Lisa Edelstein facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lisa Edelstein
Edelstein in 2007
Born	(1966-05-21) May 21, 1966 (age 59) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma mater	New York University
Occupation	Actress Playwright Artist
Years active	1990–present
Spouse(s)	Robert Russell ​ (m. 2014)​

Lisa Edelstein (born May 21, 1966) is an American actress and artist. She is best known for playing Dr. Lisa Cuddy on the TV show House from 2004 to 2011. From 2014 to 2018, Edelstein also starred as Abby McCarthy in the series Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce.

Early Life and First Steps

Lisa Edelstein was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She was the youngest of three children in a Jewish family. Her father was a pediatrician, a doctor who cares for children. She grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and finished high school there in 1984.

When she was 16, Edelstein was a cheerleader for the New Jersey Generals. She even helped organize a protest because the cheerleaders felt they were not treated well.

At 18, she moved to New York City to study theater at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. While in New York, she became well-known in the city's club scene. People even called her New York City's "Queen of the Night."

Becoming an Actress

In the 1980s, Lisa Edelstein wrote and starred in a musical called Positive Me. This musical was about the growing AIDS crisis. After that, she hosted an MTV show called Awake on the Wild Side in 1990.

She soon began working as an actress. Her first movie role was as a make-up artist in The Doors. She then had guest roles on popular TV comedies like Mad About You, Wings, and The Larry Sanders Show. She also played George Costanza's girlfriend in two episodes of Seinfeld.

Edelstein picketed during the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike, which halted the production of House.

Famous TV Roles

From 2004 to 2011, Lisa Edelstein played her most famous role: Dr. Lisa Cuddy. She was the Dean of Medicine at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital on the TV show House. Dr. Cuddy was often a rival, friend, and later girlfriend of the main character, Dr. Gregory House (played by Hugh Laurie). Edelstein has often said she enjoyed her time on the show and working with Hugh Laurie.

In May 2011, Edelstein decided not to return for the final season of House. She then joined the cast of The Good Wife as lawyer Celeste Serrano. In 2013, she appeared in Scandal and later in Castle.

In 2014, Edelstein got a lead role as Abby McCarthy in the Bravo series Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce. This show was about women going through divorce in mid-life. It ran for five seasons. During this time, she also became a producer, writer, and director for the show.

Other Acting Work

In 2018, Edelstein joined the cast of The Good Doctor as Dr. Marina Blaize. This show was created by David Shore, who also created House. She also worked with Richard Schiff, who played her father in an earlier show called Relativity.

Edelstein also appeared in the Netflix series The Kominsky Method. She played the daughter of Alan Arkin and worked with actors like Michael Douglas. She reunited with Rob Lowe in 9-1-1: Lone Star, playing his ex-wife. She also played a Holocaust survivor in the Canadian TV show Little Bird.

Throughout her career, Lisa Edelstein has also lent her voice to many animated shows. These include King of the Hill, American Dad!, The Legend of Korra, and the video game Blade Runner.

Beyond Acting

Lisa Edelstein is a big supporter of the Best Friends Animal Society. She also supports human rights groups and loves the arts. She has appeared in many magazines, including the cover of H magazine in 2010. She also posed for PETA to promote vegetarianism, a diet she has followed for most of her life.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Edelstein started sketching and painting. She began using magic markers and later switched to watercolors. Her art is inspired by old family photos.

Personal Life

Lisa Edelstein married artist Robert Russell in Los Angeles on May 25, 2014. She became a stepmother to his two sons from a previous marriage.

What Movies and TV Shows Has She Been In?

Film Roles

TV Shows

Video Games and Podcasts

Awards and Recognition

Lisa Edelstein has been nominated for several awards for her acting.

She was nominated by the Screen Actors Guild for her work in:

• House in 2009
• The Kominsky Method in 2020 and 2022

She won the International Press Academy's Satellite Awards for:

• House in 2005
• The Kominsky Method in 2021

In 2011, she won the People's Choice Award for Best Drama Actress in a TV Series for her role as Dr. Lisa Cuddy on House.

Edelstein also won the Women's Image Network Awards for her role in Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce in both 2015 and 2016.

See also

In Spanish: Lisa Edelstein para niños