Debra Frances "Camryn" Manheim (born March 8, 1961) is an American actress who first came to attention with her off-Broadway one-woman show, Wake Up, I'm Fat, in 1994. She is known for her portrayals of Ellenor Frutt on The Practice (1997–2004), Gladys Presley in the 2005 miniseries Elvis, Delia Banks on Ghost Whisperer (2006–2010), Control on Person of Interest (2013–2015), Lieutenant Cosgrove on Stumptown (2019–2020) and Kate Dixon on Law & Order (2022–2024).
Manheim's film credits include Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997), Happiness (1998), What Planet Are You From? (2000), Scary Movie 3 (2003), Twisted (2004), Dark Water (2005), An Unfinished Life (2005), and Cop Car (2015).
She is the recipient of a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, in addition to three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.
Early life Manheim was born in West Caldwell, New Jersey, into a Jewish American family, the daughter of Sylvia (née Nuchow), a teacher, and Jerome Manheim, a mathematics professor and the Dean of Letters and Science at California State University Long Beach. Her family relocated several times in her early childhood due to her father taking new teaching positions, and she spent her early years in Michigan and Peoria, Illinois.Thomas, Bob via Associated Press. "Camryn Mannheim plays 'fairest one of all'", Ocala Star-Banner, February 27, 2000. Accessed July 2, 2011. "Born in Caldwell, N.J., Manheim spent her early years in New Jersey, Illinois and Michigan as her math-professor father changed universities."
When she was in sixth grade, her family relocated to Southern California, settling in Long Beach, where she attended Woodrow Wilson Classical High School. She became interested in acting after working at a Renaissance faire during high school.Rachel Lee Rubin (November 19, 2012). Well Met: Renaissance Faires and the American Counterculture. NYU Press. pp. 226–. . Manheim graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz with a BFA degree in 1984 and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Acting Program with an MFA degree in 1987. Her brother, Karl Manheim, is a law professor at Loyola Law School.
Career
Manheim worked for a while as a sign language interpreter at hospitals. Her knowledge of sign language was used on The Practice, in the Law & Order episodes "Benevolence" (1993) and "Castle in the Sky" (2024), and in her role as a child behavioral psychologist in the movie Mercury Rising.
Manheim's breakthrough was her one-woman show Wake Up, I'm Fat, which played off-Broadway at Classic Stage Company in 1994. She adapted the show into a book of the same name, which was published by Broadway Books in 1999.
Also in 1999, Manheim won an Emmy for her work on The Practice and she was awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award.Lucy Award, past recipients WIF web site
Personal life Manheim's son Milo, conceived via sperm donation from her close friend Jeffrey Brezovar, was born on March 6, 2001.
Manheim has been involved with the Los Angeles–based charity Bet Tzedek Legal Services – The House of Justice, serving as a co-chair for their annual fundraiser, the Justice Ball.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1994 Cracking Up Unknown The Road to Wellville Virginia Cranehill 1995 Jeffrey Single woman 1996 Eraser Nurse Rescuing Desire Pappa 1997David Searching Gwen Romy and Michele's High School Reunion Toby Walters 1998Fool's Gold Patricia Happiness Kristina Mercury Rising Dr. London Wide Awake Sister Sophia The Tic Code Mrs. Swensrut You Are Here Registry woman 1999East of A Agatha Joe the King Mrs. Basil 2000 What Planet Are You From? Alison 2003 Scary Movie 3 Trooper 2004 Twisted Lisa 2005 The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses Tria Voice Dark Water Teacher Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School Lisa Gobar Snow Wonder Bev An Unfinished Life Nina 2006 The Land Before Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers Tria Voice 2007 Slipstream Barbara 2009 Just Peck Ms. Wood 2011 Without Men Boss 2012 Jewtopia Eileen Daniels 2013 The Hot Flashes Roxie Rosales 2014 Fort McCoy Florie 2015 Cop Car Bev Return to Sender Nancy 2018 All About Nina Debora 2027 Romy and Michele 2 Toby Walters Filming
Television Year Title Role Notes 1991 Law & Order Leila Episode: "Life Choice" 1993Law & Order Martha Rollins Episode: "Benevolence" 1994Law & Order Beatrice Hines Episode: "Nurture" New York Undercover Bettina Episode: "Blondes Have More Fun" 1995 ABC Afterschool Special Rita Episode: "Notes for My Daughter" Deadly Whispers Betty Television film One Life to Live Rabbi Heller 2 episodes 1996 Chicago Hope Marge Stewart Episode: "Sexual Perversity in Chicago Hope" 1997–2004 The Practice Ellenor Frutt Main role 1998Ally McBeal Episode: "The Inmates" 2000 Family Guy Ellen Pine (voice) Episode: "Dammit Janet" Loretta Clairborne Story Janet MacFarland Television film The 10th Kingdom Snow White 3 episodesWill & Grace Sue Episode: "Gypsies, Tramps and Weed" 2001Boston Public Ellenor Frutt Episode: "Chapter Thirteen"A Girl ThingSuzanne NaborTelevision filmJenniferSuzzane AllenTelevision filmKiss My ActSamantha BergerTelevision film, also co-executive producer2002 The Laramie ProjectRebecca HillickerTelevision film 2003 The System Peggy Barker 9 episodes 2004Higglytown HeroesPlumber Hero (voice) 2 episodesThe L Word Veronica Bloom 4 episodesStrong Medicine June Episode: "Cinderella in Scrubs"Two and a Half Men Daisy Ray Episode: "A Kosher Slaughterhouse Out in Fontana" 2005Elvis Gladys Presley 2 episodesHow I Met Your Mother Ellen Pierce Episode: "Matchmaker" 2006–2010Ghost Whisperer Delia Banks Main role (seasons 2–5) 2007Hannah Montana Margo 2 episodesSeeMore's Playhouse Herself Episode: "Dental Visits" 2009 Jesse Stone: Thin IceElizabeth BlueTelevision film 2010 The Pregnancy Pact Nurse Daly Television film 2011–2012 Harry's Law Kimberly Mendelsohn 5 episodes 2013 Criminal Minds Carla Hines 2 episodes The Makeover Colleen Television film 2013–2015Person of Interest Control 9 episodes 2014Extant Sam Barton Main role (season 1) 2015Hand of God Dr. Langston 2 episodes 2016Code Black Alice Williams Episode: "Life and Limb"Masters of SexAlice Episode: "In to Me You See"Younger Jane Wray 2 episodes 2017Major Crimes Winnie Davis 3 episodes 2018Living Biblically Twila Meadows Main roleWaco Balenda Thibodeau 4 episodes 2019Hell's Kitchen HerselfGuest diner and Waterkeeper Alliance contributor Episode: "Poor Trev" The MagiciansSheila 4 episodesHeartstringsBetty Grover 1 episode2019–2020StumptownMary Cosgrove Main role2020UtopiaArtemis 2 episodes2021Big ShotCoach McCarthy Recurring role 2022 Cruel Instruction Miss Connie Television film This Is Us Debbie Episode: "Don't Let Me Keep You"Law & Order: Organized Crime Kate DixonEpisode: "Gimme Shelter – Part One"2022–2023Law & Order: Special Victims UnitKate Dixon2 episodes2022–2024 Law & OrderKate Dixon Main role (seasons 21–23)2025Murder in a Small Town Jocelyn TaitSeason 2, episode 2, "Blood Wedding"
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