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Maria Ricossa

Maria Ricossa

Actor · Born July 18, 1950 (76) · Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Maria Ricossa's professional life began in Chicago with The Second City. She then moved to Toronto where she joined The Stratford Festival Company. In Film & TV, Maria is known for her roles in The Inlaws, Bojangles and The Space Between and recurring roles in The Strain, Designated Survivor, Da Kink in my Hair & Missing.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 18, 1950 (76)
From
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Works as
Actor
Titles
51 on Motif · 70 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 65 days to Oct 28Down 20% in 30 days

What are Maria Ricossa's films like?

Across their 22 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Motif score: 50th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Motif score: 44th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Romance4 titlesTypical Motif score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Romance movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
41%
Self
25%
Morality
14%
Society
8%
Survival
8%
Ideas
3%
Power
2%
Romantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 15 · Serious 5 · Dark 2

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 16 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 11 · Intense 1

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

Steady 17 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 15 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 11 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 3

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

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 2 of 6 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
2 of 6
Ally
2 of 6
Mentor
1 of 6
Herald
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
14
Romantic
9
Hopeful
9
Joyful
7
Tense
5
Other
18

How their films linger

Feel-good16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous1

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 Maria Ricossa's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 39 of their 51 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Maria Ricossa's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

70 credits, 51 with a Motif page.

  • Sheriff Country(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bernice 'Bernie' Wambach

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Christmas Casanova(2023)

    as Patty Schultz

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Painkiller(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Else Sackler

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • A Royal Recipe for Love(2023)

    as Queen Evelyn Batcher

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Luckless in Love(2023)

    as Evette

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Love and the Radio Star(2022)

    as Amy

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Cabin Connection(2022)

    as Kim

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Clarice(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Lila Gumb

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Cupids on Beacon Street(2021)

    as Ruth

    Motif score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Heart of the Holidays(2020)

    as Tammy Wallace

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Astronaut(2019)

    as Journalist

    Motif score: 55th percentile of all films

  • A Shoe Addict's Christmas(2018)

    as Helen

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Bathroom Rules (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    as Ms. Warren

  • Save Me (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Fiorella

  • Private Eyes(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Eleanor Brown

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Christmas Incorporated(2015)

    as Interviewer 2

    Motif score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Blood and Water (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Professor Colleen Bradley

  • Good Witch(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Ida Elliott

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Strain(2014)

    Show 3 episodes · as Margaret Pierson

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Good Sister(2014)

    as Psychiatrist

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Catch a Christmas Star(2013)

    as Shelley

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • King & Maxwell(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Hilary Cunningham

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Fairfield Road(2010)

    as Mayor Grant

    Motif score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Warehouse 13(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Warden Corinne Huggins

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Taking a Chance on Love(2009)

    as Nora

    Motif score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Flashpoint(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The Note(2007)

    as Nora Chilsen

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • What If God Were the Sun?(2007)

    as Alma

    Motif score: 59th percentile of all films

  • American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile(2006)

    as Mrs. Stifler

    Motif score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Absolution (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    as Maria Toratelli

  • The Jane Show (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gwen

  • Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise(2006)

    as Sandy Bishop

    Motif score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Drive Time Murders (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    as Dr. Emily Wilmont

  • Run Away Home(2004)

    as Mrs. Burns

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Finding John Christmas(2003)

    as Marcy Bernard

    Motif score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Sex & the Single Mom(2003)

    as Deena

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • 1-800-Missing(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Toni Mastriani

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • The In-Laws(2003)

    as Katherine Peyser

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Out of the Ashes(2003)

    as Esther Jacob

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Brady Bunch in the White House(2002)

    as Kelly Brooks

    Motif score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Miranda Hogan

    Motif score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Tagged: The Jonathan Wamback Story (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Judge Levine

  • Her Best Friend's Husband(2002)

    as Lorraine

    Motif score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Degrassi: The Next Generation(2001)

    Show 8 episodes · as Kate Kerwin

    Motif score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Harvard Man(2001)

    as Charlotte Jensen

    Motif score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Familiar Stranger(2001)

    as Linda Berg

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Doc(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Cooper

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Bojangles(2001)

    as Rae

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Gift of Love: The Daniel Huffman Story(1999)

    as Estelle Jenkins

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • A Map of the World(1999)

    as Realtor

    Motif score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Twice in a Lifetime (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Olympia

  • To Love, Honor & Betray(1999)

    as Maria Hermann

    Motif score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Brimstone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Curator

  • Earth: Final Conflict(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Morrison

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Riverdale (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Chrisa Stavros

  • Hostile Advances: The Kerry Ellison Story(1996)

    as Liz

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Goosebumps: The Werewolf of Fever Swamp (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Mrs. Tucker

  • Goosebumps(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mrs. Tucker

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Butterbox Babies (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Mrs. Kellerman

  • Due South (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · as Head Mover · as Vivian Richards

  • Searching for Bobby Fischer(1993)

    as Gym Parent

    Motif score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Gregory K(1993)

    as Marie Esteban

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • To Catch a Killer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Helen Gacy

  • Last Wish(1992)

    as Dr. Millicent Findlay

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dead Man Out (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Prison Doctor

  • Friday the 13th: The Series (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Lysa Redding

  • Twelfth Night (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    as Olivia

  • The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Torre

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Class(1983)

    as Table Friend

    Motif score: 38th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 69 titles from 1983 to 2025; peak year 2002.

Biggest box office

The In-Laws (2003)

$27M worldwide

Highest rated

Out of the Ashes (2003)

Motif 68th

Most popular right now

American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile (2006)

Film career

19832025

Peak 2002 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. 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
Acting69 of 69: 69 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score52nd

By decade

1980s6 · acting1990s16 · acting2000s25 · acting2010s13 · acting2020s9 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 14 roles
8308

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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, 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.

How do Maria Ricossa's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 36; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Motif score across 51 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th20
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 51 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed21

Most divisive · actor

The Brady Bunch in the White House (2002)

81st percentile spread · 64% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

Motif 92nd · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 32. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif 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.

Who does Maria Ricossa work with?

People who share at least 2 of Maria Ricossa's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Adam Gowland shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers