Skip to content
MovieCove
Judith Light

Judith Light

Actor, also producer · Born February 9, 1949 (77) · Trenton, New Jersey, USA

Primetime Emmy winner · Golden Globe nominee · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Judith Light (born February 9, 1949) is an American actress. Her television roles include One Life to Live, Who's the Boss?, Ugly Betty and Law & Order Special Victims Unit.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 9, 1949 (77)
From
Trenton, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
53 on MovieCove · 73 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Down 14% in 30 days

What are Judith Light's films like?

Across their 32 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Thriller3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Thriller movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
28%
Self
26%
Morality
22%
Survival
10%
Society
8%
Ideas
3%
Power
2%
Family bonds14 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 21 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 8 · Charged 12 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 10 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 11 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 5 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 8

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 8 of 17 analyzed roles.

Hero
8 of 17
Shadow
3 of 17
Herald
2 of 17
Ally
2 of 17
Trickster
1 of 17
Mentor
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Melancholic
17
Warm
10
Hopeful
7
Contemplative
7
Other
30

How their films linger

Feel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet19
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Judith Light's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 42 of their 53 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Judith Light's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

73 credits, 53 with a MovieCove page; 14 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Punisher: One Last Kill(2026)

    as Ma

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Terror: Devil in Silver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 6 episodes · as Dorry

  • All's Fair(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sheila Baskin

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows

  • Before(2024)

    Show 10 episodes · as Lynn

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Kite Man: Hell Yeah!(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · as Helen Villigan (voice)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Out of My Mind(2024)

    as Mrs. V.

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Young Wife(2023)

    as Cookie

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Down Low(2023)

    as Sandy

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Poker Face(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Irene Smothers

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Menu(2022)

    as Anne

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Same Storm(2021)

    as Shirlee Salt

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Julia(2022)

    Show 9 episodes · as Blanche Knopf

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Shining Vale(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Joan

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • tick, tick... BOOM!(2021)

    as Rosa Stevens

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • American Horror Stories(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Virginia Mellon

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • The Politician(2019)

    Show 8 episodes · as Dede Standish

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Transparent: Musicale Finale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Shelly Pfefferman

  • Before You Know It(2019)

    as Sherrell Ghearhardt

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Ms. White Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Val

  • Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story(2019)

    as Matron Grady

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Hot Air(2018)

    as Judith

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Manhunt(2017)

    Show 7 episodes · as Bobi Jewell

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Good Fight(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Deirdre Quinn

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • You'll Have the Sky: The Life and Work of Anne Morrow Lindbergh(2016)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • American Crime Story(2016)

    Show 6 episodes · as Marilyn Miglin · as Susan Carpenter-McMillan

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Digging for Fire(2015)

    as Grandma

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Wright (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • We'll Never Have Paris(2014)

    as Jean

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Transparent(2014)

    Show 39 episodes · as Shelly Pfefferman

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Last Weekend(2014)

    as Veronika Goss

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Scrooge & Marley(2012)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Rhymes with Banana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Judith Light

  • The Exes(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Marjorie

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • 2 Everything 2 Terrible 2: Tokyo Drift(2010)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Nurse Jackie(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Maureen Cooper

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Save Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Gayle

  • Twenty Good Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Gina

  • Ugly Betty(2006)

    Show 71 episodes · as Claire Meade

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Ira & Abby(2006)

    as Arlene Black

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Stones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 10 episodes · as Barbara Stone

  • Joseph: King of Dreams(2000)

    as Zuleika (voice)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 26 episodes · as Elizabeth Donnelly

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Judith Light (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Carriers(1998)

    as Maj. Carmen Travis

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Simple Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 7 episodes · as Sara Campbell

  • Cow and Chicken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse (voice)

  • I Am Weasel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse (voice)

  • Too Close to Home(1997)

    as Diana Donahue

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • A Step Toward Tomorrow(1996)

    as Anna Lerner

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Murder at My Door(1996)

    as Irene McNair

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Spin City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Christine

  • A Husband, a Wife and a Lover(1996)

    Co-Executive Producer · as Lisa McKeever

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Lady Killer(1995)

    as Janice Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Against Their Will (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Alice Needham

  • Duckman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ursula Bacon 'Honey' Chicken (voice)

  • Betrayal of Trust(1994)

    as Barbara Noël

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Phenom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 22 episodes · as Dianne Doolan

  • Men Don't Tell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Laura MacAffrey

  • Wife, Mother, Murderer(1991)

    as Marie Hilley

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • In Defense of a Married Man(1990)

    as Laura Simmons

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • My Boyfriend's Back(1989)

    as Vickie Vine

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Ryan White Story(1989)

    as Jeanne White

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • American Experience(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Stamp of a Killer(1987)

    as Cathy Proctor

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Who's the Boss?(1984)

    Show 196 episodes · as Angela Bower

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Intimate Agony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Marsha

  • St. Elsewhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Lonnicker

  • Remington Steele(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Clarissa Custer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Family Ties(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Stacey Hughes

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Rush It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Laetitia Pomerantz

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • One Life to Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 3,742 episodes · as Karen Wolek

  • The Sham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 73 titles, 72 of them dated from 1968 to 2026; peak year 2022.

Biggest box office

Ira & Abby (2006)

$564K worldwide

Highest rated

tick, tick... BOOM! (2021)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Who's the Boss? (1984)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19682026

Peak 2022 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting73 of 73: 72 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thProducing1 of 73: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1960s1 · acting1970s2 · acting1980s9 · acting1990s19 · 19 acting · 1 crew2000s7 · acting2010s19 · acting2020s15 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 12 roles
0020

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Primetime Emmy from 9 major nominations, 2007–2023.

WinNomination
  1. 2023
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
  2. 2019
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Limited Series
  3. 2018
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
  4. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  5. 2016
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  6. 2008
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  7. 2007
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Judith Light's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 30; across their 25 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Reach · how many have seen their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Midcredits score across 53 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 53 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor

The Same Storm (2021)

96th percentile spread · 46% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

American Crime Story (2016)

Midcredits 95th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Judith Light's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles4–97 · median 29 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles20–62 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles14–90 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles15–57 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles25–73 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Judith Light work with?

People who share at least 2 of Judith Light's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jonathan Goldsmith shares the most, 3.

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers