Judith Roberts (born November 30, 1934) is an American actress, who performed in various stage productions and appeared in film and television. She starred in the horror film Eraserhead (1977) by David Lynch and in later age played the main antagonist Mary Shaw in James Wan's supernatural horror film Dead Silence (2007). She also starred in films Fred Won't Move Out (2012), You Were Never Really Here (2017) and The Last Thing Mary Saw (2021). Roberts also played Erica Taslitz, one of "The Golden Girls", in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black in 2014.
Career Roberts made her big screen debut playing supporting role in the 1971 romantic comedy film Minnie and Moskowitz, directed by John Cassavetes. She later had supporting parts in films The Swinging Barmaids (1975), Nashville Girl (1976) and The Student Body (1976). Her first notable role was in the 1977 black and white cult horror film Eraserhead, by David Lynch, playing the "Beautiful Girl Across the Hall" opposite Jack Nance. The film shooting continued for several years from 1972 to 1976. In 1978 she appeared in the film adaptation of The Late Great Planet Earth, and in 1980 had supporting role in the comedy-drama Stardust Memories by Woody Allen. The following years, Roberts made guest-starring appearances in television series, such as Remington Steele, Trapper John, M.D. and Law & Order, and co-starred in films Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984), Sandino (1990), Mac (1992), Mother's Boys (1993) and Fast Food Fast Women (2000).
Roberts performed in a many Off-Broadway, Broadway and regional theatre productions since 1970s, appearing in The Threepenny Opera, Medea, A Streetcar Named Desire and The Little Foxes. In 1996 she made her Broadway debut starring as Lady Saltburn in play Present Laughter. Her notable off-Broadway credits include Three Tall Women, Master Class, The Clean House, A Little Night Music, Richard III, The Voysey Inheritance and Close Ties. In 2014, Roberts originared the role of Miss Ruby in the Steppenwolf Theatre Company play Airline Highway and the following year performed on its Broadway production.
In 2007, Roberts had her most notable film role, playing Mary Shaw, the main antagonist in the supernatural horror film Dead Silence directed by James Wan. That same year, Roberts collaborated with Wan again in his action thriller film Death Sentence, playing Judge Shaw. She later appeared in The Nanny Diaries and in the film adaptation of The Aspern Papers. In 2012 she starred alongside Elliott Gould in the drama film Fred Won't Move Out directed by Richard Ledes. In 2013, Roberts appeared in Justin Timberlake's music video for "Mirrors". In 2014, she had the recurring role in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black as inmate Erica Taslitz, one of "The Golden Girls". Along with the cast, Roberts received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. She later made guest starring appearances in the television series 2 Broke Girls, Girls, The Mick, Great News and The Last O.G..
Roberts starred in a number of short films in her later career. In 2017, Roberts played Joaquin Phoenix's character mother in the psychological thriller film You Were Never Really Here directed by Lynne Ramsay. The film premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival to positive reviews. Film critics Mark Kermode of The Observer praised her performance. She received National Film Awards UK nomination for Best Supporting Actress. In 2021, Roberts appeared in the comedy-drama film Giving Birth to a Butterfly, and starred in the period horror film The Last Thing Mary Saw. Film critics Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com and Dennis Harvey of Variety praised her performance in the latter.
Personal life Roberts was married to actor Pernell Roberts from 1962 to 1971.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1971Minnie and MoskowitzWife1975The Swinging BarmaidsSally 1976Nashville GirlFranThe Student BodyMrs. Blalock1977EraserheadBeautiful Girl Across the Hall1978The Late Great Planet EarthWhore of Babylon1980Stardust MemoriesSinger1985Happy EndFly1990SandinoMrs. Hanna1992MacWoman on Bus1994Mother's BoysNarrator1998Three Below ZeroNora Littman2000Fast Food Fast Women Bella's Mother2006FacelessMarge GaracciShort film 2007Dead SilenceMary ShawDeath SentenceJudge ShawThe Nanny DiariesMilicent2008ChokeElegant Lady2010The Aspern PapersJuliana Bordereau2011The DeteriorationistsMargaretShort film2012Fred Won't Move OutSusan2013My DayMotherShort filmLong Island International Film Expo Award for Best Actress in a Short FilmThe Indie Fest Film Award for Best ActressHollywood Reel Independent Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress2015Last WordsMiss LarsonShort film 2016Now WomanShort filmNominated — Action On Film International Film Festival Award for Best Performance in an Acting RoleNominated — Maverick Movie Award for Best Actress: ShortNominated — World Music & Independent Film Festival for Best Actress in a Short FilmNominated — Calcutta International Cult Films Festival for Best Actress 2017You Were Never Really Here Joe's motherNominated — National Film Awards UK for Best Supporting ActressFinal Polish ClaireShort filmStella Adler Award for Best Excellence in FilmLA Shorts Fest Platinum Award for Best ActressNominated — Maverick Movie Award for Best Actress: Short2019Nowhere to NunSister MurielShort film 2020Bard Words WomanShort filmCult Critic Movie Award for Best ActressLuis Buñuel Memorial Award for Best Actress 2021Giving Birth to a Butterfly NinaThe Last Thing Mary Saw Constance
Television Year Title Role Notes 1983Remington SteeleRina CasselasEpisode: "Steele Among"Trapper John, M.D.Olivia ChapmanEpisode: "South Side Story"1991Law & OrderHarriet DuttonEpisode: "The Wages of Love"1993SirensEpisode: "Everybody Lies"1997The City IsabelleRecurring role2000Law & OrderJudge ScheppsEpisode: "Endurance"2003Law & Order: Criminal Intent Nan TurnerEpisode: "Suite Sorrow"2008New AmsterdamJuliaEpisode: "Pilot"2011–2014The Heart, She HollerMeemaw18 episodes2014–2019Orange Is the New BlackTaslitz10 episodesScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series20162 Broke GirlsAstridEpisode: "And the Coming Out Party" 2017GirlsSenior CitizenEpisode: "What Will We Do This Time About Adam?"The MickGreat Grandmother RitaEpisode: "The Matriarch"Great NewsGrammyEpisode: "Love is Dead"Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter DianeEpisode: "Rules of the Road"2018The Last O.G.Mrs. WashingtonEpisode: "Pilot" 2019Friends from CollegeGummyEpisode: "Old Habits"NOS4A2JoleneEpisodes: "The Gas Mask Man" and "The Dark Tunnels"2023Teenage Euthanasia NoonaVoice, 3 episodes
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