Dinah Manoff

Dinah Manoff (born January 25, 1956) is an American stage, film, and television actress and television director. She is best known for her roles as Carol Weston on Empty Nest, Elaine Lefkowitz on Soap, Marty Maraschino in the film Grease, and Libby Tucker in both the stage and film adaptations of I Ought to Be in Pictures, for which she won a Tony Award.

Early life Manoff was born in New York City to Ashkenazi Jewish parents, the daughter of actress, director, and writer Lee Grant (born Lyova Rosenthal) and screenwriter Arnold Manoff (born Pismenoff). Her mother was of Polish and Ukrainian Jewish descent, and her father's parents emigrated from Vilnius. Her half-brother, Tom Manoff, is the classical music critic for NPR's All Things Considered and a notable composer. Her stepfather is producer Joseph Feury.

Career

1970s Manoff's first project was the animated independent film Everybody Rides the Carousel (1975), providing one of the voices. In 1976, she made her first television appearance on the PBS production of The Stronger. This was followed by a guest appearance on Welcome Back, Kotter in the episode "Sadie Hawkins Day", followed by an appearance in Visions. In 1977, she made a cameo appearance in her first TV movie, Raid on Entebbe In 1978 she appeared in the TV series Family playing the part of Mara.

In 1978, Manoff got the role of Elaine Dallas (née Lefkowitz) on the ABC sitcom Soap, and remained on the show until the end of the year. Manoff made her film debut in 1978 as Marty Maraschino, one of the Pink Ladies, in the movie version of Grease.

1980s In 1980, Manoff made her Broadway debut as Libby Tucker in Neil Simon's play, I Ought to Be in Pictures. For her work in the play, she won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play, as well as the Theatre World Award. She reprised the role for the film version in 1982, with Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret. They have three sons together: Dashiell Mortell, and twins Desi and Oliver Mortell. Dashiell was killed in an automobile accident on January 7, 2017, age 19.

Selected filmography + Films Year Title Role Notes 1975 Everybody Rides the Carousel Stage 7 (voice) Voice 1976 The Stronger 1977 Raid on Entebbe Rachel Sager 1978 Grease Marty Maraschino 1980 Ordinary People Karen Aldrich 1982 I Ought to Be in Pictures Libby Tucker 1988 Backfire Jill Tyson 1988 Child's Play Maggie Peterson 1989 Bloodhounds of Broadway Maude Miligan 1989 Staying Together Lois Cook 1990 Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael Evelyn Whittacher 2000 The Amati Girls Denise 2001 Zigs Marge Alternative title: Double Down 2004 Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde Herself Documentary 2008 Bart Got a Room Mrs. Goodson 2017 Cult of Chucky Maggie Peterson Archive footage

+ Television Year Title Role Notes 1976 Welcome Back, Kotter Charmaine Episode: "Sadie Hawkins Day" 1976 Visions Gisella Farkas Episode: "The Great Cherub Knitwear Strike" 1976 Raid on Entebbe Rachel Sager Television movie 1977 Night Terror Attendant's Girlfriend Television movie 1977 The Possessed Celia Television movie 1978 Family Mara Episode: "Sleeping Gypsy" 1978 Soap Elaine Lefkowitz 16 episodes 1979 $weepstake$ Maggie Episode: "Dewey and Harold and Sarah and Maggie" 1979 Lou Grant Joanie Hume Episode: Bomb" 1979 Mork & Mindy Kathy Episode: "Mork's Baby Blues" 1981 For Ladies Only Mary Louise Television movie 1982 Table Settings Television movie 1984 A Matter of Sex Glennis Television movie 1984 The Seduction of Gina Mary Television movie 1984 Celebrity Missy Craymore Miniseries 1984 Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac Priscilla Tirado Television movie 1984 Night Court Sister Sara Episode: "The Nun" 1984 Hot Pursuit Gillian Episode: "Gillian" 1984 Cagney & Lacey Jane Tanton Episode: "Fathers & Daughters" 1986 Classified Love Theresa Leonetti Television movie 1987 Murder, She Wrote Jenny Coopersmith Episode: "Murder in a Minor Key" 1987 CBS Summer Playhouse Franny Episode: "Sirens" 1987 Brothers Episode: "Las Vegas Serenade (Part 1)" 1988-1995 Empty Nest Carol Weston 170 episodes 1989 The Cover Girl and the Cop Denise Danielovitch Television movie 1990 Babies Laura Television movie 1991-1992 The Golden Girls Carol Weston 2 episodes 1992 Maid for Each Other Tibby Bloom Television movie 1992 Nurses Carol Weston 2 episodes 1993 The John Larroquette Show Kelly Episode: "Newcomer" 1995 Touched by an Angel Callie Martin Episode: "Interview with an Angel" 1995 Sister, Sister Director, Episode: "Weird Science" 1996 Cybill Amy Fitzpatrick 2 episodes 1996 Minor Adjustments Director, Episode: "My Fair Darby" 1998 George and Leo Mary Episode: "The Other Bookstore" 1999 Brother's Keeper Director, 3 episodes 1999 Movie Stars Director, 2 episodes 1999 Sabrina the Teenage Witch Director, Episode: "Prelude to a Kiss" 2000 The Lost Child Helen Television movie 2002 State of Grace Evelyn Rayburn 38 episodes 2003 A Carol Christmas Aunt Marla Television movie