Michelle Hurst

Michelle Denise Hurst (born June 1, 1942) is an American actress. She played Miss Claudette Pelage in the first season of the streaming television series Orange Is the New Black.

Life and career Born in Brooklyn on June 1, 1942, Hurst grew up in Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights and attended Midwood High School. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1974.

Hurst began her career in theatre, and in the 1990s began appearing in television and film. Hurst is known for her multiple roles in various Law & Order television shows. She co-starred in films like Airheads, Smoke, Stepmom and Sherrybaby.

Hurst starred as Miss Claudette Pelage in the first season of the Netflix comedy-drama series, Orange Is the New Black in 2013. This role earned Hurst, along with the main cast, a Satellite Award for Best Cast – Television Series. Hurst did not return to the show after the first season after she was seriously injured in a car accident in December 2013. Hurst was placed in a 16-day coma so doctors could perform surgeries close to her spine.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1989 Born on the Fourth of July Reporter #2 1993The Night We Never MetLeslie 1994 Airheads Yvonne 1995 Smoke Aunt Em 1995 Blue in the Face Statistician 1996 I Shot Andy Warhol Nedicks Manager 1997 Office Killer Kate 1998 Stepmom Nurse 2001 Just Visiting Pawnshop Broker 2003 In the Cut Teacher 2004 Poster Boy Professor Silver 2006 Sherrybaby Dorothy Washington 2008 Choke Shapely Nurse 2010 A Little Help Eileen 2010 All Good Things Newscaster 2011 I Don't Know How She Does It Nurse 2012 Frances Ha Theater Manager 2014 Hard Sell Nurse Parker 2017 Permission Dr. Bennett

Television Year Title Role Notes 1995 New York Undercover Ms. Ellis Episode: "Brotherhood" 1995 New York News ER Nurse Episode: "Welcome Back Cotter" 1996-2001 Law & Order Various 4 Episodes" 2000-2015 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Various 4 Episodes" 2000 Cosby Ms. Summers Episode: "Thursday's Child" 2000 Sex and the City Nurse Episode: "Running with Scissors" 2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Audrey Episode: "The Pilgrim" 2003 Life on the Line Dr. Morgan Television movie 2004 Rescue Me Case Worker Episode: "Revenge" 2004 Third Watch Judge Connie Allen Episode: "Leap of Faith" 2009 The Good Wife Judge Hester James Episode: "Home" 2010 Blue Bloods Councilwoman Collins Episode: "Re-Do" 2012 NYC 22 Deputy Chief Rosalind Adamczyk Episode: "Samaritans" 2013 Orange Is the New Black Miss Claudette Pelage Main Cast; 12 episodesSatellite Award for Best Cast – Television Series 2014 Broad City Mary Episode: "Destination Wedding" 2015 Last Tango in Halifax Ginika Episode #3.4 2020 Grand Army Lead Interviewer Episode: "Making Moves" 2020 Chicago Med Beverly MacNeal Episode: "When Did We Begin to Change?"