Judith Light facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Judith Light
Light in 2019
Born	Judith Ellen Light (1949-02-09) February 9, 1949 (age 76) Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Education	Doane Academy
Alma mater	Carnegie Mellon University (BFA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1969–present
Known for	Who's the Boss? One Life to Live Other Desert Cities The Assembled Parties
Spouse(s)	Robert Desiderio ​ (m. 1985)​

Judith Ellen Light (born February 9, 1949) is an American actress. She started her career on stage in 1970 and first appeared on Broadway in 1975.

Her big break came when she starred in the soap opera One Life to Live from 1977 to 1983. For playing the character Karen Wolek, she won two Daytime Emmy Awards in a row. More recently, in 2024, Light won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the TV show Poker Face.

Many people know Light as Angela Bower from the popular sitcom Who's the Boss?, which was on TV from 1984 to 1992. She also had important roles in shows like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Ugly Betty. For Ugly Betty, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2007.

Light is also a star on the stage. She won two Tony Awards for her acting in the Broadway plays Other Desert Cities and The Assembled Parties. In 2019, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her amazing career.

Besides acting, Light is a dedicated activist for LGBTQ+ rights and HIV/AIDS awareness. She has been supporting these causes since the 1980s.

Early Life and Education

Judith Light was born into a Jewish family in Trenton, New Jersey. Her mother, Pearl Sue, was a model, and her father, Sidney Licht, was an accountant. She finished high school in 1966 at St. Mary's Hall–Doane Academy in Burlington, New Jersey.

After high school, she went to Carnegie Mellon University and earned a degree in drama. She said the program was very challenging but gave her amazing training as an actress. Her first professional acting job was in a production of Richard III at the California Shakespeare Festival in 1970.

Acting Career

Breakthrough on Television

Light at the Emmy Awards in 1989

In 1977, Light got a role in the soap opera One Life to Live. At first, she wasn't sure about working on a soap opera. But she realized the show reached a lot of people, and she could make a difference. She played Karen Wolek, a housewife who went through very difficult times.

Her performance was so powerful that it made the show very popular. One of her scenes in a courtroom is considered one of the best moments in TV history. For this role, she won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in 1980 and 1981.

Success with 'Who's the Boss?'

After becoming a star on daytime TV, Light was cast as Angela Bower in the sitcom Who's the Boss?. The show also starred Tony Danza as her housekeeper. It was a huge hit and ran for eight seasons, from 1984 to 1992. It was often one of the top 10 most-watched shows in the country.

During this time, Light also acted in TV movies. One of her most important roles was in The Ryan White Story (1989). She played the mother of Ryan White, a teenager who became a famous activist for HIV/AIDS awareness.

Return to the Stage and Recent Roles

Judith Light accepting a Drama Desk Award in 2012 in New York City

In the 2000s, Light returned to television in the crime drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Judge Elizabeth Donnelly. She also played Claire Meade in the comedy-drama Ugly Betty from 2006 to 2010.

Light has also had great success in the theater. She won her first Tony Award in 2012 for the play Other Desert Cities. The very next year, she won a second Tony Award for the play The Assembled Parties.

From 2014 to 2019, she starred as Shelly Pfefferman in the series Transparent. The show was about a family whose parent is transgender. For her role, she received nominations for many awards, including the Golden Globe and Emmy Awards.

More recently, she earned an Emmy nomination for playing Marilyn Miglin in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story in 2018. She has also appeared in films like Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021) and The Menu (2022).

Personal Life

Light has been married to actor Robert Desiderio since 1985. The couple lives in both New York City and Southern California. She also has homes in Beverly Hills, California, and Aspen, Colorado. Light is Jewish and considers herself a religious person.

Activism

Light was inspired by the LGBTQ+ community and began her activism in the early 1980s. She was one of the first celebrities to speak out and support people with HIV/AIDS. She wanted to fight the unfair treatment that many people faced.

She has worked with organizations like the Matthew Shepard Foundation and the Point Foundation, which helps LGBTQ+ students.

In an interview, Light said the LGBTQ+ community inspired her to be brave and true to herself. She saw how the community stood strong even when they were treated badly. She said, "I looked at this community and said, 'This is breathtaking. ... These are the kind of people I want to be working with.'"

Filmography

Film

Television films

Television series

Images for kids

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  Light in 2007

See also

In Spanish: Judith Light para niños