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Mimi Rogers
MimiRogersApr09.jpg
Rogers at the premiere for Earth in April 2009
Born
Miriam Ann Spickler

(1956-01-27) January 27, 1956 (age 68)
Occupation Actress
Years active 1981–present
Board member of World Poker Tour
Spouse(s)
  • Jim Rogers
    (m. 1976; div. 1980)
  • (m. 1987; div. 1990)
  • Chris Ciaffa
    (m. 2003)
Children 2

Miriam Rogers (née Spickler; born January 27, 1956) is an American actress.

Her notable film roles are Gung Ho (1986), Someone to Watch Over Me (1987), Desperate Hours (1990), and Full Body Massage (1995). She garnered the greatest acclaim of her career for her role in the religious drama The Rapture (1991), with critic Robin Wood declaring that she "gave one of the greatest performances in the history of the Hollywood cinema." Rogers has since appeared in Reflections on a Crime (1994), The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Lost in Space (1998), Ginger Snaps (2000), The Door in the Floor (2004), and For a Good Time, Call... (2012).

Her work in television includes Paper Dolls (1984), Weapons of Mass Distraction (1997), The Loop (2006–2007), and recurring roles on The X-Files (1998–1999), Two and a Half Men (2011–2015), Wilfred (2014), Mad Men (2015), Bosch (2014–2021), and Bosch: Legacy (2022).

Early life

Rogers was born Miriam Spickler at General Hospital in Coral Gables, Florida. She is the daughter of Philip C. Spickler, a civil engineer, and Kathy Talent, a former dance and drama major. Rogers' father was Jewish and her mother Episcopalian. Her father became involved with Scientology before she was born, and the organization was part of her upbringing.

The family lived in Virginia, Arizona, Michigan, and England before settling in Los Angeles. At the age of fourteen, Rogers finished her formal education and graduated from high school. She later worked in a hospital for incapacitated patients outside Palo Alto, California, and for six years she worked part-time as a social worker.

At the beginning of their acting careers, Rogers and Kirstie Alley lived together.

Career

After her first marriage ended, Rogers moved to Los Angeles to embark on an acting career. She studied acting with Milton Katselas for nine months and then sought an agent. She screen tested for the lead role in Body Heat which eventually went to Kathleen Turner. Her early television roles included guest spots on Hill Street Blues (1981) as a love interest for officer Andy Renko (Charles Haid), as well as Magnum, P.I. (1982), and Hart to Hart (1983). In 1982, Rogers starred in the made-for-TV-movie Hear No Evil as Meg. She made her feature film debut in the sports comedy Blue Skies Again (1983). Between 1983 and 1984, she worked extensively in television as a series regular on The Rousters and as supermodel Blair Harper-Fenton in Paper Dolls. In 1986, she starred alongside Michael Keaton in Gung Ho.

In 1986, Rogers auditioned for the female lead in Fatal Attraction which went to Glenn Close. However, Rogers got her breakthrough role when she was cast opposite Tom Berenger in Someone to Watch Over Me (1987). Rogers played Claire Gregory, a socialite who is protected after she witnesses a murder. In 1989, she was in The Mighty Quinn starring Denzel Washington. In 1990, she appeared in Desperate Hours.

In 1991, Rogers starred as the protagonist in The Rapture about a woman who becomes a born-again Christian after learning that a true Rapture is upon the world. She received an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead nomination for her role in the film. Slant Magazine praised her "spectacular performance, which seems in part inspired by the physical splendors and feral glances of Bette Davis or Barbara Stanwyck."

In 1994, Rogers starred as a woman on death row in the prison thriller Reflections on a Crime and received the Best Actress prize for the film at the Seattle International Film Festival. New York Magazine praised Rogers's "typically terrific performance" in the film.

Rogers later joined an ensemble cast in the critically acclaimed comedy-drama Trees Lounge (1996). She also had a supporting role alongside Barbra Streisand and Lauren Bacall in The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996). Her next film was the beginning of what would become a major franchise, when she appeared as Mrs. Kensington in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997).

In 1998, she co-starred in Lost in Space. A year later, she co-produced and co-starred in the Holocaust drama The Devil's Arithmetic. Together with her fellow producers, Rogers received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Children's Special for the film. Between 1998 and 1999, Rogers also had a recurring role on The X-Files playing Diana Fowley for seven episodes. In 2000, she starred in the critically acclaimed Canadian horror film Ginger Snaps. She was also a series regular on the short-lived ABC series The Geena Davis Show (2000–01).

Rogers later made television appearances on Dawson's Creek (2003) as the mother of Jen Lindley (Michelle Williams) and in Las Vegas (2003). She also appears in the comedy prequel Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003). In 2004, she starred alongside Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger in the drama The Door in the Floor. Between 2006 and 2007, Rogers was a series regular on the Fox comedy The Loop playing Meryl. In 2010, Rogers had a guest voice role on King of the Hill and served as a producer on Unstoppable.

In 2010, she performed at the Geffen Playhouse in Love, Loss, and What I Wore. In 2011, she was cast in the recurring role of Robin Schmidt, a primatologist and Ashton Kutcher's mother on Two and a Half Men. Rogers resumed the role in the season 10 premiere episode. In 2012, she made a guest appearance on The Client List, and appeared in the films For a Good Time, Call... and, alongside Meryl Streep, in Hope Springs.

In 2012, she was cast alongside Chad Michael Murray in the ABC pilot Scruples, as Harriet, a "powerful and vindictive magazine editor". In 2015, she appeared on AMC's Mad Men playing a bisexual photographer.

From 2014 to 2021, she had a recurring role in Bosch. Rogers appears as Honey Chandler, an attorney at odds with the titular character portrayed by Titus Welliver. She has since reprised the role as Honey Chandler in the Amazon Freevee (recently rebranded from IMDb TV) spin-off Bosch: Legacy, which premiered in 2022.

Other ventures

Having played poker as a teenager, Rogers took up competitive poker in 2003 and finished in the money in her first major tournament at the World Poker Tour's 240 player Shooting Stars' main event No-Limit Texas hold 'em tournament in San Jose, California, on March 4, 2004. She is on the board of directors of the World Poker Tour. In July 2006, she finished in the money (33rd place) at the $1000 Ladies' No-Limit Hold 'em World Series of Poker event.

Personal life

Tom Cruise and Mimi Rogers
Rogers with Tom Cruise at the 1989 Academy Awards

Rogers has been married three times. She married Jim Rogers on August 21, 1976, and assumed his surname; they divorced in September 1980. She then had a relationship with Emilio Estevez. On May 9, 1987, she married actor Tom Cruise in Bedford, New York; the marriage broke down at the end of 1989, and a divorce was finalized in February 1990. Rogers received a settlement of $4 million, and is believed to have introduced Cruise to Scientology.

In a 1993 interview, Rogers discussed her split from Cruise and said that he had been considering becoming a monk, which affected their intimacy. Rogers later retracted the comments and claimed she had been misinterpreted.

In April 1990, Rogers met her present husband, producer Chris Ciaffa, on the set of Ivan Passer's made-for-cable film Fourth Story. The couple has a daughter, Amazon Studios creative executive Lucy Ciaffa (born November 20, 1994) and a son, ASU baseball player Charlie Ciaffa (born July 30, 2001). They married on March 20, 2003, at the Beverly Hills courthouse. During an interview on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, Rogers joked that the marriage – after 13 years living together and two children – was just so they would be eligible for a country club membership.

Rogers has made campaign contributions to the Democratic Party.

Scientology

Rogers's father became interested in Dianetics in 1952 and later became a prominent Mission Holder with the Church of Scientology and friend of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Rogers also reportedly became a highly trained "auditor" with the church. Prior to her acting career, she opened a "field auditing" practice, the Enhancement Center, with her first husband, Jim Rogers. According to Sonny Bono, Rogers was his "auditor" for dianetics. Tom Cruise was also a client before being directed towards a Celebrity Centre.

In an interview given to the Los Angeles Times in 1991, Rogers said about Scientology: "that philosophy was simply part of my upbringing and I liked it. And, I think it was an excellent system of belief to grow up with because Scientology offers an extremely pragmatic method for taking spiritual concerns and breaking them down into everyday applications."

Rogers has left the Church of Scientology and has been described in media reports as a former member of the church.

Cruise biographer Andrew Morton alleged that Rogers's father had been declared a suppressive person after leaving the church in the early 1980s, during a cull of Mission Holders.

According to 2012 article in Vanity Fair, Rogers held an unfavorable view of the church's controversial leader, David Miscavige. In Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, published in 2013, author Lawrence Wright alleged that Miscavige had pushed Rogers out of her marriage with Cruise so the latter could pursue Nicole Kidman.

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1983 Blue Skies Again Liz
1986 Gung Ho Audrey
1987 Street Smart Alison Parker
Someone to Watch Over Me Claire Gregory
1989 The Mighty Quinn Hadley Elgin
1989 Hider in the House Julie Dreyer
1990 Dimenticare Palermo Carrie
Desperate Hours Nora Cornell
1991 The Doors Magazine Photographer
The Rapture Sharon Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead
Wedlock Tracy Riggs
1992 White Sands Molly Dolezal uncredited
Dark Horse Dr. Susan Hadley
Shooting Elizabeth Elizabeth Pigeon
1994 Monkey Trouble Amy
Bulletproof Heart Fiona
Reflections on a Crime Regina Seattle International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
1995 The Beast Martha Short film
Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog Katherine McCormick
1996 Trees Lounge Patty
The Mirror Has Two Faces Claire
1997 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Mrs. Marie Kensington
1998 Lost in Space Dr. Maureen Robinson
2000 Ginger Snaps Pamela Fitzgerald
The Upgrade The Yuppie Short
Cruel Intentions 2 Tiffany Merteuil
2003 Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd Mrs. Dunne
2004 The Gunman Eve Richards
Seeing Other People Elise
The Door in the Floor Evelyn Vaughn
2005 Dancing in Twilight April
2006 Penny Dreadful Orianna Volkes
Big Nothing Mrs. Smalls
2009 Frozen Kiss Gayle
2010 Abandoned Victoria Markham
2011 Lucky Ms. Brand
Balls to the Wall Mrs. Matthews
2012 For a Good Time, Call... Adele
Hope Springs Carol
2014 Mall
The Surface Kim
2015 Weepah Way for Now Lynn
The Wedding Ringer Lois Palmer
Captive Kim Rogers
This Isn't Funny Elaine Anderson
2018 Affairs of State Judith Baines
2018 What Still Remains Judith

Television films

Year Film Role Notes
1982 Divorce Wars: A Love Story Belinda Wittiker
Hear No Evil Meg
1985 Embassy Nancy Russell
1991 Fourth Story Valerie McCoughlin
Wedlock Tracy Rigg
1992 Ladykiller Michael Madison
1993 Bloodlines: Murder in the Family Melody Woodman
A Kiss to Die For Ali Broussard
1995 Full Body Massage Nina
1996 In the Blink of an Eye Sonia Jacobs
1997 Weapons of Mass Distraction Ariel Powers Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
Tricks Jackie
The Christmas List Melody Parris
1998 Virtual Obsession Karen Messenger
1999 The Devil's Arithmetic Leonore Stern Also producer
Nominated—Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special
Little White Lies Ellie
Seven Girlfriends Julian
2000 Common Ground McPherson
2002 Charms for the Easy Life Sophia
2003 Cave In Pat Bogen
2005 Stone Cold Rita Fiore
Selling Innocence Abby Sampson
2006 The Stranger Game Joanna Otis
2008 Storm Cell April Saunders
2009 Falling Up Meredith
2010 Order of Chaos Mrs. Craig
Sins of the Mother Lois

Television series

Year Film Role Notes
1981 Hill Street Blues Sandra Pauley 2 episodes
Quincy, M.E. Corrina Girard 2 episodes
1982 Magnum, P.I. Margo Perina Episode: "Italian Ice"
1983 Hart to Hart Robin Wall Episode: "Hartstruck"
1983–1984 The Rousters Ellen Slade 13 episodes
1984 Paper Dolls Blair Fenton-Harper 13 episodes
1987 Disneyland Charlotte Episode: "You Ruined My Life"
1991–1992 Dream On Julia Montana 3 episodes
1992 Tales from the Crypt Helen Episode: "Beauty Rest"
1992–1994 The Larry Sanders Show Mimi Rogers 2 episodes
1996 Partners Melissa Episode: "Your Baby-sitter?"
1998–1999 The X-Files Agent Diana Fowley 7 episodes
1999–2000 It's Like, You Know... Deidre Swayze 2 episodes
2000–2001 The Geena Davis Show Hillary 22 episodes
2002 What's New, Scooby-Doo? Maura Ravenmane (voice) Episode: "She Sees Sea Monsters by the Sea Shore"
2003 Dawson's Creek Helen Lindley Episode: "Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road"
Las Vegas Sandra Adlman Episode: "Luck Be a Lady"
2004 Hope & Faith Annie Hannigan Episode: "Madam President"
2006–2007 The Loop Meryl 17 episodes
2008 My Boys Maggie 2 episodes
2010 King of the Hill Katie Episode: "Bill Gathers Moss"
Neighbors from Hell Lorelai Killbride Episode: "Country Club Hell"
2011 CollegeHumor Originals Bionic Woman 2 episodes
2011–2015 Two and a Half Men Robin Schmidt 6 episodes
2012 The Client List Valerie Dawson Episode: "The Rub of Sugarland"
Scruples Harriet Unsold TV pilot
2014 Wilfred Catherine Newman 3 episodes
Cleaners Isabelle Walker 6 episodes
2015–2021 Bosch Honey Chandler 34 episodes
2015 NCIS Joanna Teague 3 episodes
Mad Men Pima Episode: "New Business"
Ash vs Evil Dead Suzy Maxwell Episode: "Bait"
2017 Blue Bloods Trudy Slaughter Episode: "Brushed Off"
2018 How to Get Away with Murder Natalie Wright Episode: "Your Funeral"
2019 NCIS: Los Angeles Felice Waterson Episode: "Smokescreen, Part 2"
2022 Bosch: Legacy Honey Chandler Main Role

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Mimi Rogers para niños

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