daryl Van Horne, alongside Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer as the eponymous witches...
.
In December of 2009 it was announced that Rue would be a new spokesperson for Jenny Craig. Her diet was successful, as she lost fifty pounds and subsequently ran a half-marathon.
In October of 2010, Rue joined the cast of Rules of Engagement in a recurring role as Brenda, Jeff and Audrey's new surrogate.
Personal life
Rue married director/writer/producer Mischa Livingstone in 2001. After six years, the couple divorced in 2007. Rue married teacher Kevin Price on May 21, 2011.Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Rocket Gibraltar Rocket Gibraltar Rocket Gibraltar is an American film released in 1988, directed by Daniel Petrie and starring Burt Lancaster and Patricia Clarkson. In the movie, an aging patriarch reunites his entire family for his birthday, but personal and social problems abound.-Cast:... |
||
| 1990 | Grand Grand (TV series) Grand was a half-hour situation comedy that aired on the NBC network in 1990. The series featured an ensemble cast including Pamela Reed, Bonnie Hunt, Michael McKean, John Randolph, Andrew Lauer, John Neville, Joel Murray and Sara Rue. It was created by Michael Leeson, executive produced by... |
26 episodes | |
| 1992 | Passed Away Passed Away Passed Away is an American ensemble comedy film from 1992.- Cast :*Bob Hoskins - Johnny Scanlan*Jack Warden - Jack Scanlan*William Petersen - Frank Scanlan*Diana Bellamy - BJ*Don Brockett - Froggie*Helen Lloyd Breed - Aunt Maureen... |
||
| 1992 | Roseanne Roseanne (TV series) Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family... |
Teenage Roseanne | 1 episode – "Halloween IV" |
| 1993 | Phenom Phenom (TV series) Phenom is an American sitcom about a tennis wunderkind that aired on ABC from September 14, 1993 to May 10, 1994. The series stars Angela Goethals, Judith Light, and William Devane.-Synopsis:... |
Monica | 3 episodes, 1993–1994 |
| 1995 | Blossom Blossom (TV series) Blossom is an American sitcom broadcast on NBC from January 3, 1991 to May 22, 1995. The series stars Mayim Bialik as Blossom Russo, a teenage girl living with her father and two brothers. It was created by Don Reo.- Synopsis :... |
Angie | 1 episode – "Mating Rituals" |
| 1995 | Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare | Jacquelyn | TV |
| 1995 | Minor Adjustments Minor Adjustments Minor Adjustments is an American television sitcom that appeared on the NBC network in the United States during the 1995–96 season. The show was then transferred to UPN to be rebroadcast during the 1996-1997 season.-Synopsis:... |
TV series; unknown episodes, 1995–1996 | |
| 1996 | ER ER (TV series) ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television... |
Jane | 1 episode – "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" |
| 1996 | For My Daughter's Honor For My Daughter's Honor For My Daughter's Honor, also released as Indecent Seduction, is a 1996 television film directed by Alan Metzger.- Plot :Fourteen-year-old high school student, Amy Dustin, becomes an object of romantic affection to the school's biology teacher and football coach, Pete Nash. They take a sudden... |
aka Indecent Seduction | |
| 1996 | Pearl Pearl (TV series) This article is about the television series. For other uses, see Pearl .Pearl is an American situation comedy, which was broadcast by CBS as part of its 1996-97 lineup.-Plot:... |
1 episode – "Ticket to Ride " | |
| 1997 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child is an American animated television series that premiered March 26, 1995, on HBO. Narrated by Robert Guillaume, the series aired 39 episodes from 1995 to 2000, and is currently airing on the HBO Family digital cable television channel in the United... |
Younger Sister | 1 episode – "The Golden Goose" |
| 1997 | Ned and Stacey | Amy | 1 episode – "Prom Night" |
| 1998 | Can't Hardly Wait Can't Hardly Wait Can't Hardly Wait is a 1998 American teen comedy film written and directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. It stars Ethan Embry, Charlie Korsmo, Lauren Ambrose, Peter Facinelli, Seth Green, and Jennifer Love Hewitt, and is notable for a number of "before-they-were-famous" appearances by various... |
Earth Girl | |
| 1998 | Chicago Hope Chicago Hope Chicago Hope is an American medical drama series created by David E. Kelley that ran from September 18, 1994, to May 5, 2000. It takes place in a fictional private charity hospital.-Premise:The show stars Mandy Patinkin as Dr... |
1 episode – "The Ties That Bind" | |
| 1998 | Nowhere to Go | aka Silent Hearts (USA: TV title) | |
| 1998 | The Simple Life The Simple Life The Simple Life was a reality television series that was broadcast from December 2, 2003 to August 5, 2007. The first three seasons aired on Fox, and the final two on E!... |
Melanie | 3 episodes |
| 1999 | A Map of the World A Map of the World A Map of the World is a novel by Jane Hamilton. It was the Oprah's Book Club selection for December 1999. It was made into a movie released in 1999 starring Sigourney Weaver, Julianne Moore, David Strathairn, Chloë Sevigny, Louise Fletcher and Marc Donato with a soundtrack by Pat Metheny.- Plot... |
Debbie | |
| 1999 | A Slipping-Down Life A Slipping-Down Life A Slipping-Down Life is a 1999 romantic drama film directed by Toni Kalem. Based on a novel by Anne Tyler, it stars Lili Taylor and Guy Pearce.-Plot:... |
Violet | |
| 1999 | Popular Popular (TV series) Popular is an American teenage comedy-drama on The WB Television Network in the United States, created by Ryan Murphy and Gina Matthews, starring Leslie Bibb and Carly Pope as two teenage girls that reside on polar opposite sides of the popularity spectrum at their high school, but are forced to... |
43 episodes, 1999–2001 | |
| 1999 | Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane | 3 episodes | |
| 2000 | Will & Grace Will & Grace Will & Grace was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 21, 1998 to May 18, 2006 for a total of eight seasons. Will & Grace remains the most successful television series with gay principal characters... |
1 episode – "Lows in the Mid-Eighties " | |
| 2001 | Gypsy 83 Gypsy 83 Gypsy 83 is a 2001 drama film, written and directed by Todd Stephens, about two young goths, Gypsy and Clive, who travel to New York for an annual festival celebrating their idol, Stevie Nicks.-Plot:... |
||
| 2001 | Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor (film) Pearl Harbor is a 2001 American action drama war film directed by Michael Bay and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Randall Wallace, who wrote the screenplay... |
Nurse Martha | |
| 2002 | Less Than Perfect Less Than Perfect Less Than Perfect is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from October 1, 2002, to June 6, 2006. The show was about a young female office employee and her co-workers... |
81 episodes, 2002–2006 | |
| 2002 | Babysitter | ||
| 2002 | 3 episodes, 2002–2003 ... aka Heart of the City | ||
| 2003 | MADtv MADtv MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first... |
1 episode – #9.11 | |
| 2003 | This Time Around This Time Around (film) This Time Around is a made for television movie starring Carly Pope, Sara Rue and Brian Austin Green. It aired on the ABC family channel on June 22, 2003.-Cast:*Carly Pope as Melissa "Mel" Rochester*Brian Austin Green as Drew Hesler... |
TV | |
| 2004 | Gypsy 83 Gypsy 83 Gypsy 83 is a 2001 drama film, written and directed by Todd Stephens, about two young goths, Gypsy and Clive, who travel to New York for an annual festival celebrating their idol, Stevie Nicks.-Plot:... |
Gypsy | |
| 2005 | Barbara Jean | ||
| 2006 | Danny Roane: First Time Director Danny Roane: First Time Director Danny Roane: First Time Director is a 2006 comedy film written, directed by and starring Andy Dick, Jack Black and Mo Collins. This independent production is a documentary mixed with a mockumentary on Dick's struggle on making a film.-Plot:... |
||
| 2006 | Idiocracy Idiocracy Idiocracy is a 2006 American film, a satirical science fiction comedy, directed by Mike Judge and starring Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard, and Terry Crews.... |
Attorney General | uncredited |
| 2006 | Play Nice | TV | |
| 2006 | Two and a Half Men Two and a Half Men Two and a Half Men is an American television sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2003. Starring Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, and Angus T. Jones, the show was originally about a hedonistic jingle writer, Charlie Harper; his uptight brother, Alan; and Alan's growing son, Jake... |
Naomi | 2 episodes, 2006–2007 |
| 2007 | Nurses Nurses (TV series) Nurses is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from 1991 to 1994, developed and produced by Susan Harris as a spin-off of Empty Nest .-Synopsis:... |
||
| 2008 | Man Maid | Torry | |
| 2008 | Nightmare at the End of the Hall | Courtney | |
| 2008 | Stephanie | 3 episodes | |
| 2009 | Eastwick Eastwick (TV series) Eastwick is a 2009 screwball comedy series based on John Updike's novel, The Witches of Eastwick. The series was developed by Maggie Friedman, and starred Paul Gross as the infamous Darryl Van Horne, alongside Jaime Ray Newman , Lindsay Price, and Rebecca Romijn as the eponymous... |
Penny | TV series |
| 2009 | For Christ's Sake | Candy | |
| 2009 | Leverage Leverage (TV series) Leverage is an American television drama series on TNT that premiered in December 2008. The series is produced by director/executive producer Dean Devlin's production company Electric Television... |
Marissa | 1 episode – "The Mile High Job" |
| 2009 | Not Since You | Doogs | post-production |
| 2010 | Private Practice | Shira | 1 episode – "'Til Death Do Us Part" |
| 2010 | Rules of Engagement Rules of Engagement (TV series) Rules of Engagement is a sitcom that debuted on CBS on February 5, 2007, as a midseason replacement, immediately following Two and a Half Men, in the time slot that was occupied by now-cancelled The New Adventures of Old Christine... |
Brenda | recurring role |
| 2011 | Shedding for the Wedding Shedding for the Wedding Shedding For The Wedding is a reality competition series that will follow nine overweight couples as they attempt to lose their unwanted weight and win a dream wedding. The show premiered on Wednesday February 23, 2011 at 9:00 pm Eastern/8:00 pm Central on The CW following the season premiere of... |
Herself | Host |
| 2011 | RuPaul's Drag Race 3 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 3) RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3 is the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which began airing on January 24, 2011. Thirteen drag queens compete for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar", a headlining spot on the Absolut Tour, a lifetime supply of Kryolan makeup and a $75,000 cash prize.This... |
Herself | 1 episode – Guest judge |
| 2011 | My Future Boyfriend My Future Boyfriend My Future Boyfriend is a TV movie starring Sara Rue and Barry Watson. It premiered on ABC Family on April 10, 2011. It is directed by Michael Lange.-Synopsis:... |
Elizabeth Barrett | ABC Family Original Movie |