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Robin Weigert
Robin Weigert
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Robin Weigert is an American television and film actress. She is best known for portraying Calamity Jane on the television series Deadwood (2004–2006), for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2004,[1] Ally Lowen in Sons of Anarchy (2010–2013), Dr. Amanda Reisman in Big Little Lies (2017–2019), and Abby in Concussion (2013). She had a small role in HBO's acclaimed miniseries Angels in America in 2003.

Key Information

Early life and education

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Weigert was born in Washington, D.C. She is the daughter of Dionne Laufman and Wolfgang Oscar Weigert, a psychiatrist.[2] After graduating from Brandeis University in 1991, Weigert attended New York University, earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in the Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts.[3] She is Jewish.[4]

Career

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Weigert's theatre work includes Broadway productions of Twelfth Night directed by Nicholas Hytner;[5] and Michael Frayn's Noises Off.[6] In the 2010 Signature Theater Company revival of Tony Kushner's Angels in America, directed by Michael Greif, her performance as the Angel was praised as "full of tenderness and wit" by USA Today.[7] Other theatre credits include Pride's Crossing, A Place at the Table, Hamlet, Arms and the Man, Goodnight Children Everywhere, The Seagull, Madame Melville (Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award nominations),[8] as well as Jon Robin Baitz's Other Desert Cities at the Mark Taper Forum in 2012, directed by Robert Egan.[9]

Weigert in 2019

After a decade as a stage actress based in New York City, Weigert moved to Los Angeles and has appeared in various films, television shows and mini-series. She is most recognizable from her Emmy-nominated portrayal of the iconic gunslinger Calamity Jane in the television series Deadwood, which ran on HBO from 2004 to 2006.[10] In 2004, Weigert was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the role. In 2006, she won Hollywood Life magazine's "Breakthrough of the Year" award.[11] In 2019 she reprised the role in Deadwood: The Movie, which was nominated for 8 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Television Movie.[citation needed]

Weigert played therapists in the box office hit Smile and opposite Nicole Kidman in the much-lauded HBO TV series Big Little Lies, attorneys in the popular cabler Sons of Anarchy and Jay Roach's biographical drama Bombshell, and strippers in Charlie Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York and Steven Soderbergh's black-and-white period drama The Good German. She was nominated for a Gotham Award for her portrayal of the central character, a housewife turned prostitute, in the award-winning indie Concussion, and was featured prominently in the Hulu miniseries We Were the Lucky Ones in which she plays the matriarch of a Polish Jewish family that survived the Holocaust. Series regular roles include Dietland for AMC with Julianna Margulies, NBC's Life with Damian Lewis, and CBS' Tracker with Justin Hartley.[12]

In April 2024, David Canfield featured Weigert in the Vanity Fair "Always Great" series with an article titled, "How Robin Weigert Brings Herself to Her Most Indelible Roles".[13]

Bibliography

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Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 Heart to Heart.com Whitney
2001 The Sleepy Time Gal Hospital Records
2005 Loggerheads Rachel
2006 The Good German Hannelore
2007 Things We Lost in the Fire Brenda
2008 Synecdoche, New York Adult Olive
2009 The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Aunt Trish
2009 My One and Only Hope
2011 The Undying Barbara Haughton
2012 The Sessions Susan
2013 Concussion Abby[14] Nominated—Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor
Nominated—Seattle International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
2013 Gods Behaving Badly Vicky the Tree
2014 Pawn Sacrifice Regina Fischer[15]
2015 Take Me to the River Cindy
2015 Mississippi Grind Dorothy
2016 Pushing Dead Paula
2017 Please Stand By Officer Doyle
2017 New Money Rose Tisdale
2018 Cold Brook Mary Ann
2019 Bombshell Nancy Erika Smith
2022 Smile Dr. Madeline Northcott
The Monstrosity
2023 Our Son Pam
2023 Tokyo Cowboy Peg

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 Twelfth Night, Or What You Will N/a Television film
1999 Law & Order Denise Luca Episode: "Gunshow"
2000 Mary and Rhoda Hostess Television film
2003 Angels in America Mormon Mother Episode: "Perestroika: Beyond Nelly"
2003 Law & Order Leanna Parks Episode: "Seer"
2004–05 Cold Case Anna Mayes 4 episodes
2004 Without a Trace Adina Paphos Episode: "Legacy"
2004 NYPD Blue Donna Traylor Episode: "Traylor Trash"
2004 Judging Amy Tina Stewart Episode: "Conditional Surrender"
2004–2006 Deadwood Calamity Jane 30 episodes
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
2005 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Dr. Diana Dino Episode: "Committed"
2006 The Unit Annette Terry Episode: "The Kill Zone"
2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Heather Stark Episode: "Recall"
2006 Numb3rs Elaine Tillman Episode: "Killer Chat"
2007 Lost Rachel Carlson 2 episodes
2007–2008 Life Lt. Karen Davis / Sgt. Karen Davis 11 episodes
2008 ER Nicole Episode: "The High Holiday"
2009 United States of Tara Jenny Episode: "Snow"
2009 Private Practice Amelia Sawyer 2 episodes
2010 The Mentalist Eliza Green Episode: "Red Herring"
2010 Miami Medical Nurse Carol Episode: "Pilot"
2010 Law & Order Catherine Douglas Episode: "The Taxman Cometh"
2010–2013 Sons of Anarchy Ally Lowen 15 episodes
2010 Hawthorne Sara Adams 4 episodes
2011 Law & Order: LA Hayden Tract Episode: "Sister of the Gunman"
2011 Grey's Anatomy Karen Lawrence Episode: "Free Falling"
2012 American Horror Story: Asylum Cynthia Potter Episode: "Tricks and Treats"
2013 Chicago Fire Erica Gradishar Episode: "Let Her Go"
2013 Full Circle Det. Karen Tanner Episode: "Celeste & Tim"
2014 Chicago P.D. Erica Gradishar 5 episodes
2014 Once Upon a Time Bo Peep[16] Episode: "White Out"
2015 The Following Judge Wallace Episode: "A Hostile Witness"
2015 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Counselor Lisa Hassler Episode: "Depravity Standard"
2015 Marvel's Jessica Jones Wendy Ross-Hogarth 7 episodes
2016 Damien Sister Greta Fraueva 6 episodes
2016 The Night Shift Mrs. Dawson Episode: "Between a Rick and a Hard Place"
2016 Transformers: Robots in Disguise Scatterspike (voice) 2 episodes
2016 American Horror Story: Roanoke Mama Polk
2017 Fearless Heather Myles 6 episodes
2017, 2019 Big Little Lies Dr. Amanda Reisman 9 episodes
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
2018 Dietland Verena Baptist 10 episodes
2018–2019 Berlin Station Jamie Hudson 3 episodes
2019 Deadwood: The Movie Calamity Jane Television film
2019 Castle Rock Chrysida Wilkes 3 episodes
2020 The Politician Andi Mueller Episode: "The Voters"
2021 American Horror Story: Double Feature Martha Edwards 2 episodes
2022 Julia Iris Wallace Episode: "Petit Fours"
2024 Tracker Teddi Bruin Main role (season 1)
2024 We Were the Lucky Ones Nechuma Kurc Main role
2025 Will Trent Rain Woods 2 episodes
2025 Gremlins Calamity Jane (voice) Episode: "Never Try the Cider"[17]
2025 Monster: The Ed Gein Story Enid Watkins 4 episodes
TBA The Altruists Barbara Fried Upcoming series

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Robin Weigert (born July 7, 1969) is an American actress renowned for her versatile performances across television, film, and theater, with a breakthrough role as the foul-mouthed frontierswoman Calamity Jane in the HBO series Deadwood (2004–2006 and 2019 film), earning her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Born in Washington, D.C., to psychiatrist Wolfgang Weigert and wife Dionne Laufman, she comes from a family of Jewish heritage. Weigert graduated from Brandeis University with a bachelor's degree in 1991 before earning a Master of Fine Arts in acting from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Weigert began her career on stage, originating the role of Poppy Norton-Taylor in the 2001 Broadway revival of Noises Off and earning Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award nominations for her performance in Madame Melville. Transitioning to screen work, she gained acclaim for Deadwood's raw depiction of historical figures, showcasing her range in portraying complex, resilient women. Her film roles include a Gotham Award-nominated turn as a housewife-turned-prostitute in the indie drama Concussion (2013), as well as parts in Synecdoche, New York (2008), The Good German (2006), and Bombshell (2019). On television, Weigert has played attorneys like Ally Lowen in (2008–2013) and defense attorney Lisa Hassler in , therapists in (2019, earning a SAG Ensemble nomination) and (2022), and series regulars in (2007–2009), Dietland (2018), and Tracker (2024–present). More recently, she portrayed a Polish Jewish matriarch in the Hulu miniseries We Were the Lucky Ones (2024), drawing on her heritage to highlight themes of survival during .

Early life and education

Family and upbringing

Robin Weigert was born on July 7, 1969, in , to parents of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage with German and Polish roots. Her father, Wolfgang Oscar Weigert, was a German-born and psychoanalyst who emigrated to the as a child, while her mother, Dionne Laufman, was a concert actively involved in . Weigert and her older brother, , grew up in a culturally enriched household in the area, marked by a casual approach to Jewish traditions, such as topping their family's with a . From an early age, Weigert's interest in was influenced by her mother's musical background and local cultural opportunities in the Washington region, including theater outings and family discussions on creativity. This exposure deepened during her time at , a Quaker preparatory institution in , where she began acting in school productions, notably appearing in . Her passion for the stage ignited further in her early teens after watching Meryl Streep's performance in , an experience she later described as transformative. Weigert graduated from Sidwell Friends School in 1987, having honed her dramatic skills through these formative theatrical involvements.

Academic background

Robin Weigert pursued her undergraduate education at Brandeis University, a private research institution in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991. Although Brandeis does not have a dedicated undergraduate drama major, the university's liberal arts curriculum provided Weigert with a broad foundation in the humanities, allowing her to explore her growing interest in performance arts through elective courses and extracurricular activities. Following her graduation from Brandeis, Weigert advanced her training at the Tisch School of the Arts, enrolling in the prestigious three-year Graduate Acting Program and obtaining a degree. The program equipped her with the technical skills essential for professional stage performance. Upon completing her MFA, Weigert relocated permanently to to launch her acting career, immersing herself in the city's vibrant theater scene through early and regional productions in the mid-1990s. This period marked her transition from academic study to professional practice, where she gained practical experience in ensemble-driven works that emphasized character depth and improvisation, laying the groundwork for her later Broadway appearances, such as her role in the 1998 revival of .

Career

Stage work

Robin Weigert established her stage career in the late 1990s and early 2000s through a series of ensemble roles in productions that showcased her ability to portray complex, layered characters in intimate settings. Notable early appearances included performances in Richard Nelson's Goodnight Children Everywhere at in 1999, where she played one of the siblings grappling with post-World War II family dynamics, and George Bernard Shaw's at the in 2000, contributing to the ensemble's comedic subversion of romantic ideals. Other ensemble works from this period, such as at MCC Theater in 2000 and Pride's Crossing at Lincoln Center's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater in 1997-1998, highlighted her versatility across dramatic and introspective narratives, drawing on her training to infuse roles with emotional depth. Weigert made her Broadway debut in Nicholas Hytner's 1998 production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater, where she served as an ensemble member and understudy for Viola, contributing to the revival's exploration of identity and disguise. Her more prominent Broadway role came in 2001 as Poppy Norton-Taylor, the beleaguered assistant stage manager, in the revival of Michael Frayn's farce Noises Off at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Critics praised her portrayal for its "wan, put-upon wariness," which added poignant humor to the chaotic backstage antics and demonstrated her adeptness at physical comedy within the play-within-a-play structure. This performance underscored her comedic timing and ability to balance vulnerability with farce, earning positive notices for enhancing the production's ensemble energy. Following her Broadway successes, Weigert continued stage work into the mid-2000s with notable appearances in productions like Anton Chekhov's , directed by in Central Park's in 2001, where she portrayed Masha alongside , bringing nuanced emotional restraint to the character's unrequited longing. She also performed in Richard Nelson's Madame Melville at the Promenade Theatre in 2001, earning Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award nominations for her featured role, which further highlighted her skill in intimate, character-driven ensemble pieces. Additionally, Weigert appeared in regional theater at venues such as in , and in , where she tackled diverse roles that allowed for experimental interpretations of classic and contemporary texts up until her increasing focus on television around 2004. Weigert's contributions to theater were profoundly shaped by her formal training, including a from New York University's Graduate Acting Program at Tisch School of the Arts, which emphasized rigorous and psychological depth—techniques evident in her ability to layer and physicality across roles in both comedic and dramatic works. This educational foundation informed her approach to live performance, prioritizing authentic emotional exploration over surface-level delivery, and positioned her as a reliable ensemble player whose subtle intensity elevated group dynamics in productions from intimacies to Broadway revivals. Her stage experience, culminating in the early 2000s, provided a strong foundation that later informed her transition to television roles requiring similar depth.

Television roles

Weigert first achieved widespread recognition for her breakthrough role as in HBO's Deadwood, which ran from 2004 to 2006. Portraying the real-life frontierswoman as a rugged, profanity-laced scout and loyal companion to , her character begins as a chaotic outsider struggling with and grief, gradually forming deep bonds—particularly a tender friendship with Joanie Stubbs—that foster personal growth and tentative belonging in the lawless town of Deadwood. The performance, marked by its raw vulnerability and humor, earned Weigert a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Series in 2005. She reprised the role in the 2019 HBO film Deadwood: The Movie, where a now-aged Jane returns to the incorporated town, confronting unresolved tensions and reflecting on her enduring ties to old friends amid themes of change and mortality. This appearance underscored the character's lasting impact on Weigert's career, solidifying her association with complex, anti-heroic women in prestige television. Transitioning to contemporary crime drama, Weigert took on the recurring role of Ally Lowen in FX's from 2010 to 2014, with prominent appearances in seasons 3 through 6. As the sharp-witted for the Redwood Original (SAMCRO), Lowen handles high-stakes legal battles while entangled in the volatile family dynamics of the Teller-Morrow clan, including advising on custody disputes and club-related scandals that test her . Her character's moral ambiguity—balancing loyalty to the outlaw group with personal risks—highlighted Weigert's skill in portraying pragmatic yet conflicted professionals. She had a series regular role as Lt. Karen Davis, head of LAPD homicide, in NBC's Life (2007–2009). Weigert made guest appearances in other acclaimed series, including a 2011 episode of HBO's as Vivian, a brief but pointed role in the Prohibition-era ensemble. In 2013, she guest-starred in as Cynthia Potter, a desperate mother confronting supernatural possession in her family, adding to the anthology's tradition of intense . From 2017 to 2019, Weigert appeared in HBO's Big Little Lies as Dr. Amanda Reisman, the trusted therapist to Celeste Wright amid the Monterey mothers' web of secrets and trauma. Her recurring presence provided pivotal sessions exploring abuse and grief, contributing to the series' emotional depth in its ensemble format. She had a series regular role as Chicory, a fashion magazine editor, in AMC's Dietland (2018). In recent years, Weigert has embraced diverse dramatic roles, including Ellen O'Connor in Netflix's Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022), a figure tied to the infamous case's aftermath. She portrayed Nechuma Kurc, the resilient matriarch of a Polish Jewish family scattered by World War II, in Hulu's 2024 limited series We Were the Lucky Ones, emphasizing themes of survival and reunion. In CBS's Tracker (2024), she played Teddi Bruin, a no-nonsense handler assisting tracker Colter Shaw in high-risk cases during season 1. Weigert appeared in the 2025 season of Netflix's Monster anthology, Monster: The Ed Gein Story (also known as The Original Monster), as Enid Watkins, a key figure in the exploration of serial killer Ed Gein's life and cultural influence. Throughout her television career, Weigert's persona has evolved from the gritty, unfiltered frontierswoman of Westerns like Deadwood to multifaceted supporting roles in ensemble-driven dramas and thrillers, demonstrating her range in conveying quiet intensity and emotional nuance.

Film roles

Robin Weigert began her film career with a small but notable appearance in the 2003 HBO miniseries , directed by , where she portrayed the Mormon Mother in this adaptation of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, often regarded as a TV-film hybrid due to its cinematic production style. She continued with supporting roles in major productions, including (2006), Steven Soderbergh's drama set in post-World War II Berlin, in which Weigert played Hannelore, a character navigating the moral ambiguities of the era. In Things We Lost in the Fire (2007), directed by , she appeared as Brenda, a friend offering support amid themes of grief and recovery following a widow's loss. Weigert also took on the role of Adult Olive in Charlie Kaufman's ambitious (2008), depicting the grown daughter of the protagonist in a surreal exploration of life, art, and identity. A pivotal lead role came in the independent drama (2013), written and directed by , where Weigert starred as Abby, a suburban housewife who, after suffering a , embarks on a journey of sexual exploration by working as a high-end escort, earning praise for her nuanced portrayal of midlife awakening and earning a Gotham Independent Film Award nomination for Breakthrough Actor. She also appeared as Nancy Smith, a involved in the scandal, in the satirical drama Bombshell (2019). In more recent years, Weigert reprised her iconic portrayal of in Deadwood: The Movie (2019), David Milch's continuation of the series, set a decade after the original events and focusing on the town's evolution. She played Dr. Madeline Northcott, a therapist central to the psychological horror narrative, in Parker Finn's (2022). Her latest film role is as Peg, the resilient ranch boss in the comedy-drama Tokyo Cowboy (2024), directed by Marc Marriott, which follows a Japanese executive's cultural immersion on a cattle ranch. Throughout her filmography, Weigert has specialized in complex female characters, often embodying women grappling with personal transformation, societal constraints, and emotional depth in both dramatic and genre-driven stories, from introspective indies to thrillers.

Awards and nominations

Primetime Emmy Awards

Robin Weigert received a single Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2004 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Calamity Jane in the HBO series Deadwood. This recognition came during the 56th Primetime Emmy Awards, honoring the show's critically acclaimed first season, where Weigert's performance captured the raw, unfiltered essence of the historical figure—a foul-mouthed, resilient frontierswoman navigating the lawless town of Deadwood, South Dakota. To prepare for the role, Weigert immersed herself in historical research, consulting actress , who had previously portrayed in a 1984 television movie, and even speaking with an individual who had personally met the real , bridging over a century of anecdotes. She also studied still photographs to inform the character's voice, mannerisms, and attire, while cautioning against the myths herself fabricated for notoriety, as advised by series creator . Employing a method-acting approach akin to , Weigert remained in character throughout the entire shoot, contributing to the authenticity that earned her the nomination amid stiff competition from fellow Deadwood nominee for and the show's overall 11 Emmy nods that year. Although Weigert did not win—the award went to Drea de Matteo for The Sopranos—the nomination significantly elevated her visibility in television, paving the way for subsequent high-profile roles in series such as Sons of Anarchy and Big Little Lies. Her work on Deadwood endures as a hallmark of HBO's golden era of prestige dramas, with the series amassing 28 Emmy nominations and eight wins across its run, underscoring its lasting impact on the medium.

Theater awards

Weigert earned nominations for her early stage work, including the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play and the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress for her role in the production Madame Melville (2001).

Television awards

In addition to her Emmy nomination, Weigert received a Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for her role in Big Little Lies (2020).

Independent film recognitions

Robin Weigert received a nomination for Best Actress at the 2013 Gotham Independent Film Awards for her lead role as Abby, a suburban housewife exploring her sexuality after a concussion, in the indie drama Concussion, directed by Stacie Passon. Critics praised Weigert's bold and nuanced performance, highlighting her ability to convey vulnerability and defiance in a character navigating personal reinvention. The film also garnered recognition at the 2013 , where it won the Jury Award for its portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes, and Weigert participated in interviews associated with the honor, discussing the project's exploration of identity and desire. This accolade underscored the film's impact in independent cinema circuits, with Weigert's central performance central to its reception. Earlier in her career, Weigert appeared in the ensemble drama Loggerheads (2005), directed by Tim Kirkman, which premiered as an official selection at the , earning praise for its sensitive handling of estranged families and social issues across three interconnected stories. Her role as Rachel, a resilient neighbor who aids in family reunions, contributed to the film's critical acclaim, with reviewers noting the strong ensemble dynamics that elevated its emotional depth. Weigert attended the Sundance premiere, marking an early highlight in her work following her breakout television role. In 2017, Weigert won the Special Jury Award for Acting at the for her performance in the indie Pushing Dead (2016), directed by Tom E. Brown. In more recent years, Weigert starred as Peg, the pragmatic ranch owner, in the 2023 comedy- Tokyo Cowboy, directed by Marc Marriott, which screened at multiple international festivals and won Best Narrative Feature at the 2024 San Luis Obispo International . The film received positive notices for its heartfelt cross-cultural narrative, with Weigert's grounded portrayal adding authenticity to the story of self-discovery on a ranch. These honors, spanning festivals like Sundance, , and San Luis Obispo, have solidified Weigert's reputation as a versatile actress in indie cinema, particularly after her Emmy-nominated television work, allowing her to tackle complex, lead-driven roles in intimate, character-focused projects.

References

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