Joanna Merlin (born Joann Ratner on July 15, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actress and casting director.
She is best known for Fiddler on the Roof and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
She was married to Martin Lubner, currently married to David Dretzin and has two children.
Film Roles
- The Ten Commandments as Dhira (Jethro's Daughter)
- Hester Street as Jake's Landlady
- All That Jazz as Nurse Pierce
- Fame as Miss Berg
- Love Child as Mrs. Sturgis
- Baby Its You as Mrs. Rosen
- The Killing Fields as Sydney Schanberg's sister
- Prince of Darkness as Bag Lady
- Mystic Pizza as Mrs. Arujo
- Class Action as Estelle Ward
- Mr Wonderful as Loretta
- Two Bits as Guendolina
- City of Angels as Teresa Messinger
- The Jimmy Show as Emily
- Just Another Story as Sadie
- The Invasion as Joan Kaufman
- The Wackness as Grandma Shapiro
- Sarah's Key as Mme. Rainsferd
- Active Adults as Miriam
Television Roles
- Naked City as Gloria Werminski (1 episode)
- The Defenders (1961) as Katy Martinez (1 episode)
- East Side West Side as Lucia Lopez (1 episode)
- Another World as Dr. Emily Cole (1982)
- Amazing Stories as Marie/Wealthy Lady (1 episode)
- L.A. Law as Assistant DA Ellen Kennedy (1 episode)
- Law & Order as Carla Bowman (2 episodes)/Deidre Powell (3 episodes)
- Northern Exposure as Nadine Fleischman (1 episode)
- New York Undercover as Carmella McNamara (4 episodes)
- All My Children as Judge Brauer (1997)
- The Jury as Jackie Ochs (1 episode)
- The American Experience as Family Member (1 episode)
- Frontline As Herself (1 episode)
- The Good Wife as Loni Goslin (1 episode)
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Judge Lena Petrovsky (2000-2011)
- Homeland as Grandma Lois (1 episode)
Theatre Roles
- Becket as Gwendolyn
- Fiddler on the Roof as Tzeitel
Casting Director
- Year of the Dragon
- Big Trouble in Little China
- The Last Emperor
- Mr And Mrs Bridge
- American Playhouse (1 episode)
- The Lover
- Jefferson In Paris
Misc
- M. Butterfly (casting consultant)
- Little Buddha (casting consultant)
- Everyman (casting advisor, 1 episode)
