Joanne Baron (born February 3, 1953) is an American actress and Meisner technique acting coach.[1] She was raised in Providence, Rhode Island and attended Classical and Pawtucket High Schools.[2] She received early acceptance to the University of Connecticut, then pursued Broadway opportunities and sang in Reno Sweeny's with Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's mother. [citation needed]

Joanne Baron
Born (1953-02-03) February 3, 1953 (age 71)
OccupationActress
Years active1978–present
SpouseD.W. Brown (1985-present)

Actress, producer

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Baron's film acting credits include Valley Girl, National Lampoon's Joy of Sex, Real Genius, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, Drag Me to Hell, Spider-Man 2, The Prince & Me, Allie & Me, Universal Soldier, Someone to Watch Over Me. Television appearances include roles on the Emmy award winning television show Mad Men, Law & Order, The Shield, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and the ABC series Lovers and Other Strangers.[3] She acted as executive producer for the TV movie Profoundly Normal starring Kirstie Alley and as producer on the films Perfume, Brooklyn Babylon, and Allie & Me, for which she won Best Actress at the River Run Film Festival. [citation needed] Joanne also has extensive stage credits including There Once Was a Girl from Pawtucket staged in Los Angeles and which received two Dramalogue Awards in 1997.[4]

Meisner Technique master teacher

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Baron is known for her dedication to the work of Sanford Meisner and is a teacher of the Meisner technique, having owned a studio specializing in that technique since 1975.[5] She trained with Neighborhood Playhouse alum and master Meisner teacher, William Esper, who founded the MFA and BFA Professional Actor Training Programs at Rutgers University.[6] Her past students include Halle Berry, Robin Wright,[7] Mariska Hargitay, Patrick Dempsey, Leslie Mann,[8] and directors Martha Coolidge and Tom Shadyac.

Joanne Baron / D.W. Brown Acting Studio

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For nearly fifty years, Baron has been co-owner and artistic director of the Joanne Baron / DW Brown Studio in Santa Monica, California, (an offshoot of The William Esper Studio in New York) with her husband, actor, acting coach and director, D.W. Brown.[9] Former students include Luca Bercovici, Ekin Tunçay Turan, Leslie Mann,[10] Channon Roe, Haley Webb, and Robin Wright.[11]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1978 Eyes of Laura Mars Linda
1981 C.O.D. Rosalie
1983 Valley Girl Prom Host
1984 Joy of Sex Miss Post
1985 Real Genius Mrs. Taylor
1987 Someone to Watch Over Me Helen Greening
1987 Medium Rare Ruth
1992 Eye of the Storm Margaret
1992 Universal Soldier Brenda
1994 Pet Shop Marilyn Yeagher
1996 The Dentist Mrs. Saunders
1996 Scene of the Crime Marsha Levine AKA, Ladykiller
1997 The Big Fall Mrs. Brody Video
1997 Allie & Me Allie Dadadad
1997 St. Patrick's Day Priss
2001 Brooklyn Babylon Aunt Rose
2001 Perfume Janice Crawford
2001 Burning Down the House Brenda Goodman
2001 Strings Barbara
2001 Hard Luck Gretchen
2001 The Theory of the Leisure Class Barbara Beamer
2001 The Myersons Marilyn
2003 Intoxicating Dr. Eilene Preminger
2004 The Prince & Me Margueritte
2004 Spider-Man 2 Skeptical Scientist
2005 Horror High Ms. Prudence Video
2006 Kalamazoo? Mrs. Goldman
2006 Material Girls Gretchen
2006 School for Scoundrels Lois
2006 Coffee Date Mrs. Orsini
2006 Pittsburgh Joanne
2006 God's Waiting List Beryl
2007 Stand Up Suzanne
2007 Blur Penelope
2007 The Ungodly Megan
2007 Steam Diane
2008 Damage Done Mrs. Park
2008 The Flyboys Ms. Poulson
2008 Chinaman's Chance: America's Other Slaves Elizabeth
2008 Black Crescent Moon Bitsy
2008 iMurders Christine Jensen
2009 An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong Mrs. Ziminsky Video
2009 Everybody Dies DEB
2009 Heidi 4 Paws Detie (voice)
2010 Frankie & Alice Susan Shaw
2010 Bare Knuckles Dorothy
2011 On the Inside Mrs. Standings
2011 Life at the Resort Nadya
2011 Stan Shelly Frankle
2012 This is 40 Vice Principal Laviati
2012 The Trouble with Cali Zelda Hirschorn
2012 3 Days of Normal Liz
2013 Decoding Annie Parker Florence
2013 Enemy Empire Oracle
2014 Murder of a Cat Phyllis
2014 Tribute Sheila Spicer Short
2015 I Remember You Katie
2015 The Sound of Magic Maggie
2016 Indignation Mrs. Greenberg
2016 Killer Assistant Janet McAlper
2016 Criticsized Hilary Stone
2017 Price for Freedom Haleh
2017 Man with Van Hargrove
2017 Deadly Exchange Ruth
2018 Frank & Ava Hedda
2018 Railroad to Hell: A Chinaman's Chance Elizabeth
2018 Kill Thy Neighbor Katherine
2019 The Creatress Mrs. Freeman
2020 Sno Babies Sister Margaret
2021 Tango Shalom Hanna Meyer
2021 Bart Bagalzby and the Garbage Genie Maggie
2022 Halloween Ends Joan Cunningham
2023 Critters, Carnivores and Creatures Marilyn Yeagher

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1983 Lovers and Other Strangers Brenda Episode: "Pilot"
1985 The Twilight Zone Mrs. Beacham Episode: "Night of the Meek"
1986–1988 Sledge Hammer! Mrs. Flambo, Wanda Hobbs Episodes: "Under the Gun", "Death of a Few Salesmen", "Model Dearest"
1988 A Year in the Life Margo Episode: "Common Ground"
1988 First Impressions Rhonda Episode: "Pilot"
1989 Prime Target Mrs. Weissman TV film
1989 Chicken Soup Mrs. Levine Episode: "Community Service"
1992 Crazy in Love Mona Tuckman TV film
1992 Civil Wars Mrs. Delvechio Episode: "Grin and Bare It"
1993, 1995 Sisters Edie, Stevye D'Lay Episodes: "A Kick in the Caboose", "Word of Honor"
1998 Martial Law Judith Jacobs Episode: "How Sammo Got His Groove Back"
1999 Veronica's Closet Brenda Episodes: "Veronica's Desk Job", "Veronica's Night at the Theater", "Veronica Says Goodbye"
2000 Diagnosis: Murder Rabbi Nussbaum Episode: "All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Die"
2001 The Ponder Heart Miss Teacake Magee TV film
2001 Going to California Barbara Episode: "Hurricane Al: A Tale of Key Largo"
2003 Street Time Beverly Episode: "Hostage"
2004 Strong Medicine Brenda Episode: "Ears, Ho's & Threat"
2004 ER Virgie Episode: "NICU"
2007 While the Children Sleep Mel Olson TV film
2008 The Shield Marianne Episode: "Family Meeting"
2010 Law & Order Danielle Payne Episode: "Blackmail"
2010 Medium Rare Ruth Episode: "1.1"
2010 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Hildy Glaser Episode: "Three-in-One"
2011 L.A. Noire Elinor Hopkin (voice) Video game
2011 Curb Your Enthusiasm Rabbi Stein Episode: "Palestinian Chicken"
2012 The Unknown Susan Episode: "Yesterday"
2013–14, 2017, 2019 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Diane Schwartz Episodes: "Military Justice", "Glasgowman's Wrath", "The Newsroom", "Brothel"
2014 Rake Anne Episode: "Cannibal"
2015 The Bar Mitzvah Club Mrs. Goldstein TV film
2016 Murder in the First Ruth Adler Episode: "Follow the Money"
2017 Grace and Frankie Cheryl Episode: "The Other Vibrator"
2017 Lady Dynamite Barb Persecki Episode: "Wet Raccoon"
2017 Romance at Reindeer Lodge Val TV film
2018 Bad Escorts Mrs. Worthington Episodes: "Training Day", "Revelations and Blindfolds", "Rendezvous"
2019 Total Eclipse Ms. Reardon Episodes: "Future Self", "Brownie Points", "One Turkey Sandwich", "Breakout", "Ditch Day", "Lights Out", "Millwood Casanova", "Sam's Jam", "Come with Me"
2019 Crashing Shoshanna Episode: "The Temple Gig"
2019 This Is Us Gina Episode: "Flip a Coin"
2022 Euphoria Judy Daley Episode: "Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys"
2022 Billions Lorna MacGowan Episode: "Lyin' Eyes"
2023 The Lincoln Lawyer Margo Schafer Episodes: "Discovery", "Suspicious Minds"
2023 The Morning Show Brenda Litchfield Episode: "The Overview Effect"

References

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  1. ^ Schiffman, J. (2010-7-15): Hey Teach, Backstage. Retrieved 2010-9-25.
  2. ^ Marshall, G. (2006-1):Jump Cut: The Rhode Island Connection, Film-Festival.org, Retrieved 2010-9-26.
  3. ^ Marshall, G. (2006-1):Jump Cut: The Rhode Island Connection, Film-Festival.org, Retrieved 2010-9-26.
  4. ^ Marshall, G. (2006-1):Jump Cut: The Rhode Island Connection, Film-Festival.org, Retrieved 2010-9-26.
  5. ^ Schiffman, J. (2010-7-15): Hey Teach, Backstage. Retrieved 2010-9-25.
  6. ^ "About William Esper". William Esper Studio. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  7. ^ Carpenter, C. (2009-11-25): The Wright Track, Backstage. Retrieved 2010-9-13.
  8. ^ Riley, J. (2009-7-16): Isle of Mann, Backstage. Retrieved 2010-9-25.
  9. ^ Marshall, G. (2006-1):Jump Cut: The Rhode Island Connection, Film-Festival.org, Retrieved 2010-9-26.
  10. ^ Riley, J. (2009-7-16): Isle of Mann, Backstage. Retrieved 2010-9-13.
  11. ^ Carpenter, C. (2009-11-25): The Wright Track, Backstage. Retrieved 2010-9-13.
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