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Joanna Merlin is an American actress and casting director who has worked with Stephen Sondheim and starred in the original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. She has written two acting guides and is a faculty member of New York University's graduate acting program. In recent years, she has become known for her recurring role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Judge Lena Petrovsky.
Birth Name
Joann Ratner
Born
Wednesday, 15 July 1931
Actress Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles | Self | 2019 |
| Active Adults | Miriam | 2017 |
| Homeland | Grandma | 2011 |
| Elle s'appelait Sarah | Mme Rainsferd / Mrs. Rainsferd | 2010 |
| The Good Wife | Loni Goslin | 2009 |
| The Wackness | Grandma Shapiro | 2008 |
| The Invasion | Joan Kaufman | 2007 |
| The Jury | Jackie Ochs | 2004 |
| Just Another Story | Sadie | 2003 |
| The Jimmy Show | Emily | 2002 |
Actress Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles | Self | 2019 |
| Active Adults | Miriam | 2017 |
| Homeland | Grandma | 2011 |
| Elle s'appelait Sarah | Mme Rainsferd / Mrs. Rainsferd | 2010 |
| The Good Wife | Loni Goslin | 2009 |
| The Wackness | Grandma Shapiro | 2008 |
| The Invasion | Joan Kaufman | 2007 |
| The Jury | Jackie Ochs | 2004 |
| Just Another Story | Sadie | 2003 |
| The Jimmy Show | Emily | 2002 |
| Witness Protection | Cindy's Mother | 1999 |
| Black and Blue | Ann Benedetto | 1999 |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Judge Lena Petrovsky | 1999 |
| City of Angels | Teresa Messinger | 1998 |
| MURDER and murder | Doris | 1997 |
| Two Bits | Guendolina | 1995 |
| New York Undercover | Carmella McNamara | 1994 |
| Mr. Wonderful | Loretta | 1993 |
| Love, Honor & Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage | Rose Profaci | 1993 |
| In a Child's Name | Frances Silvano | 1991 |
| Class Action | Estelle Ward | 1991 |
| Baby Talk | Gina | 1991 |
| Law & Order | Deirdre Powell, Carla Bowman | 1990 |
| Northern Exposure | Nadine Fleischman | 1990 |
| Mystic Pizza | Mrs. Arujo | 1988 |
| American Experience | Family Member | 1988 |
| Prince of Darkness | Bag Lady | 1987 |
| L.A. Law | A.D.A. Ellen Kennedy | 1986 |
| Amazing Stories | Marie / Wealthy Lady | 1985 |
| The Killing Fields | Schanberg's Sister | 1984 |
| Jacobo Timerman: Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number | 1983 | |
| Baby It's You | Mrs. Rosen | 1983 |
| Frontline | (voice) | 1983 |
| Love Child | Mrs. Sturgis | 1982 |
| Soup for One | Allan's Mother | 1982 |
| Fame | Miss Berg | 1980 |
| CBS Schoolbreak Special | Marian Rosenberg | 1980 |
| All That Jazz | Nurse Pierce | 1979 |
| The Last Tenant | Mrs. Farelli | 1978 |
| Hester Street | Jake's Landlady | 1975 |
| ABC Afterschool Specials | Inez Marin | 1972 |
| East Side/West Side | Lucia Lopez | 1963 |
| The Power and the Glory | 1961 | |
| The Defenders | Katy Martinez | 1961 |
| Weddings and Babies | Josie | 1960 |
| CBS Repertoire Workshop | Musya | 1960 |
| Naked City | Gloria Werminski | 1958 |
| The Ten Commandments | Jethro's Daughter | 1956 |
