Acting

Rita Karin

Born October 24, 1919 · Wilno, Wilenskie, Poland [now Vilnius, Lithuania]

Died September 10, 1993 · aged 73

She was a Polish-born American actress best known for her role as Jackie Mason's mother on the 1989 TV series Chicken Soup. Also appeared at the beginning of Sophie's Choice as Yetta, Sophie's (Meryl Streep) landlady. Her voice can be heard singing children's songs from the camps in the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.

Known For

Sophie's Choice

Sophie's Choice · 1982

Sophie's Choice

MovieDramaRomance

Stingo, a young writer, moves to Brooklyn in 1947 to begin work on his first novel. As he becomes friendly with Sophie and her lover Nathan, he learns that she is a Holocaust survivor. Flashbacks reveal her harrowing story, from pre-war prosperity to Auschwitz. In the present, Sophie and Nathan's relationship increasingly unravels as Stingo grows closer to Sophie and Nathan's fragile mental state becomes ever more apparent.

Enemies, a Love Story

Enemies, a Love Story · 1989

Enemies, a Love Story

MovieComedyDrama

A ghostwriter finds himself romantically involved with his current wife, a married woman and his long-vanished wife.

He Said, She Said

He Said, She Said · 1991

He Said, She Said

MovieComedyDrama

Womanising, right-wing Dan Hanson and quiet, liberal Lorie Bryer work for the Baltimore Sun. Rivals for the job of new writer of a vacant column, the paper ends up instead printing their very different opinions alongside each other, which leads to a similarly combative local TV show. At the same time their initial indifference to each other looks like it may evolve into something more romantic.

Up the Sandbox

Up the Sandbox · 1972

MovieComedyDrama

Bored with day-to-day life in New York City and neglected by her husband, a young wife and mother slips into increasingly outrageous fantasies: her mother breaking into the apartment, an explorer's demonstration of tribal fertility music at a party causing strange transformations, and joining terrorists to plant explosives in the Statue of Liberty.

The Big Fix

The Big Fix · 1978

MovieComedyThriller

Private detective Moses Wine is hired by his former college girlfriend to investigate a political smear campaign and he sets out to find out who is responsible, with deadly results.

The Pickle

The Pickle · 1993

MovieComedyDrama

Harry Stone always dreamed of making "The Great American Movie." Instead, he made "The Pickle" - a teenage sci-fi flick about a flying cucumber. Harry just wanted to get out of debt; now everyone he's ever known, loved and neglected is standing in line for tickets.

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight · 1971

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight

MovieComedyCrime

A Brooklyn mobster and his gang try to rub out their rivals.

Matilda

Matilda · 1978

MovieComedyCrime

A small-time talent agent discovers an amazing boxing kangaroo and figures to use it as his stepping-stone into the big time.

Filmography

Sort

Sophie's Choice

Sophie's Choice · 1982

Sophie's Choice

MovieDramaRomance

Stingo, a young writer, moves to Brooklyn in 1947 to begin work on his first novel. As he becomes friendly with Sophie and her lover Nathan, he learns that she is a Holocaust survivor. Flashbacks reveal her harrowing story, from pre-war prosperity to Auschwitz. In the present, Sophie and Nathan's relationship increasingly unravels as Stingo grows closer to Sophie and Nathan's fragile mental state becomes ever more apparent.

Yetta

Enemies, a Love Story

Enemies, a Love Story · 1989

Enemies, a Love Story

MovieComedyDrama

A ghostwriter finds himself romantically involved with his current wife, a married woman and his long-vanished wife.

Mrs. Schreier

He Said, She Said

He Said, She Said · 1991

He Said, She Said

MovieComedyDrama

Womanising, right-wing Dan Hanson and quiet, liberal Lorie Bryer work for the Baltimore Sun. Rivals for the job of new writer of a vacant column, the paper ends up instead printing their very different opinions alongside each other, which leads to a similarly combative local TV show. At the same time their initial indifference to each other looks like it may evolve into something more romantic.

Mrs. Spepk

Up the Sandbox

Up the Sandbox · 1972

MovieComedyDrama

Bored with day-to-day life in New York City and neglected by her husband, a young wife and mother slips into increasingly outrageous fantasies: her mother breaking into the apartment, an explorer's demonstration of tribal fertility music at a party causing strange transformations, and joining terrorists to plant explosives in the Statue of Liberty.

Mrs. Grossbard (uncredited)

The Big Fix

The Big Fix · 1978

MovieComedyThriller

Private detective Moses Wine is hired by his former college girlfriend to investigate a political smear campaign and he sets out to find out who is responsible, with deadly results.

Aunt Sonya

The Pickle

The Pickle · 1993

MovieComedyDrama

Harry Stone always dreamed of making "The Great American Movie." Instead, he made "The Pickle" - a teenage sci-fi flick about a flying cucumber. Harry just wanted to get out of debt; now everyone he's ever known, loved and neglected is standing in line for tickets.

Grandmother

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight · 1971

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight

MovieComedyCrime

A Brooklyn mobster and his gang try to rub out their rivals.

Mrs. Goldfarb

Matilda

Matilda · 1978

MovieComedyCrime

A small-time talent agent discovers an amazing boxing kangaroo and figures to use it as his stepping-stone into the big time.

Spectator

Kojak: The Belarus File

Kojak: The Belarus File · 1985

Kojak: The Belarus File

MovieCrimeMystery

Lt. Theo Kojak uncovers a Nazi conspiracy.

Starstruck

Starstruck · 1981

MovieDramaMusic

Aspiring teen folk singer is torn whether to continue her singing or to accept an educational scholarship.

Mrs. Reuben

Age Isn't Everything

Age Isn't Everything · 1991

Age Isn't Everything

MovieComedyDrama

Young man gives up his dream of becoming an astronaut to go into business — and finds himself turned into a little old man.

Flo

ABC Afterschool Special

ABC Afterschool Special · 1972

ABC Afterschool Special

Dramatically presented situations, often controversial, of interest to children and teenagers. Several episodes were either in animated form or presented as documentaries. Topics included illiteracy, substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.

Mrs. Reuben

Kate & Allie

Kate & Allie · 1984

SeriesComedyDrama

Kate & Allie is an American television situation comedy which ran from March 19, 1984, to May 22, 1989. Kate & Allie first aired on CBS as a midseason replacement series and only six episodes were initially commissioned, but the favorable response from critics and viewers alike easily convinced CBS to commit to a full season in the fall of 1984. The series was created by Sherry Coben.

Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup · 1989

Bea Fisher