Quick Facts
Biography
Raffaella Julia Theresa Abruzzo , (born July 3, 1926) known professionally as Rae Allen, is an American actress and director of stage, film and television, and singer.
Early life
Allen was born in Brooklyn, New York to Julia (née Riccio) and Joseph Abruzzo., she trained at the HB Studio in Greenwich. She won the Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Play for And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little.
Stage
Allen won the Tony Award, for Best Featured Actress in a Play for And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, she had two prior Tony nominations, including one for Best Featured Actress in Damn Yankees in 1955 and for the same category in Traveller Without Luggage in 1967. She appeared in the original Broadway production of Damn Yankees as the nosy reporter Gloria and recreated the role in the film adaptation, in both of which she introduced the song, "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo."
Film and television
She appeared in such films as Reign Over Me, A League Of Their Own, Stargate, among others. On television she appeared on two consecutive episodes of Seinfeld as unemployment counselor Lenore Sokol, who must deal with George Costanza, who tries to get her to approve an extension of his benefits by dating her homely daughter, who ends up rejecting him. She also made appearances on television shows such as The Patty Duke Show, Hill Street Blues, All in the Family, Head of the Class, Remington Steele, The Sopranos and Grey's Anatomy, among others.
Personal life
She was married to John M. Allen and divorced and remarried to politician Herbert Harris, Allen has no children.
Stage
- Dude
- Damn Yankees
- Oliver!
- The Pajama Game
- Fiddler on the Roof
- On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
- And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little (for which she won the 1971 Tony Award for Supporting Actress)
Television
- All in the Family
- Head of the Class
- Hill Street Blues
- Remington Steele
- Lou Grant
- Soap
- The Sopranos
- Joan of Arcadia
- NYPD Blue
- Grey's Anatomy