Rena Sofer | |
|---|---|
 Sofer in 2014 | |
| Born | Rena Sherel Sofer (1968-12-02)December 2, 1968 (age 56) Arcadia, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
Rena Sherel Sofer (born December 2, 1968)[1] is an American actress, known for her appearances in daytime television, episodic guest appearances, and made-for-television movies. In 1995, Sofer received aDaytime Emmy Award for her portrayal ofLois Cerullo in the soap operaGeneral Hospital. She reprised the role of Lois in October 2023. From 2013 to 2022, she playedQuinn Fuller on the CBS soap operaThe Bold and the Beautiful.
Sofer was born inArcadia, California, the daughter of Susan Sofer (née Franzblau), a psychology professor, and Martin Sofer, anOrthodox rabbi.[2]
She moved with her father and brother David toTeaneck, New Jersey, in 1970. However, when Sofer was 5 years old, they resided in Western Pennsylvania. They lived inAmbridge, Pennsylvania, where her father led Beth Samuels Jewish Center.She later attended theFrisch School, a coeducationalModern Orthodox Jewish high school inParamus, New Jersey.[3] Sofer lived inNorth Bergen, New Jersey, where her father was rabbi ofsynagogue Temple Beth El. She graduated fromNorth Bergen High School, then attended classes atMontclair State College.[4][5]
Sofer first played Lois Marie Cerullo onGeneral 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 operaLoving (1988–1991).
Sofer is perhaps best known for her role as Lois Cerullo onGeneral 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 forOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
In May 2013, it was announced that Sofer would join the CBS soap operaThe Bold and the Beautiful, in a newly created role ofQuinn Fuller; her first episode aired on July 12.[6] After nine years on the canvas, Sofer opted to end her run in the role of Quinn; she last aired on August 29, 2022.[7]
On September 14, 2023,People announced Sofer would reprise the role of Lois onGeneral Hospital after a 26-year absence.[8]
On October 24, 2025, it was announced that Sofer had ended her run onGeneral Hospital as Cerullo.[9][10]
Sofer has appeared in several high-profileprime 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, andTwo and a Half Men.
Sofer briefly joined the cast of theNBCsitcomJust Shoot Me!, playing the character Vicky Costa.[11] The network later cast Sofer in the short-livedUS remake of the UK seriesCoupling.In recent years, Rena Sofer has appeared in the NBC TV seriesHeroes as the recurring characterHeidi Petrelli, wife of aspiring politicianNathan Petrelli (Adrian Pasdar). She appeared onTwo and a Half Men in 2008, as a former girlfriend of the characterCharlie Harper (Charlie Sheen).[12] Rena also has guest starred onDirty Sexy Money playing an intrepid reporter[13] and played a ghost onGhost Whisperer. In early 2010, Sofer began a recurring role onNCIS as attorneyMargaret Allison Hart, a potential love interest for the characterLeroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon). She had a brief guest role onBones as a love interest for the characterSeeley Booth (David Boreanaz).
In 2013, Sofer had a publicized appearance onOnce Upon a Time, playingSnow White's mother.[14]
In film, she appeared as a love interest ofBen Stiller's character in the filmKeeping the Faith, starringJenna Elfman, Stiller andEdward Norton (who also directed). She also played a bride to-be withMelanie Griffith inSidney Lumet's movieA Stranger Among Us and in Penelope Buitenhuis's movieThe Secret of Hidden Lake.
She played the P.E. teacher Ms. Desjarden in the television film adaptation ofCarrie in 2002.[15][16] She starred in the television movieAlways and Forever which aired October 24, 2009, on theHallmark Channel.[17] She has been doing TV movies since 1992, when she starred as Andrea Larson in the television movieSaved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style.[18]
Sofer and herGeneral Hospital co-starWally Kurth, who played her onscreen love interest, became involved as their characters' storyline progressed. In 1995, the actors were married and had a daughter.[19] In 1997, Sofer and Kurth divorced.[20]
Sofer married television director and producerSanford Bookstaver in 2003. On August 5, 2005, Sofer gave birth to her second daughter, her first with Bookstaver, inLos 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.[21]
| Year | Film | Role | Director(s) | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | A Stranger Among Us | Shayna Singer | Sidney Lumet | Crime–drama film | [22][23] |
| 1994 | Twin Sitters | Judy | John Paragon | Comedy film Also known asThe Babysitters | [17] |
| 1998 | Nightmare Street | Penny Randolph | Colin Bucksey | Thriller film | [24] |
| 2000 | Keeping the Faith | Rachel Rose | Edward Norton | Romantic comedy film | [25][26] |
| Traffic | Helena's Friend | Steven Soderbergh | Crime–drama film | [27][28] | |
| 2001 | March | Hedy Pullman | James P. Mercurio | Drama film | [17] |
| 2009 | Rock Slyde | Sara | Chris Dowling | Comedy film | [29] |
| 2010 | Sarah | Teenage Sarah | Ted Hunter Louis La Volpe | Drama film | [17] |
| 2025 | Vespertine | Marlowe | Lauri Levenfeld Grace Wethor | Short film | [17] |
| 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 moviedirected byDon Barnhart[18] | |
| 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 byAllan Kroeker[30][31] |
| Caroline in the City | Risa Glickman | Episode: "Caroline and the Nice Jewish Boy" | |
| 1997 | Seinfeld | Mary Anne | Episode: "The Muffin Tops" |
| The Stepsister | Darcy Canfield Ray | Made-for-TV movie directed byCharles 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 byRobert 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[32][33] |
| 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 | The Chronicle | Grace Hall | 22 episodes |
| 2002 | Friends | Katie | Episode: "The One with the Cooking Class" |
| Carrie | Miss Desjardenr | Made-for-TV movie directed byDavid Carson[15][16] | |
| 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 | The Secret of Hidden Lake | Maggie Dolan | Made-for-TV movie directed byPenelope 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[17] | Made-for-TV movie directed byKevin 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 | |
| The Devil's Teardrop | Joan | Made-for-TV movie directed byNorma 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[17] | Made-for-TV movie directed by Anthony Lefresne |
| 2011–12 | Covert Affairs | Geena | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | House | Marlene Reese | Episode: "Man of the House" |
| The Glades | 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 |
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Won | |
1995 | Soap Opera Digest Award | Outstanding Younger Lead Actress | General Hospital | Won | |
2016 | Soap Awards France | Best Villain of the Year | The Bold and the Beautiful | Won | |
2016 | Soap Awards France | Best New Character | The Bold and the Beautiful | Nominated | |
2017 | Soap Awards France | Best Actress of the Year | The Bold and the Beautiful | Nominated | |
2017 | Soap Awards France | Best Villain of the Year | The Bold and the Beautiful | Nominated | |
2018 | Soap Awards France | Best Villain of the Year | The Bold and the Beautiful | Won | |
2018 | Soap Awards France | Best Couple of the Year — "Quinn and Eric" (shared withJohn McCook) | The Bold and the Beautiful | Nominated |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
