Rhoda Gemignani ( Rhoda Barbara Cohan; born October 21, 1939)[https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/68066033:1788?tid=&pid=&queryId=ca01636e-02af-45ba-8cd5-97e77f570504&_phsrc=fMu4&_phstart=successSource Rhoda Gemignani in the U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1]. Accessed June 11, 2024. is an American actress, best known for her recurring role as Mrs. Carmela Rossini in the American television sitcom Who's the Boss?.
She appeared frequently on television between the 1970s to 2000s, primarily acting in comedic shows. In addition to portraying Mrs. Rossini on Who's The Boss?, Gemignani had recurring roles on The Bob Newhart Show and Just Shoot Me! Outside of comedy, she made guest appearances in Police Woman, Kojak, The Twilight Zone, Hill Street Blues, Walker, Texas Ranger and many others. She appeared in the films Ghostbusters (1984), Three Fugitives (1989), and The Man Who Wasn't There (2001).
Career Starting in the 1970s, Gemignani began appearing on several sitcoms, typically in small roles. Her work in this genre includes Diff'rent Strokes, The Jeffersons, Friends, Seinfeld and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. On Full House, she originated the role of Jesse Katsopolis' mother, Irene, before being replaced by Yvonne Wilder. She had a recurring role as Mrs. Rossini in long running sitcom Who's the Boss? (1984−92), appearing across all eight of the show's seasons.
In film, Gemignani appeared as a real estate agent in Ghostbusters (1984) and played the role of Costanza in The Man Who Wasn't There (2001). As a theater actress, Gemignani portrayed Cleopatra in play Caesar and Cleopatra, Titania in William Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Golde in a production of musical Fiddler on the Roof.
During the 1990s, she played major roles in two short-lived television shows: beautician Ruby DeMattis in sitcom Family Album and Pearl Frischetti on legal drama, The Great Defender. At the turn of the millennium, she appeared as the mother of Elliot DiMauro on Just Shoot Me! (1999−2003). Gemignani provided the voice of Gladys Fairfax and two other characters in the video game SWAT 4, released in 2005. Her only acting role during the 2010s was as Mrs. LeBlanc in the sitcom Episodes.
Personal life Gemignani was born as Rhoda Barbara Cohan on October 21, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Leo and Lillian Cohan. Her older brother, Martin Cohan, was a comedy writer who co-created Who's the Boss? Gemignani attended San Francisco State College. She married theater composer Paul Gemignani in 1961; they later divorced. She is Jewish.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1970Sticky My Fingers... Fleet My FeetMotherShort1980Die LaughingRussian ticket taker1984Young LustBernice Borsalino1984GhostbustersReal Estate Woman1989Three FugitivesRadio Operator1999Carlo's WakeAunt Betty2001Costanza
Television Year Title Role Notes1963General HospitalGrace1973Alice (uncredited)Season 3 Episode 16: "Lou's Place"1973–1974Joan Rossi3 episodes1975Emily BatesSeason 2 Episode 12: "George and the Manager"1976KojakKatrina PatropolousSeason 3 Episode 15: "The Forgotten Room"1976NBC Special TreatAunt OlgaSeason 1 Episode 5: "Papa and Me"1976Roxy PageAnna HagopianTV Movie1976DocMrs. GerberSeason 2 Episode 1: "Carry on Nurse, Please"1976Police WomanFrancineSeason 3 Episode 4: "Sara Who?"1977Panic in Echo ParkTV Movie1979Mary GrassoTV Movie1981Nero WolfeMrs. DrossosSeason 1 Episode 1: "The Golden Spiders"1981–1983Diff'rent StrokesDoctor / Mrs. Craig / Mrs. Valenti3 episodes1982Farrell for the PeopleMrs. TheodakisTV Movie1982Season 1 Episode 3: "He Stole-A My Art"1983EvelynSeason 4 Episode 21: "Help from Home"1984Concrete BeatSylvieTV Movie1984Mike HammerMama ZinettaSeason 2 Episode 9: "A Death in the Family"1984–1992Who's the Boss?Carmella Rossini21 episodes (Recurring role)1985Hill Street BluesMrs. BiomonteSeason 5 Episode 22: "You're in Alice's"1985Goldie and the BearsDorothyTV Movie1986AngelinaSeason 1 Episode 23: "Shadow Play/Grace Note"segment: "Grace Note"1986St. ElsewhereAndrea NovinoSeason 5 Episode 10: "Once Upon a Mattress"1987MoonlightingEmilySeason 3 Episode 10: "Poltergeist III - Dipesto Nothing"1987Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia WifeMamaTV Movie1987HunterMrs. PalovskySeason 3 Episode 18: "A Child Is Born"1987Full HouseIrene CochranSeason 1 Episode 4: "The Return of Grandma"1988Still the BeaverMadame RosaSeason 4 Episode 5: "Cursed Again"1989ParadiseRusty RolleriSeason 1 Episode 12: "The Traveler"1989WiseguyMarie (Present Day)Season 3 Episode 6: "How Will They Remember Me?"1989SnoopsMadame EleanorSeason 1 Episode 7: "The Sagittarian Candidate"1990Rock HudsonTV ProducerTV Movie1990BabesAunt MarionSeason 1 Episode 9: "The Thanksgiving Show"1990–1991Jake and the FatmanCarla Styles2 episodes1991Eddie DoddJudge TaylorSeason 1 Episode 3: "Pound of Flesh"1992SeinfeldWoman With ElaineSeason 3 Episode 13: "The Subway"1992Brooklyn BridgeMrs. KaminskySeason 2 Episode 6: "The Last Immigrant"1993BaywatchMama TorziniSeason 3 Episode 18: "Stakeout at Surfrider Beach"1993FBI: The Untold StoriesArlyneSeason 2 Episode 14: "Mob Lady"1993Walker, Texas RangerYelenaSeason 1 Episode 1: "One Riot, One Ranger"1993Family AlbumRudy DeMattisSeries regular1995Charlie GraceMiss JacobsSeason 1 Episode 1: "Take Me to the Pilot"1995Pearl FrischettiSeries regular1996Local HeroesMrs. TrakacsSeason 1 Episode 1: "Hometown Heroes"1996Life with RogerMrs. CostelloSeason 1 Episode 7: "Love Thy Neighbor"1997FriendsMrs. PotterSeason 4 Episode 4: "The One with the Ballroom Dancing"1998Caroline in the CityGailSeason 3 Episode 20: "Caroline and the Little White Lies"1998Laraine VernaSeason 1 Episode 7: "Honor Thy Jack"1999NetforceMommaTV Movie1999Rocky MarcianoPasquelina MarchegianoTV Movie1999–2003Just Shoot Me!Rhoda DiMauro8 episodes2000Mamma Mia (voice)Season 2 Episode 8: "Foe Paws"2005RelatedHousing Services SecretarySeason 1 Episode 3: "Cry Me a Sister"2015–2017EpisodesMrs. LeBlanc2 episodes
Video games Year Title Role Notes2005SWAT 4Gladys Fairfax / Sharon Conway / Female Hostage #4 (voice)
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