Judith Light Net Worth

Publish date: 2024-05-06

Judith Lightfoot Clarke net worth is
$5 Million

Judith Lightfoot Clarke Wiki Biography

Judith Ellen Light was born on the 9th February 1949, in Trenton, New Jersey USA. She is an actress and producer, probably best known over the years for her roles in the ABC soap opera “One Life to Live” (1977-1983), TV sitcom “Who’s the Boss?” (1984-1992), NBC crime drama “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (2002-2010), and ABC comedy-drama “Ugly Betty” (2006-2010). These hit series have certainly helped her increase her net worth. Light has been active in her career since 1968.

Have you ever wondered how rich Judith Light is, as of mid- 2016? According to authoritative sources, Light’s estimated net worth is $5 million. Although most of the money she has earned is thanks to TV shows, Light has also appeared in several movies. She adds more to her wealth with producing as well.

Judith Light Net Worth $5 Million

Judith Light was born to Sidney Light, an accountant, and Pearl Sue, a model, and is of the Jewish religion. After matriculating from St. Mary’s Hall-Doane Academy High School in 1966, Light attended Carnegie Mellon University and graduated with a drama degree. Soon after, she launched her career on the stage, and landed her first role in “Richard III” in 1970.

The famous Broadway was Judith Light’s next step, making her debut in “A Doll’s House” in 1975, anda year after, she starred in “Herzl”. Broadway wasn’t the only theater on her agenda; Light also had parts in Seattle Repertory Theatre and Milwaukee Repertory Theater. However, she went through a crisis in late 70’s after failing to land a role and even considered quitting acting for good.

Judith’s life changed when her agent called her to appear at the audition for the TV soap opera “One Life to Live” in 1977, starring Erika Slezak, Gerald Anthony, and Michael Storm. Light didn’t rated soap operas very highly, and she initially rejected the idea, but when heard that the daily salary was $350, she accepted the role of Karen Wolek. It was the breakthrough she had waited a long time for, as the show aired for six years, and Light’s role was quite lucrative, so she earned a significant amount of money.

After the series’ big success, Judith Light landed another leading role in the ABC sitcom “Who’s the Boss” in 1984. The show ran for eight years, and Light and co-star Tony Danza received a lot of positive critiques. During the filming of the series, Light also appeared in several television films including “Stamp of a Killer” (1987) with Jimmy Smits, “The Ryan White Story” (1989) alongside Lukas Haas, and “Wife, Mother, Murderer” (1991), directed by Mel Damski. These movies certainly increased her total net wealth.

The ’90’s weren’t as prolific as the 80’s, but Judith Light starred in a TV movie “Men Don’t Tell” (1993) with Peter Strauss, and “Too Close to Home” (1997), co-starring Ricky Schroder. She returned to the stage once again in 1999 when she starred in “Wit”, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Light then marked her television comeback, appearing in 25 episodes of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, which aired from 2002 to 2010. In 2006, Light secured a part in another popular TV series – “Ugly Betty” – created by Fernando Gaitan. The show was an absolute hit and further improved Light’s net worth.

Judith Light was rather busy in the 2000s, and appeared in numerous films including “Ira & Abby” (2006) with Chris Messina and Jennifer Westfeldt, starred in an independent film called “Save Me” in 2007, directed by Robert Cary. and also had a part in the 2014 movie “Last Weekend”, playing opposite Patricia Clarkson.
Most recently Judith has featured in the film “Digging For Fire” (2015), and she has also been in the regular cast of the TV series “Transparent” since 2014, which also added to her net worth.

Judith Light has received several awards, and the most notable are Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Actress for “One Life to Live” in 1980 and 1981, Prism Awards for Best Performance in a Comedy Series for “Ugly Betty” in 2007, Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress in a Play for “Other Desert Cities” in 2012, and another Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Play for “The Assembled Parties” in 2013.
In her personal life, Judith Light has been married to television actor Robert Desiderio since 1985. The pair doesn’t have any children and currently live in California. She is a gay rights and AIDS activist, and also speaks fluent French.


Full NameJudith Light
Net Worth$5 Million
Date Of BirthFebruary 9, 1949
Place Of BirthTrenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Height1.7 m
ProfessionActress, producer
EducationSt. Mary's Hall-Doane Academy High School, Carnegie Mellon University
NationalityAmerican
SpouseRobert Desiderio (m. 1985)
ParentsPearl Sue, Sidney Licht
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/officialjudithlight/
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/judithlight
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/judithlight/
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0509937
Allmusicwww.allmusic.com/artist/judith-light-mn0001515347
AwardsDrama Desk Awards, Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (2012, 2013), Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, GLAAD Media Vision Award (1998), Gotham Appreciation Award (2016), Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress (2001), Outer Critics Circle Award (20...
NominationsPrimetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress (2016), Critics' Choice Television Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards,Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance (2016), TV Land Awards
Movies"Rhymes with Banana" (2012), "Save Me" (2007), "Last Weekend" (2014), "Digging for Fire" (2015)
TV Shows“One Life to Live” (1977-1983), “Who’s the Boss?” (1984-1992), “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (2002-2010), “Ugly Betty” (2006-2010)
#Trademark
1Her deep-set eyes
#Quote
1Acting is no mere translation or abstraction from life, it is life itself. - her senior yearbook quote
#Fact
1She is of Austrian Jewish descent.
2Is an only child. Ironically, Danny Pintauro, who played her son on Who's the Boss? (1984), is an only child, as well.
3Is only three years older than Mitch Pileggi but plays his mother on Dallas (2012).
4For three straight years she has been nominated for Broadway's Tony award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play, and has won twice for "Other Desert Cities" (2012) and "The Assembled Parties" (2013).
5Nominated for 2013 Tony Award as Best Featured Actress for her role in Richard Greenberg's drama, "The Assembled Parties", on stage at the Samuel E. Friedman Theatre/Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City.
6She played "Jeanne White" in the the made-for-TV movie The Ryan White Story (1989). She also spoke at the 20th anniversary of Ryan's death at Clowes Hall.
7Born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, her parents nurtured her interest in acting throughout her childhood and supported her decision to study in a summer program at Carnegie-Mellon University between her junior and senior years of high school. This experience prompted her to enroll in that institution where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
8Friend of Jill Eikenberry and Tony Danza.
9She is the only child of Sue and Sidney Light.
10As a strong supporter of gay rights, she and husband Robert Desiderio honored with the Matthew Shepard Foundation's 1st Annual "Making a Difference" Award for their Longstanding Commitment to Erase Hate.
11She stated the reason she never had children wasn't because she didn't want them, it was because if she wanted to have children she wanted to be a full-time mother and with an acting career she wouldn't have been able to do that.
12Met her husband Robert Desiderio when they were both on the soap opera One Life to Live (1968).
13Shaved her head completely to star as Vivian Bearing (a literary academic dying of ovarian cancer) in the off-Broadway show, "Wit", in 1999.
14For her outstanding performance in the off-Broadway tour of "Wit", Judith received the Helen Hayes Award in Washington, DC, as well as the Elliot Norton Award in Boston.
15While on One Life to Live (1968) Judith won two Emmys, two Soapy Awards and a Soap Opera Hall of Fame Award.
16One of her performances on One Life to Live (1968) - "Karen Wolek on the Stand" - was so powerful and is remembered so vividly that, to this day, it is used as a model in acting classes throughout the nation. Additionally, it was recently honored as being one of TV Guide's "100 Most Memorable Moments on Television."
17Attended St. Mary's Hall in Burlington, New Jersey.
18Attended Carnegie Mellon University, graduated 1971.

All pictures

Actress

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Exes2012-2015TV SeriesMarjorie
Digging for Fire2015Grandma
The Winklers2014TV MovieTita Winkler
Dallas2013-2014TV SeriesJudith Ryland
Last Weekend2014Veronika Goss
Raising Hope2014TV SeriesLouise
We'll Never Have Paris2014Jean
Ten X Ten2014TV Mini-SeriesWoman 60s
Scrooge & Marley2012Narrator
Rhymes with Banana2012Judith Light
Other People's Kids2011TV MovieLaura
Nurse Jackie2011TV SeriesMaureen Cooper
Eden2011TV SeriesOlivia Sparks
Submissions Only2010TV SeriesSharon Duvall
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit2002-2010TV SeriesJudge Elizabeth Donnelly Bureau Chief Elizabeth Donnelly
Ugly Betty2006-2010TV SeriesClaire Meade
Twenty Good Years2006-2008TV SeriesGina
Save Me2007/IGayle
A Broken Sole2006Hilary
Ira & Abby2006Arlene Black
The Stones2004TV SeriesBarbara Stone
Spin City2002TV SeriesChristine
Born in Brooklyn2001TV Movie
Joseph: King of Dreams2000VideoZuleika (voice)
American Experience2000TV Series documentaryNarrator
Carriers1998TV MovieMaj. Carmen Travis
The Simple Life1998TV SeriesSara Campbell
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man1996-1997TV SeriesUrsula Bacon 'Honey' Chicken
Cow and Chicken1997TV SeriesNurse
Too Close to Home1997TV MovieDiana Donahue
A Step Toward Tomorrow1996Anna Lerner
Murder at My Door1996TV MovieIrene McNair
A Husband, a Wife and a Lover1996TV MovieLisa McKeever
Lady Killer1995TV MovieJanice Mitchell
Against Their Will: Women in Prison1994TV MovieAlice Needham
Phenom1993-1994TV SeriesDianne Doolan
Betrayal of Trust1994TV MovieBarbara Noël
Men Don't Tell1993TV MovieLaura MacAffrey
Who's the Boss?1984-1992TV SeriesAngela Bower
Wife, Mother, Murderer1991TV MovieMarie Hilley / Robbi / Teri
In Defense of a Married Man1990TV MovieLaura Simmons
My Boyfriend's Back1989TV MovieVickie Vine
The Ryan White Story1989TV MovieJeanne White
Stamp of a Killer1987TV MovieCathy Proctor
Charmed Lives1986TV SeriesAngela Bower
You Are the Jury1984TV SeriesElizabeth Harding
Remington Steele1984TV SeriesClarissa Custer
The Mississippi1984TV Series
Family Ties1983TV SeriesStacey Hughes
St. Elsewhere1983TV SeriesBarbara Lonnicker
Intimate Agony1983TV MovieMarsha
One Life to Live1977-1983TV SeriesKaren Wolek
Kojak1977TV SeriesLaetitia Pomerantz
Transparent2014-2016TV SeriesShelly Pfefferman

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Save Me2007/Iproducer
A Husband, a Wife and a Lover1996TV Movie co-executive producer

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Transparent2016TV Series performer - 1 episode
My Boyfriend's Back1989TV Movie performer: "My Way"

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Better Than Crazy2015thanks
Liberal Arts2012the producers wish to thank
I Have It2009Short special thanks
For the Bible Tells Me So2007Documentary special thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
A Matter of Opinion2016TV Series documentaryHerself
Rachael Ray2016TV SeriesHerself
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2016TV SeriesHerself - Guest
The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards2016TV SpecialHerself
You'll Have the Sky: The Life and Work of Anne Morrow Lindbergh2016TV Short documentaryNarrator (voice)
Entertainment Tonight2007-2016TV SeriesHerself / Herself - Transparent
Live from the Red Carpet: The 2016 Tony Awards2016TV MovieHerself
21st Annual Critics' Choice Awards2016TV MovieHerself
73rd Golden Globe Awards2016TV SpecialHerself - Nominee
Late Night with Seth Meyers2015TV SeriesHerself
Today2015TV SeriesHerself - Guest / Herself
Extra2015TV SeriesHerself
Live from the Red Carpet: The 2015 Tony Awards2015TV MovieHerself
The 69th Annual Tony Awards2015TV MovieHerself - Presenter: Best Leading Actor in a Play
The 5th Annual Critics' Choice Television Awards2015TV SpecialHerself
The Insider2015TV SeriesHerself
The Nicole Barrett Show2014TV SeriesHerself
The 68th Annual Tony Awards2014TV SpecialHerself - Presenter: Best Revival of a Play
The Broadway.com Show2013TV SeriesHerself
Live with Kelly and Michael2010-2013TV SeriesHerself - Guest / Herself
The 67th Annual Tony Awards2013TV Movie documentaryHerself - Winner: Best Featured Actress in a Play
Anderson Live2013TV SeriesHerself
The 66th Annual Tony Awards2012TV Movie documentaryHerself - Nominee: Best Featured Actress in a Play
Working in the Theatre2011-2012TV Series documentaryHerself / Herself - Actress
The 78th Annual Drama League Awards2012TV SpecialHerself - Presenter
Big Morning Buzz Live2012TV SeriesHerself
The 2011 Annual American Theatre Wing Gala2011TV MovieHerself
Heart of Broadway: The Ensemble Behind Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS2011TV Movie documentaryHerself
The 65th Annual Tony Awards2011TV SpecialHerself - Nominee: Best Featured Actress in a Play
The 77th Annual Drama League Awards2011TV SpecialHerself
The Wendy Williams Show2009-2011TV SeriesHerself
Good Morning America1991-2010TV SeriesHerself
E! True Hollywood Story2005-2008TV Series documentaryHerself
11th Annual Ribbon of Hope Celebration2008TV MovieHerself
Speechless2008TV Movie documentaryHerself
Whatever Happened To?2007TV SeriesHerself
11th Annual Prism Awards2007TV SpecialHerself - Winner
Becoming Ugly: A New Face for Television2007Video shortHerself
Xposé2007TV SeriesHerself
18th Annual GLAAD Media Awards2007TV SpecialHerself
10th Annual Ribbon of Hope Celebration2007TV MovieHerself
Family Guy2006TV SeriesHerself
The Tony Danza Show2004-2005TV SeriesHerself / Angela Bower
The Evolution Will Be Televised2005TV Movie documentaryHerself
TV's Greatest Sidekicks2004TV SpecialHerself
SoapTalk2004TV SeriesHerself
The 30th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards2003TV SpecialHerself
Lifetime's Achievement Awards: Women Changing the World2003TV SpecialHerself
Intimate Portrait1999-2003TV Series documentaryHerself / Narrator / Herself - Narrator
In the Life2002TV Series documentaryHerself
TV Tales2002TV SeriesHerself
Revealed with Jules Asner2002TV SeriesHerself
The Rosie O'Donnell Show1996-2002TV SeriesHerself
Paul Monette: The Brink of Summer's End1996DocumentaryHerself
The Ultimate TV Trivia Challenge1995TV Movie documentaryHerself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1994-1995TV SeriesHerself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien1994TV SeriesHerself
John & Leeza from Hollywood1993TV SeriesHerself
CBS This Morning1993TV SeriesHerself
The 44th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1992TV SpecialHerself - Co-Presenter: Outstanding Directing in a Variety or Music Program
In a New Light: A Call to Action in the War Against AIDS1992TV Movie documentaryHerself
One on One with John Tesh1992TV SeriesHerself
The Chuck Woolery Show1991TV SeriesHerself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1986-1989TV SeriesHerself
The Wil Shriner Show1987TV SeriesHerself
The 37th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1985TV SpecialHerself
Hour Magazine1985TV SeriesHerself
The John Davidson Show1981TV SeriesHerself
The 8th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards1981TV SpecialHerself - Winner
The Merv Griffin Show1980TV SeriesHerself
The 7th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards1980TV SpecialHerself
Saturday Night Live1976TV SeriesHerself - Audience Member

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2007Prism AwardPrism AwardsPerformance in a Comedy SeriesUgly Betty (2006)
1998Vision AwardGLAAD Media Awards
1981Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama SeriesOne Life to Live (1968)
1980Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama SeriesOne Life to Live (1968)
1980SoapySoapy AwardsOutstanding ActressOne Life to Live (1968)
1979SoapySoapy AwardsOutstanding ActressOne Life to Live (1968)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2016Critics' Choice TV AwardCritics Choice Television AwardsBest Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesTransparent (2014)
2016Critics' Choice TV AwardCritics Choice Television AwardsBest Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesTransparent (2014)
2016Gold Derby TV AwardGold Derby AwardsComedy Supporting ActressTransparent (2014)
2016OFTA Television AwardOnline Film & Television AssociationBest Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesTransparent (2014)
2016ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesTransparent (2014)
2016Golden GlobeGolden Globes, USABest Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for TelevisionTransparent (2014)
2016Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesTransparent (2014)
2015Critics' Choice TV AwardCritics Choice Television AwardsBest Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesTransparent (2014)
2015OFTA Television AwardOnline Film & Television AssociationBest Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesTransparent (2014)
2008ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesUgly Betty (2006)
2008TV Land AwardTV Land AwardsMad Ad Man (or Woman) of the YearWho's the Boss? (1984)
2007Gold Derby TV AwardGold Derby AwardsComedy Guest ActressUgly Betty (2006)
2007Gold Derby TV AwardGold Derby AwardsEnsemble of the YearUgly Betty (2006)
2007TV Land AwardTV Land AwardsThe "She Works Hard for the Money" Award (Favorite Working Mom)Who's the Boss? (1984)
2007Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy SeriesUgly Betty (2006)

Known for movies


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