Rita Wilson | |
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 Wilson in 2019 | |
| Born | Margarita Ibrahimoff (1956-10-26)October 26, 1956 (age 69)[1] Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
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| Alma mater | London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1972–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, includingChet |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Labels |
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Musical artist | |
Margarita Wilson Hanks (bornMargarita Ibrahimoff;[3] October 26, 1956) is an American actress, singer, and producer. Her film appearances includeVolunteers (1985),Sleepless in Seattle (1993),Now and Then (1995),That Thing You Do! (1996),Jingle All the Way (1996),The Story of Us (1999),Runaway Bride (1999),It's Complicated (2009), andLarry Crowne (2011), and she appeared in the television seriesThe Good Wife andGirls. Wilson has also performed on Broadway and produced several films, includingMy Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002). As a singer-songwriter, Wilson has released the albumsAM/FM,Rita Wilson,Bigger Picture, andHalfway to Home. In March 2019, she received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.[4]
Rita Wilson was born Margarita Ibrahimoff on October 26, 1956 in Los Angeles.[5] Her mother, Dorothea Tzigkou (Greek:Δωροθέα Τζίγκου), wasGreek, raised in Sotirë nearDropull i Sipërm in Albania, close to the border with Greece.[6] Her father, Hassan Halilov Ibrahimoff (Bulgarian:Хасан Халилов Ибрахимов; 1920–2009), was aBulgarian Muslim (Pomak) born inOraio (Breshtene), Greece, close to the border with Bulgaria. Her father's family moved to Bulgaria when he was a child. He moved from Bulgaria to the US in 1949.[7][8] He converted from Islam to Orthodox Christianity upon his marriage and changed his name to Allan Wilson in 1960,[8] choosing his name after a local street. The family lived in Los Angeles, where Rita Wilson's father worked as a bartender.[9] Wilson was raised in theGreek Orthodox faith.[10] In addition toBulgarian, her father could speak "Russian, Turkish, Polish, Greek, a little bit of Italian, a little bit of French" according to Wilson's husbandTom Hanks, who said he modeled his portrayal of the character Viktor Navorski in the filmThe Terminal on his father-in-law.[11]
Wilson's career began with a guest appearance onThe Brady Bunch in the 1972 episode "Greg's Triangle," where she played Pat Conway, one of the candidates running againstMarcia Brady for head cheerleader.[12] She also twice appeared onM*A*S*H in 1982 as Nurse Lacey[13] as well as the sitcomsThree's Company andBosom Buddies starring her future husbandTom Hanks,[14] and as Hester Rose Crane, the deceased mother of Frasier Crane onFrasier.[15]
In the 1980s, Wilson attended theLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in England.[16]
She has appeared in numerous films, includingVolunteers,Barbarians at the Gate,The Bonfire of the Vanities,Mixed Nuts,Sleepless in Seattle,Now and Then,That Thing You Do!,Jingle All the Way,Runaway Bride,Invisible Child,The Story of Us,Raise Your Voice,It's Complicated, andLarry Crowne.[17]
On television, she played Susan Borman, wife of astronautFrank Borman, in the HBO miniseriesFrom the Earth to the Moon. She guest starred in many series, includingCurb Your Enthusiasm,Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, andBody of Proof, and had recurring roles onThe Good Wife andGirls.[17]
She was instrumental in helping actress-playwrightNia Vardalos get the movie deal forMy Big Fat Greek Wedding,[18] which became the highest-grossing independent film of all time and for which she served as a producer.[19] Wilson produced two stage productions of the play as they were developing the film. A sequel,My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, which Wilson co-produced and in which she had a supporting role, was released in 2016.[20]
Wilson's Greek heritage was honored in 2016 when the Greek Postal Service ELTA commemorated her with a stamp along with four others: filmmakerCosta-Gavras, engineer and entrepreneurPeter Diamandis, journalistGeorge Stephanopoulos, and billionaire businessmanJohn Catsimatidis.[21] In 2008, Wilson produced the filmMamma Mia!,[22] and eight years later its sequel,Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.[23]
In 2006, Wilson made herBroadway debut when she performed the role of Roxie Hart in a revival ofChicago.[24] In 2015, she starred inLarry David'sFish in the Dark on Broadway, from which she took a month-long hiatus to undergo a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery after being diagnosed with breast cancer.[25][26][14]Off-Broadway, Wilson performed in Daniel Margulies'Pulitzer Prize-winning play,Dinner with Friends, at theGeffen Playhouse in Los Angeles in 2000, directed byTony Award-winnerDan Sullivan.[27][28] She originated the role of "Mama" in the world premier ofLisa Loomer's play,Distracted, at theMark Taper Forum, also in Los Angeles, in 2007.[29] Wilson played various roles inNora andDelia Ephron's playLove, Loss, and What I Wore in 2009. She reprised the roles in the Los Angeles production at the Geffen in 2010.[30]
In March 2020, while filmingElvis in Australia, Hanks announced through hisInstagram profile that the couple had contractedCOVID-19 and were experiencing minor symptoms. They were admitted to theGold Coast University Hospital before being returned to quarantine.[31][32][33][34] On March 27, Wilson and her husband returned home to Los Angeles after they recovered from the virus.[35] The couple donated their blood antibodies for virus research.[36]
Wilson produced the filmA Man Called Otto, initially released in December 2022.[37][38] Wilson became interested in producing the film after watchingA Man Called Ove, the Swedish film upon whichA Man Called Otto is based.[39] The film was sold toSony Pictures in February 2022 for $60 million, at that time the largest deal to date at the virtual European Film Market.[40] In December, Wilson launched herproduction company Artistic Films, withA Man Called Otto as the company's first project.[41]
Wilson's debut solo albumAM/FM was released on May 8, 2012, onDecca Records. The album featured classics from the 1960s and 70s, including a cover of "Wichita Lineman" that she performed with the song's writer-composerJimmy Webb. She also performed a duet of "All I Have To Do Is Dream" with formerSoundgarden andAudioslave musicianChris Cornell. Additional harmonies on the album are performed byFaith Hill,Sheryl Crow,Vince Gill, andPatti Scialfa (who also produced the track "Come See About Me" withRon Aniello).[42][43]
At the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington, DC on December 4, 2014, she performed for PresidentBarack Obama and First LadyMichelle Obama, and served as co-host of the event.[44]
In 2014, Wilson wrote the song "Bad Things" withMatt Nathanson, for theScott Eastwood filmDawn Patrol, in which she also starred.[45][46] In 2016, Wilson released her self-titled album. She co-wrote each song onRita Wilson withKara DioGuardi,Dan Wilson,Jason Reeves,Darrell Brown,[14]Sugarland'sKristian Bush,Richard Marx,[47]Lauren Christy,Mikal Blue,Nathan Chapman,[48]Jason Wade, Stephanie Chapman, Ron Aniello,[49] Jillian Jacqueline,Jessi Alexander, JR Randall, Yugomir Lonich, Blair Daly, and Kelly Archer.[50][48][51][52] The song "Strong Tonight" was also performed byConnie Britton in an episode of theABC television showNashville.[14]TheNew York Times said: "Ms. Wilson has a catch in her voice that conveys yearning and potential heartbreak behind a façade of cheer."[53] To support the release ofRita Wilson, she opened on a tour withChicago; she has said she is a lifelong fan of the band.[54][47]
A year later, Wilson presented the event "Liner Notes: Songwriters, Stories and Music with Rita Wilson and Friends". The show, which took place at the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, included performances from Wilson along withPatty Smyth,Desmond Child,Jeff Barry, and Kristian Bush, among others.[22]
With her third album,Bigger Picture, Wilson drew directly from her personal life for its theme. The album, released September 28, 2018, reunited her withAM/FM's producer Fred Mollin. Wilson co-wrote many of the tracks with Kristian Bush and Darrell Brown, as well as new partnersThe Warren Brothers,Lindy Robbins and Alex Reid, and the album also included covers ofCat Stevens' "The Wind" andBurt Bacharach/Hal David's "What the World Needs Now Is Love".[55]
Also in 2018, Wilson performed "Heart Unknown", co-written withJosh Alexander, DioGuardi, andMozella, for the indie film,Simple Wedding. In addition, she performed "Sometimes Love", co-written withDavid Hodges, for the independent filmEmmett, in which she also stars.[56]
On March 29, 2019, Wilson released her fourth album,Halfway to Home, which included "Throw Me a Party", a song inspired by her survival from breast cancer.[57] Other songs were created during a writing workshop that partnered her with Mozella, Mitch Allan, DioGuardi,Liz Rose and Kristian Bush.[58]Halfway to Home was co-produced by Nathan Chapman. "Halfway to Home finds Wilson pulling from musical traditions that revere deep storytelling (Southern California rock, classic Nashville country), which was a hallmark for her growing up," explainedRolling Stone.[59]
Over the course of her music career, Wilson has performed her songs onEllen,[60]The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,The Late Late Show with James Corden,Jimmy Kimmel Live!, andToday.[61]
In March 2020 after she and husbandTom Hanks contracted the coronavirus while filming in Australia and in self-quarantine and going "stir crazy", she filmed an Instagram video showing her rapping theNaughty by Nature song, "Hip Hop Hooray". The video went viral[62] and reached Naughty by Nature's Vin Rock. After she had fully recovered from virus, the two teamed up for a "Hip Hop Hooray" remix to benefit theMusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.[63] In July 2020, Wilson appeared onJimmie Allen'sBettie James EP,[64] collaborating on the song "When This Is Over" withTauren Wells andThe Oak Ridge Boys.[65][66] In October 2020, Wilson was featured on the single "Pink" alongsideDolly Parton,Monica,Jordin Sparks andSara Evans. The single was released in aid ofBreast Cancer Research.[67][68][69] In 2021 she contributed to theBlues Traveler rendition of "Crazy" on their album "Traveler’s Blues".[70]
On August 24, 2022, Wilson announced her duets albumNow & Forever, a collection of 70s covers with male vocalists.[71][72][73] Co-produced by Wilson andMatt Rollings, the album featuresWillie Nelson,Keith Urban, andElvis Costello among other guests. The album, which was preceded by three singles (including "Songbird" which she performed withJosh Groban atRadio City Music Hall in April) was released on September 27.[71][73] To promote the album Wilson performed onGood Morning America withSmokey Robinson andLater... with Jools Holland withJackson Browne, and celebrated the release with a two week residency atCafe Carlyle.[74][75][76] The album was nominated for Self-Released Record of the Year at the2023 Libera Awards.[77] In December 2023, Barack Obama featured Wilson's song "Crazy Love" with Keith Urban on his list of favorite songs of the year.[78]
In 2022, Wilson collaborated withSebastián Yatra on the single "Til You're Home" from the soundtrack toA Man Called Otto.[79]
On March 29, 2023, Wilson attended theWhite House's Greek Independence Day celebration, alongside other prominentGreek-Americans.[80] Wilson led the event's cultural program, performing four songs.[81]
Wilson has been a contributing editor toHarper's Bazaar magazine, writing over twenty-one articles.[82] She also started, and was Editor at Large of, a section ofThe Huffington Post called Huff/Post50, which explored issues and topics relative to people over fifty years old.[83] She has also written forO, The Oprah Magazine.[84]
Wilson married actorTom Hanks in 1988. Hanks already had two children from a previous marriage,Colin andElizabeth Hanks. She has two sons with Hanks,Chet and Truman.[85] Wilson has three grandchildren.[86]
She is a member of theGreek Orthodox Church.[87]
In 2015, Wilson signed an open letter from theONE Campaign. The letter was addressed toAngela Merkel andNkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, then heads ofG7 and theAfrican Union, respectively, urging them to focus on women in their work against poverty and inequality.[88]
For over 20 years, Wilson and her husband, Tom Hanks, have been honorary co-chairs (along withSteven Spielberg andKate Capshaw) of the Women's Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), specializing in raising money for women's cancers.[89] In 2016, WCRF joined forces withEvelyn Lauder's Breast Cancer Research Foundation.[citation needed] Wilson contributed to theMoffitt Cancer Center by donating "True Hearts" jewelry made of sterling silver and 14k gold.
Wilson has creditedRosie O'Donnell as inspiration for her charitable work, particularly with cancer and children's charities.[90] She and her husband have long supported theShakespeare Center of Los Angeles,[91] starting in 1989 when Wilson appeared as Celia in a production ofAs You Like It.[92] Their annual Simply Shakespeare event raises funds to support programs for underprivileged youth. Musicians at the fundraiser have includedPaul McCartney,Paul Simon,Jackson Browne,Faith Hill,Tim McGraw,Ben Harper, andReba McEntire.[citation needed]
In 2018, Wilson and Hanks were honored withUSC Shoah Foundation's Ambassadors For Humanity award in recognition of their "longstanding commitment to humanitarian causes and support of veterans".[93][94] The couple also contribute to other charities includingAIDS Project Los Angeles.[95]
In 2019, Wilson, her husband, and their children, were granted Greek citizenship by honorary naturalization by PresidentProkopis Pavlopoulos, in recognition of their support of those affected by the2018 Mati fire.[96]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Day It Came to Earth[97] | Debbie | |
| 1980 | Cheech and Chong's Next Movie | Actress | |
| 1985 | Volunteers | Beth Wexler | |
| 1989 | Teen Witch | Dancer | |
| 1990 | The Bonfire of the Vanities | P.R. Woman | |
| 1993 | Sleepless in Seattle | Suzy | |
| 1994 | Mixed Nuts | Catherine O'Shaughnessy | |
| 1995 | Now and Then | Chrissy DeWitt Williams | |
| 1996 | That Thing You Do! | Marguerite | |
| Jingle All the Way | Liz Langston | ||
| No Dogs Allowed[citation needed] | Short film | ||
| 1998 | Psycho | Caroline | |
| 1999 | Runaway Bride | Ellie Graham | |
| The Story of Us | Rachel | ||
| 2001 | Perfume | Roberta | akaDress to Kill |
| The Glass House | Grace Avery-Baker | Uncredited[citation needed] | |
| 2002 | Auto Focus | Anne Crane | |
| 2004 | Raise Your Voice | Frances Fletcher | |
| 2005 | The Chumscrubber | Terri Bratley | |
| Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D | Beta Station Commander | Voice only | |
| 2006 | Beautiful Ohio | Judith Messerman | |
| 2009 | My Life in Ruins | Elinor | |
| Old Dogs | Jenna | ||
| It's Complicated | Trisha | ||
| 2011 | The Art of Getting By | Vivian Sargent | |
| Larry Crowne | Wilma Q. Gammelgaard | ||
| 2012 | Jewtopia | Arlene Lipschitz | |
| 2013 | The Tutor[citation needed] | Tina | Short film |
| 2014 | Kiss Me | Edith | |
| Dawn Patrol | Shelia | ||
| 2016 | My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 | Anna | |
| Brother Nature | Cathy Turley | ||
| 2018 | Gloria Bell | Vicky | |
| A Simple Wedding | Maggie Baker | ||
| 2019 | Boy Genius | Mary Locke | |
| 2020 | Love Is Love Is Love | Mary Kay | |
| Borat Subsequent Moviefilm | Herself | Cameo | |
| 2022 | Kimi | Natalie Chowdhury | |
| 2023 | Asteroid City | Mrs. Weatherford |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | The Brady Bunch | Pat Conway | Episode: "Greg's Triangle" |
| 1974 | Movin' On | Penny | Episode: "The Cowhands"; uncredited |
| 1977 | Lou Grant | Christine Farrell | Episode: "Cophouse"; uncredited |
| 1978 | Flying High | Debbie | Episode: "Flying High" |
| 1979 | Hawaii Five-O | Mary Ellen Klane | Episode: "The Skyline Killer" |
| A Man Called Sloane | Kathy | Episode: "The Venus Microbe" | |
| 1980 | B. J. and the Bear | Suzanne | Episode: "The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful" |
| 1981 | Bosom Buddies | Cindy | Episode: "All You Need is Love" |
| 1982 | Mr. Merlin | Beverly | Episode: "Everything's Coming Up Daisies" |
| M*A*S*H | Nurse Lacey | 2 episodes | |
| 1982–1983 | Happy Days | Barbara McManus / Roxanne | |
| 1983 | Three's Company | Agnes Platt | Episode: "Alias Jack Tripper" |
| 1984 | Legmen | Cathy | Episode: "A Woman's Work" |
| 1986 | Who's the Boss? | Shirley | Episode: "Losers and Other Strangers" |
| 227 | Dr. Peterson | Episode: "Mary Nightingale" | |
| 1988 | CBS Summer Playhouse | China Seasons | Episode: "Silent Whisper" |
| Sonny Spoon | Jolene | Episode: "Blind Justice" | |
| Thirtysomething | Adrienne | Episode: "In Re: The Marriage of Weston" | |
| 1989 | Moonlighting | Carla McCabe | Episode: "Those Lips, Those Lies" |
| 1989–1990 | Midnight Caller | Connie Zymak | 3 episodes |
| 1990 | WIOU | Ellen Zaret | Episode: "One Point, No Light" |
| 1991 | Tales from the Crypt | Jess Gilcrist | Episode: "Mournin' Mess" |
| 1992 | Civil Wars | Margot Wilkenson | Episode: "Tape Fear" |
| 1993 | Barbarians at the Gate | Carolyne Roehm-Kravis | Television film |
| 1996 | If These Walls Could Talk | Leslie | Television film; segment: "1996" |
| 1998 | Mad About You | Lindsay Krbnsk | Episode: "Separate Planes" |
| From the Earth to the Moon | Susan Borman | 3 episodes | |
| 1999 | Invisible Child | Annie Beeman | Television film |
| 1999–2001 | Frasier | Mia Preston / Hester Crane | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Anne Michaelson | Episode: "The Doll" |
| 2003 | My Big Fat Greek Life | Cousin Ariana | Episode: "Ariana" |
| The Wild Thornberrys | Kua (voice) | Episode: "Look Who's Squawking" | |
| 2011 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Bree Mazalon | Episode: "Delinquent" |
| 2011–2014 | The Good Wife | Viola Walsh | 6 episodes |
| 2012 | Body of Proof | Ruth Stone | Episode: "Sympathy for the Devil" |
| Who Do You Think You Are? | Herself | Episode: "Rita Wilson" | |
| 2013–2017 | Girls | Evie Michaels | 7 episodes |
| 2015 | Full Circle | Shelly Rezko | 5 episodes |
| 2016 | Pitch | Andrea Barton | Episode: "Wear It" |
| 2022 | 1883 | Carolyn | Episode: "Boring the Devil" |
| Date | Song | Television show |
|---|---|---|
| December 9, 2016 | "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)" | Live @ YouTube Space LA |
| March 15, 2016 | "Along For the Ride" | The Ellen DeGeneres Show |
| October 31, 2017 | "You're So Cold" | Later... with Jools Holland |
| October 1, 2018 | "Bigger Picture: Album Medley" | Billboard Live Performance |
| October 5, 2018 | "Bigger Picture" | The Today Show |
| December 12, 2018 | "Bigger Picture" | Pickler & Ben |
| December 12, 2018 | "Bigger Picture" | Jimmy Kimmel Live! |
| April 1, 2019 | "Throw Me a Party" | The Late Late Show with James Corden |
| April 5, 2019 | "Throw Me a Party" | The Today Show |
| May 15, 2019 | "Throw Me a Party" | Pickler & Ben |
| February 14, 2020 | "Throw Me a Party" | TedXNashvilleWomen |
| April 5, 2020 | "The Star-Spangled Banner" | NASCAR on Fox |
| April 7, 2020 | "Throw Me a Party" | The Kelly Clarkson Show |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | My Big Fat Greek Wedding | Producer | |
| 2003 | My Big Fat Greek Life | Executive producer | TV series |
| 2004 | Connie and Carla | ||
| 2008 | Mamma Mia! | ||
| 2009 | My Life in Ruins | ||
| 2016 | My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 | ||
| 2018 | Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again | ||
| A Simple Wedding | |||
| 2023 | A Man Called Otto | Producer | |
| My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 |
| Album title | Release date | Track listing |
|---|---|---|
| AM/FM | May 8, 2012 |
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| Rita Wilson | March 11, 2016 |
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| Bigger Picture | September 28, 2018 |
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| Halfway to Home | March 29, 2019 |
|
| Now & Forever: Duets | September 27, 2022 |
|
Wilson is credited as co-writer for all tracks onRita Wilson,Bigger Picture, andHalfway to Home.
Born Margarita Ibrahimoff in Los Angeles, California, Wilson is Greek through her mother, Dorothea Genkos, a Greek native of Sotirë, Albania, near the Greek border. Her father, born Hassan Halilov Ibrahimoff, was a Bulgarian Muslim born in Oraio, Greece, near the Bulgarian border.
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