Rochelle Oliver Explained

Rochelle Oliver
Birth Date:15 April 1937
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Death Place:New York City, U.S.
Years Active:1959–2003 (acting)
Spouse:
    Children:1

    Rochelle Oliver (April 15, 1937 – April 13, 2024) was an American acting coach and actress.

    Early life and career

    Oliver studied acting with Uta Hagen.[1] Her stage appearances include The Brothers Karamazov, The Cave Dwellers, The Diary of Anne Frank and Toys in the Attic, the latter of which earned her a Clarence Derwent Award in 1960.[2]

    In 1958, she appeared on television in the "Saw My Baby There" episode of Naked City. In 1963, she played the part of Jean Lowell in the episode "The Noose" from The Defenders.[3] In 1970, she had a recurring role as Barbara Lamont in the series The Best of Everything.[4] [5] In 1976, she played the part of Dr. Marsha in Paul Mazursky's Next Stop, Greenwich Village.[6] From 1993 to 2003, she appeared as Judge Grace Larkin in Law & Order.[7]

    Oliver had been teaching acting since the 1970s. She was on the faculty of HB Studio in New York City until her death in 2024.[8]

    Personal life and death

    Oliver was Jewish.[9] In 1959, she married actor James Patterson, with whom she had a son. They remained together until his death in 1972.[10] [11] In 1997, Oliver married actor Fritz Weaver. They remained together until Weaver's death in 2016.[12]

    Oliver died in New York City on April 13, 2024, two days before her 87th birthday.[13]

    Filmography

    Film
    TitleYearRoleDirectorNotes
    The Happy Hooker1975NormaNicholas Sgarro
    Next Stop, Greenwich Village 1976Doctor Marsha Paul Mazursky
    Lianna1983BettyJohn Sayles
    In Defense of Kids1983Mrs. GiankanisGene Reynolds TV movie
    19181985Mrs. Mary VaughnKen Harrison
    On Valentine's Day1986Mrs. VaughnKen Harrison
    Courtship1987Mrs VaughnHoward Cummings
    The Appointments of Dennis Jennings1988Woman on TV Dean ParisotShort
    An Unremarkable Life1989Mary Alice Amin Q. Chaudhri
    Scent of a Woman1992Gretchen Martin Brest
    Hollywood Ending2002Script supervisorWoody Allen
    Television shows
    TitleEpisodeRoleDirectorYear / Air dateNotes
    Naked City"Four Sweet Corners"Cora Gary Stuart RosenbergApril 28, 1959
    Naked City"Saw My Baby There "Katie Harris Stuart RosenbergJune 9, 1959
    The United States Steel Hour"Little Lost Sheep"Ernest KinoyNovember 1, 1961
    The Defenders "The Noose"Jean Lowell Stuart Rosenberg April 27, 1963
    The Nurses"Credo"Sally Ellis Stuart Rosenberg January 9, 1964
    The Defenders"The Objector"Anne Wendel Leonard HornFebruary 11, 1965
    The Best of EverythingBarbara Lamont Episode #1.1 March 30, 1970Writer: James Lipton
    Producer: Jacqueline Babbin
    The Best of EverythingBarbara Lamont Episode #1.112Dennis KaneSeptember 7, 1970
    The Best of EverythingBarbara Lamont Episode #1.114 Alan PultzSeptember 9, 1970
    Ryan's HopeEpisode #1.838Jeri JeromeLela SwiftSeptember 25, 1978
    ABC Afterschool SpecialsMrs. York"Amy & the Angel"Ralph RosenblumSeptember 22, 1982
    Tribeca"The Hopeless Romantic"Blanche Barry PrimusApril 6, 1993
    Law & Order"Manhood"Judge Grace Larkin Ed SherinMay 12, 1993
    Law & Order"Big Bang"Judge Grace Larkin Dann FlorekMarch 2, 1994
    Law & Order"Competence"Judge Grace Larkin Fred GerberNovember 2, 1994
    All My ChildrenEpisode dated 20 June 1995Alice HartJune 20, 1995
    Law & Order"Paranoia"Judge Grace Larkin Fred GerberNovember 15, 1995
    Law & Order"Family Business "Judge Grace Larkin Lewis Gould November 20, 1996
    Law & Order"Faccia a Faccia"Judge Grace Larkin Martha MitchellFebruary 25, 1998
    Law & Order"Ill-Conceived"Judge Grace Larkin David PlattDecember 3, 2003

    Notes and References

    1. Book: Rosenfeld, Carol. Acting and Living in Discovery: A Workbook for the Actor. 2013. 9781585107032. 127.
    2. Film Reference - Rochelle Oliver Biography (1937-), Credits, Stage Appearances
    3. Larry Cohen: The Radical Allegories of an Independent Filmmaker, By Tony Williams - Page 340
    4. Short-Lived Television Series, 1948–1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops, by Wesley Hyatt - Page 195
    5. The soap opera encyclopedia, Christopher Schemering - Page 44
    6. [Turner Classic Movies]
    7. Who Was Who on TV, Volume 2, By Norman Chance - Law & Order: Mystery: 1990- Page 267
    8. https://hbstudio.org/instructors/oliver-rochelle/ HB Studio Faculty Page
    9. News: October 3, 2013. Jews in the News: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Julianne Margulies and Jake Gyllenhaal. Tampa Jewish Federation.
    10. News: McHarry. Charles. May 27, 1960. East Side Girl Jumps From Lower to Upper. Daily News.
    11. News: August 21, 1972. James Patterson of Stage, 40, Dies. The New York Times.
    12. News: Berkvist. Robert. November 27, 2016. Fritz Weaver, Tony-Winning Character Actor, Dies at 90. The New York Times.
    13. News: Barnes . Mike . Rochelle Oliver, ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ Star and Admired Acting Teacher, Dies at 86 . 7 May 2024 . The Hollywood Reporter . 7 May 2024.