Rena Sofer

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Rena Sherel Sofer (born December 2, 1968)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is an American actress, known for her appearances in daytime television, episodic guest appearances, and made-for-television movies. In 1995, Sofer received a Daytime Emmy Award for her portrayal of Lois Cerullo in the soap opera General Hospital. She reprised the role of Lois in October 2023. From 2013 to 2022, she played Quinn Fuller on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.

Early life

Sofer was born in Arcadia, California, the daughter of Susan Sofer (née Franzblau), a psychology professor, and Martin Sofer, an Orthodox rabbi. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

She moved with her father and brother David to Teaneck, New Jersey, in 1970. However, when Sofer was 5 years old, they resided in Western Pennsylvania. They lived in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, where her father led Beth Samuels Jewish Center. She later attended the Frisch School, a coeducational Modern Orthodox Jewish high school in Paramus, New Jersey.<ref>Dickter, Adam. Template:Cite news</ref> Sofer lived in North Bergen, New Jersey, where her father was rabbi of synagogue Temple Beth El. She graduated from North Bergen High School, then attended classes at Montclair State College.<ref>"Rena Sofer" Template:Webarchive, Oh, Grow Up, WCHS. Accessed September 22, 2011. "Born in Arcadia, California, Rena moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following her parents' divorce, and later to North Bergen, New Jersey, where she finished high school."</ref><ref>Lipton, Michael A. "Heart Condition: For Rena Sofer, Checking into General Hospital Meant Finding a Healing Love with Costar Wally Kurth", People, October 31, 1994. Accessed September 22, 2011. "Neither parent remarried, and today Sofer maintains close relations with both her father, who presides at Temple Beth El in North Bergen, N.J., and her mother, a professor of developmental psychology at the University of North Carolina in Fayetteville.... She took a drama class during her senior year at North Bergen High School and then, after less than a semester at Montclair State College, took acting lessons in New York."</ref>

Career

Daytime television

Sofer first played Lois Marie Cerullo on General Hospital. Her first appearance was in 1993 as a band manager. However, her first high-profile role was as Rocky McKenzie on the daytime soap opera Loving (1988–1991).

Sofer is perhaps best known for her role as Lois Cerullo on General Hospital (December 15, 1993 – September 24, 1996). She later returned as a guest star (February 7–17, 1997; September 30 – October 2, 1997). Her portrayal of the outrageous Lois won Sofer a Daytime Emmy Award in 1995 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

In May 2013, it was announced that Sofer would join the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, in a newly created role of Quinn Fuller; her first episode aired on July 12.<ref name="Sofer Quinn">Template:Cite web</ref> After nine years on the canvas, Sofer opted to end her run in the role of Quinn; she last aired on August 29, 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On September 14, 2023, People announced Sofer would reprise the role of Lois on General Hospital after a 26-year absence.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

On October 24, 2025, it was announced that Sofer had ended her run on General Hospital as Cerullo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Primetime television

Sofer has appeared in several high-profile prime time television series in a guest star/supporting cast member roles: Seinfeld, Melrose Place, The Chronicle, Ed, Friends, Spin City, Blind Justice, Ghost Whisperer, 24, NCIS, and Two and a Half Men.

Sofer briefly joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me!, playing the character Vicky Costa.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The network later cast Sofer in the short-lived US remake of the UK series Coupling. In recent years, Rena Sofer has appeared in the NBC TV series Heroes as the recurring character Heidi Petrelli, wife of aspiring politician Nathan Petrelli (Adrian Pasdar). She appeared on Two and a Half Men in 2008, as a former girlfriend of the character Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Rena also has guest starred on Dirty Sexy Money playing an intrepid reporter<ref>Shhh! Rena Sofer Has a Dirty Sexy Little Secret!" TV Guide. November 10, 2008. Retrieved on November 12, 2008.</ref> and played a ghost on Ghost Whisperer. In early 2010, Sofer began a recurring role on NCIS as attorney Margaret Allison Hart, a potential love interest for the character Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon). She had a brief guest role on Bones as a love interest for the character Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz).

In 2013, Sofer had a publicized appearance on Once Upon a Time, playing Snow White's mother.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Film

In film, she appeared as a love interest of Ben Stiller's character in the film Keeping the Faith, starring Jenna Elfman, Stiller and Edward Norton (who also directed). She also played a bride to-be with Melanie Griffith in Sidney Lumet's movie A Stranger Among Us and in Penelope Buitenhuis's movie The Secret of Hidden Lake.

She played the P.E. teacher Ms. Desjarden in the television film adaptation of Carrie in 2002.<ref name=Wertheimer>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=gallo>Template:Cite magazine</ref> She starred in the television movie Always and Forever which aired October 24, 2009, on the Hallmark Channel.<ref name=Sofer/> She has been doing TV movies since 1992, when she starred as Andrea Larson in the television movie Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style.Template:Sfn

Personal life

Sofer and her General Hospital co-star Wally Kurth, who played her onscreen love interest, became involved as their characters' storyline progressed. In 1995, the actors were married and had a daughter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1997, Sofer and Kurth divorced.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Sofer married television director and producer Sanford Bookstaver in 2003. On August 5, 2005, Sofer gave birth to her second daughter, her first with Bookstaver, in Los Angeles. Sofer and Bookstaver eventually divorced in 2017. In 2019, Sofer announced they had reconciled and in April announced their engagement, and they later remarried in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Films

Year	Film	Role	Director(s)	Notes	Ref.
1992	Template:Sortname	Shayna Singer	Sidney Lumet	Crime–drama film	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1994	Twin Sitters	Judy	John Paragon	Comedy film Also known as The Babysitters	<ref name=Sofer>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1998	Nightmare Street	Penny Randolph	Colin Bucksey	Thriller film	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2000	Keeping the Faith	Rachel Rose	Edward Norton	Romantic comedy film	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
	Traffic	Helena's Friend	Steven Soderbergh	Crime–drama film	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2001	March	Hedy Pullman	James P. Mercurio	Drama film	<ref name=Sofer/>
2009	Rock Slyde	Sara	Chris Dowling	Comedy film	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2010	Sarah	Teenage Sarah	Ted Hunter Louis La Volpe	Drama film	<ref name=Sofer/>
2025	Vespertine	Marlowe	Lauri Levenfeld Grace Wethor	Short film	<ref name=Sofer/>

Television

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1987	Another World	Joyce Abernathy	9 episodes
1988–91	Loving	Amelia "Rocky" McKenzie Domeq	34 episodes
1992	Freshman Dorm	Veronica	2 episodes
	Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style	Andrea Larson	Made-for-TV movie directed by Don BarnhartTemplate:Sfn
1993	Herman's Head	Stephanie	Episode: "When Hermy Met Crawford's Girlfriend"
1993–97 2023-25	General Hospital	Lois Cerullo	Contract role held from December 15, 1993 to September 24, 1996; recurring role held from February 7, 1997 to October 2, 1997, and October 10, 2023 to October 24, 2025
1996	Hostile Advances: The Kerry Ellison Story	Kerry Ellison	Made-for-TV movie directed by Allan KroekerTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn
	Caroline in the City	Risa Glickman	Episode: "Caroline and the Nice Jewish Boy"
1997	Seinfeld	Mary Anne	Episode: "The Muffin Tops"
	Template:Sortname	Darcy Canfield Ray	Made-for-TV movie directed by Charles Correll
1998	Ellen	Jean	Episode: "Womyn Fest"
	Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place	Lauren Henderson	Episode: "Two Guys, a Girl, and a Recovery"
	Timecop	Dr. Carrie Ann Trent	Episode: "D.O.A."
	Glory, Glory	Elizabeth	Made-for-TV movie directed by Robert Butler
1998–99	Melrose Place	Eve Cleary	Main role (Credited as a Recurring Character) 25 episodes
1999	Oh, Grow Up	Suzanne Vandermeer	Contract role held from September 22 to December 28, 1999<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Cancel">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2000	Opposite Sex	Ms. Gibson	Episode: "Pilot"
	Spin City	Sam	Episode: "Lost and Found"
2001	The Weber Show	Dawn Cheswick	Episode: "Dog Eat Dog"
	Ed	Bonnie Hane	7 episodes
2001–02	Template:Sortname	Grace Hall	22 episodes
2002	Friends	Katie	Episode: "The One with the Cooking Class"
	Carrie	Miss Desjardenr	Made-for-TV movie directed by David Carson<ref name=Wertheimer/><ref name=gallo/>
2002–03	Just Shoot Me!	Vicki Costa	14 episodes
2003	CSI: Miami	Alison	Episode: "Grave Young Men"
	Coupling	Susan Freeman	Main role
2005	Blind Justice	Christie Dunbar	Main role
2006–07	Heroes	Heidi Petrelli	5 episodes
2006	Template:Sortname	Maggie Dolan	Made-for-TV movie directed by Penelope Buitenhuis
2007	24	Marilyn Bauer	12 episodes
2008	Ghost Whisperer	Tammy	Episode: "Ball & Chain"
2008–10	Two and a Half Men	Chrissy	2 episodes
2009	Dirty Sexy Money	News Reporter	Episode: "The Facts"
	Monk	Kim Kelly	Episode: "Mr. Monk's Favorite Show"
	Always & Forever	Grace Holland<ref name=Sofer/>	Made-for-TV movie directed by Kevin Connor
	Criminal Minds	Erika Silverman	Episode: "The Slave of Duty"
2010	Bones	Dr. Catherine Bryar	Episode: "The Predator in the Pool"
	NCIS	Margaret Allison Hart	6 episodes
	Template:Sortname	Joan	Made-for-TV movie directed by Norma Bailey
	Royal Pains	AJ	Episode: "Open Up Your Yenta Mouth and Say Ah"
	Medium	Dr. Natalie Salem	Episode: "Native Tongue"
2011	Another Man's Wife	Hadley Warner<ref name=Sofer/>	Made-for-TV movie directed by Anthony Lefresne
2011–12	Covert Affairs	Geena	3 episodes
2012	House	Marlene Reese	Episode: "Man of the House"
	Template:Sortname	Alexis Cane	Episode: "Old Times"
	Beauty & the Beast	Sabrina Meyer	Episode: "Bridesmaid Up!"
2013	Once Upon a Time	Queen Eva	Episode: "The Queen is Dead"
2013–22	The Bold and the Beautiful	Quinn Fuller	Contract role held from July 12, 2013 to August 29, 2022
2014	Chicago P.D.	Doctor	Episode: "Chin Check"
2017	Jeopardy!	Herself/Clue giver	Season 3:Ep 88

Awards and nominations

List of acting awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Title	Result	Template:Abbr
Template:Center	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	General Hospital	Template:Won	Template:Center
Template:Center	Soap Opera Digest Award	Outstanding Younger Lead Actress	General Hospital	Template:Won	Template:Center
Template:Center	Soap Awards France	Best Villain of the Year	The Bold and the Beautiful	Template:Won	Template:Center
Template:Center	Soap Awards France	Best New Character	The Bold and the Beautiful	Template:Nom	Template:Center
Template:Center	Soap Awards France	Best Actress of the Year	The Bold and the Beautiful	Template:Nom	Template:Center
Template:Center	Soap Awards France	Best Villain of the Year	The Bold and the Beautiful	Template:Nom	Template:Center
Template:Center	Soap Awards France	Best Villain of the Year	The Bold and the Beautiful	Template:Won	Template:Center
Template:Center	Soap Awards France	Best Couple of the Year — "Quinn and Eric" (shared with John McCook)	The Bold and the Beautiful	Template:Nom	Template:Center

References

Sources

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External links

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