Joanna Merlin

Joanna Merlin, born Joann Ratner on July 15, 1931, is a distinguished American actress and casting director whose career has made a significant impact on theatre and television. She is perhaps best known for her performance as Tzeitel in the original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof, a role she undertook after making her Broadway debut in Becket in 1961. A Chicago native, Merlin grew up in a Jewish family and began her theatrical journey at the age of 11 with a community theater production. She later graduated from UCLA and honed her craft under the tutelage of renowned acting coach Michael Chekhov, becoming one of his last surviving students.

In addition to acting, Merlin transitioned into casting, starting with Stephen Sondheim's Company, and she went on to cast notable productions such as Follies, Evita, and Sweeney Todd. Her film career includes a role in Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments and her memorable portrayal of Miss Olivia Berg in Fame.

Merlin gained popularity in television through her recurring role as Judge Lena Petrovsky on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit from 2000 to 2011, where she showcased her commanding presence as a strict judge. Beyond her performance work, she authored two guides on acting, including Auditioning: An Actor-Friendly Guide in 2001, and is actively involved in teaching at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where she also founded the Michael Chekhov Association in 1999.