Latest news with #LALaw
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE This sharp no-nonsense secretary who gave her shady boss a run for his money on hit 80s legal drama spotted in LA... who is it?
She portrayed the morally upright legal secretary who served as the grounding force in the office, often providing a counterbalance to the more morally ambiguous choices of her cold-eyed colleagues on a hit legal drama. The series, which aired from the late '80s to early '90s, followed a group of ruthless lawyers navigating complex legal and ethical battles. The 76-year-old actress' character easily resonated with fans as the humble, capable secretary who holds her ground in an office where greed reigns supreme, which quickly turned her into a fan favorite and earned her four Primetime Emmy nominations during the series nine-year run. Most interesting to watch was her relationship with her abrasive divorce lawyer boss who once fought for a deceased colleague's office space and bedded far too many clients to count. Throughout the 90s and 2000s, she also made guest appearances on other hit TV shows such as Gilmore Girls, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Hannah Montana. Can you guess who she is? She portrayed the morally upright legal secretary who served as the grounding force in the office, often providing a counterbalance to the more morally ambiguous choices of her cold-eyed colleagues on a hit legal drama The 76-year-old actress's character easily resonated with fans as the humble, capable secretary who holds her ground in an office where greed reigns supreme, which earned her four Primetime Emmy nominations during the series's nine-year run It's Susan Ruttan from LA Law! The 76-year-old actress, who has always been known to stay out of the limelight, was spotted in Los Angeles on a rare outing. Ruttan's outfit was both classy and stylish as she exited her white Honda Fit. She sported a navy blue button-up quarter-sleeve shirt, a pair of hip and slightly baggy light-wash denim jeans with a pair of white sneakers. For accessories, she went with a pair of black sunglasses, a black sling bag with tan lining and kept her sleek white hair in a ponytail. Ruttan is best known for her role as Roxanne Melman on L.A. Law, a humble legal secretary who wasn't afraid to stand up to her boss, divorce lawyer Arnie Becker, played by Corbin Bernsen. For accessories, she went with a pair of black sunglasses, a black sling bag with tan lining and kept her sleek white hair in a ponytail In the often bizarre world of L.A. Law's courtroom dramas, Roxanne stood out as a character who brought common-sense savvy to the table. Her down-to-earth nature and practical approach made her a fan favorite, especially as she showcased real-life secretary skills - skills she'd honed long before stepping into acting. Ruttan shared with Deseret News that she had taken secretary classes in high school and worked as a temp to support herself after the death of her husband, Mel Ruttan Jr., when she was just 22 years old after four years of marriage. Drawing from this experience, Ruttan infused Roxanne with a depth that defied the typical secretary stereotypes. Rather than conforming to the submissive, 'wife' archetype often assigned to secretaries in television, Roxanne rebelled against her boss Becker's wishes which made their relationship compelling. The show paved the way for the influx of legal dramas that followed and won multiple Emmys and Golden Globes for its layered characters and dramatic storylines. Ruttan herself was nominated four times for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She would come back to play the role of Shays in 2002 for a L.A. Law reunion in a TV movie. Prior to her breakout role as Rosalind Shays, Ruttan first earned recognition playing the scheming wife of a rival dry cleaner on The Jeffersons which ran from 1975 to 1985. After her success on L.A. Law, she went on to star in guest roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2002), Gilmore Girls (2001) and Hannah Montana (2009). Ruttan showcased her versatility with a range of roles in movies, including a comedic turn in the teen comedy Bad Manners – also known as Growing Pains – in 1984, and a memorable performance in the 1990 romantic comedy Funny About Love, starring Gene Wilder. She also took on a darker, more dramatic role as convicted killer Genene Jones in the 1991 television movie Deadly Medicine. Although her roles have slowed down, at the age of 76, Ruttan continues to work in the industry with her most recent role coming last year when she played Gladys Montrose on the comedy series A Man on the Inside.
New York Times
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Terry Louise Fisher, a Creator of ‘L.A. Law,' Dies at 79
Terry Louise Fisher, who channeled her experience as a Los Angeles prosecutor into an Emmy Award-winning television career as a writer and producer for 'Cagney & Lacey,' the groundbreaking female-oriented police procedural, and a creator, with Steven Bochco, of the sleek drama 'L.A. Law,' died on June 10 in Laguna Hills, Calif. She was 79. Her death was confirmed in a social media post by Mark Zev Hochberg, a family member. He did not cite a cause. Ms. Fisher was best known for her work on shows about cops and lawyers, and she certainly knew the terrain. Before turning her attention to the small screen, she worked as a deputy district attorney in Los Angeles for two and a half years. She quickly grew disillusioned with a revolving-door criminal justice system that seemed to her to boil down to a jousting match between opposing lawyers, with little regard for guilt or innocence. In a 1986 interview with The San Francisco Examiner, she recalled being handed an almost certain victory in an otherwise weak case involving a knife killing because of an oversight by the defense: 'I felt really challenged, and my adrenaline was pumping. I realized I could win this case. And I slept on it. I went, 'My God, has winning become more important than justice?'' Her unflinching view of the system informed her tenure in television. In 1983, she began writing for 'Cagney & Lacey,' bringing depth and realism to a CBS series that shook up the traditional knuckles-and-nightsticks cop-show genre by focusing on two female New York City police detectives, Christine Cagney (Sharon Gless) and Mary Beth Lacey (Tyne Daly). Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Terry Louise Fisher Dies: ‘L.A. Law' Co-Creator & ‘Cagney & Lacey' Writer Was 79
Terry Louise Fisher, the co-creator of L.A. Law and a writer for Cagney & Lacey, has died. She was 79. The three-time Emmy winner died in her sleep Tuesday in Laguna Hills, CA following a long, undisclosed illness, Fisher's cousin Sharone Rosen told Variety. More from Deadline 'L.A Law' Refreshed And Coming To Hulu In Early November 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries Alan Rachins Dies: 'LA Law' And 'Dharma & Greg' Actor Was 82 Born February 21, 1946 in Chicago, Fisher attended law school at UCLA in the '60s before working at the Los Angeles District Attorney's office and going into entertainment law. After publishing two novels, A Class Act (1976) and Good Behavior (1979), she quit law to pursue writing full time. Fisher began writing for Cagney & Lacey in 1983 before co-creating NBC's L.A. Law with Steven Bochco in 1986, running for eight seasons until 1994. Her time on the show ended following a 1988 legal battle with Bochco and 20th Century Fox. 'One thing that I don't want women to feel is … that they can't take on the big boys, because they'll get you — that was the one thing I was upset about,' Fisher told the Los Angeles Times in 1988. 'Some people think (the TV industry) is an old boys network. I've never thought so. I got a lot of really upsetting letters from women who viewed it that way.' DEADLINE RELATED VIDEO: Fisher and Bochco also co-created the ABC series Hooperman, which ran for two seasons, starring John Ritter as the titular San Francisco police inspector. She later created the short-lived Aaron Spelling CBS drama 2000 Malibu Road in 1992, featuring a young Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Beals. Best of Deadline 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Terry Louise Fisher, Co-Creator of ‘L.A. Law,' Dies At 79
Terry Louise Fisher, a three-time Emmy winning writer and producer known for co-creating 'L.A. Law,' died on Tuesday in Laguna Hills, Calif. She was 79. Her cousin, Sharone Rosen, reported that Fisher had died in her sleep from a long, undisclosed illness. More from Variety Alan Rachins, 'L.A. Law' and 'Dharma & Greg' Actor, Dies at 82 All 'L.A. Law' Seasons Are Coming to Hulu in Remastered HD Format 'LA Law' Sequel Series, Jo Koy Comedy Pilot Not Moving Forward at ABC Fisher was the co-creator of the popular legal drama 'L.A. Law' with Steven Bocho. She served as a supervising producer and writer for most of the series' early episodes. Fisher's writing for 'L.A. Law' won her a shared Primetime Emmy Award in 1987, and two additional shared nominations in 1988. She was also known for writing and producing 'Cagney & Lacey' from 1982 to 1987, for which she also received an Emmy. Born in Chicago, Fisher moved to Los Angeles in her teens. She attended UCLA as an undergraduate student, graduating from the UCLA School of Law in 1968. After graduating, Fisher worked for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. Fisher moved from that into entertainment law, working for several studios. During her time as a lawyer, Fisher wrote two books: 'A Class Act,' which was published in 1976 and 'Good Behavior,' her second book published in 1979. After a decade in practicing entertainment law, Fisher began to write full-time in Los Angeles. Her first film, 'Your Place…or Mine' starred Bonnie Franklin and Robert Klein, was co-written with Steve Brown, her writing partner on 'Cagney & Lacey.' Fisher produced and wrote on shows such as the CBS police procedural drama 'Cagney & Lacey' until 1985. Fisher came back to co-write 'Cagney and Lacey: The Return,' and 'Cagney and Lacey: Together Again,' two of the series' reunion films. Fisher and Bocho also co-created 'Hooperman,' an ABC series that starred John Ritter and Debrah Farentino, which ran for two seasons. She was the creator of '2000 Malibu Road,' the short-lived summer series, which starred Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Beals. Fisher took part in 'Daughters of Eve,' a primetime soap opera pilot that was set to star Sophia Loren. The series was not picked up during the 1995-1995 television season. She is survived by Dale Gordon, Ken Rosen, Charlie Rosen, and Sharon Rosen. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Meet the woman heading an effort to improve access to reproductive care in Oklahoma
Oklahoma has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, one that dates back to 1910. That's a matter of fact. Oklahoma's Legislature and its governor, Kevin Stitt, are conservative Republicans and are considered by many to have zero interest in making that law less restrictive. That's a pretty solid assumption. What is less certain is whether the current state law actually reflects the wishes of the state's population as a whole, and not just those of a small number of elected officials. About 1.3 million people vote in Oklahoma, roughly 690,000 women and 640,000 men. What would Oklahomans say if given a chance to vote in a direct citizens' initiative? More: Bad bill alert — Senate proposal would undermine direct voice for the people | Opinion Senate Majority Floor Leader Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, is the author of what arguably would have been an even more restrictive law than the 1910 statute on the books if it hadn't been ruled unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court. "We face the specter of a state question that would have Oklahomans amend their state constitution to allow for abortion up to the time of birth. That's not what I think Oklahomans believe," Daniels said in a recent interview. However, House Minority Leader Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said numerous polls show that Oklahomans don't like the extreme restrictions placed on abortion. "A majority of Oklahomans don't like the extreme bans we have in our state," she said. "And there are voters who are holding Republicans accountable. What Oklahomans really do believe is something that Janet Levit and her organization, repro46, will be exploring in the coming months. They plan a series of meetings throughout the state to talk to potential voters and determine whether a direct vote of the people would alter the status quo. Levit is the group's designated "executive consultant," and brings to the group an extensive background both in the legal world and as an educator. Now a law professor at the University of Tulsa, she served as dean of the school's College of Law and was for a time its provost and interim president. "Every Oklahoman should have the freedom to make personal decisions that are best for our lives, our families and our futures — free from political interference that threatens our health," Levit said in announcing formation of the new group. "Repro46 is here to unite everyday Oklahomans — across political divides — to foster understanding, share experiences and knowledge, and build an Oklahoma that supports reproductive freedom." Q: Could you share a little of your background? A: I grew up north of Chicago, went to high school in Highland Park and then to Princeton, where I studied international affairs. But one ritual at college was watching the TV series "LA Law," and that's how I found my way to Yale Law School, where I met my husband, Ken. (Editors' note: Ken Levit was president of the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa from 2001-2006 and in 2024 was appointed by Stitt to the State Regents for Higher Education) Q: What were your first impressions of Oklahoma? A: I joined the University of Oklahoma faculty in 1995. Oklahoma felt like home. What I love about Oklahoma is that there is a sense of community that I didn't feel as much in Chicago. In Oklahoma you can get involved and make a difference. Q: What drew you to this organization? A: I am the vice chair of the board of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is a national organization that has litigated some of the nation's most significant reproductive rights cases, Casey and Dobbs included. Repro46 is a sister organization to We are Rising, which was founded about a year ago. They asked me to help get the new organization set up. Repro46 is a 501-C3 organization, and donations are tax deductible. We have been working since last May developing a strategic plan and engaging with some of our national partners who are helping us. Our target is very much the persuadable middle in Oklahoma — Democrats and Republicans. What would be the best way to reach them? So our official launch was in January. We had one launch in Oklahoma City and one in Tulsa. We had several speakers, including one woman who was a survivor. She had an obstetric emergency where she was not able to access abortion care in Oklahoma. We also had an OB-GYN physician speak about really how difficult it is to be practicing medicine in a state where treatment that is medically indicated is legally questionable. Q: As part of your planning have you done any polling to determine what the opinions were among women in Oklahoma and what limits they were thinking of placing on abortion? A: We don't do polling ourselves. But polls have been done, and they show consistently that the majority of Oklahomans support broader access to abortion care than the laws permit. An even bigger majority believe that the politicians have overstepped and are trespassing on the freedom and autonomy of Oklahomans. And regardless of what Oklahomans believe about abortion, they have a pretty strong belief that the government should be kept out of our business. Q: Is one of your goals to take the politics out of the issue? A: Reproductive care is a health issue and should never be political. It is an issue of freedom and autonomy. It's just not the place for politicians to make decisions that belong to women, their families, their doctors and their faith. Politicians have gone way too far, and they're threatening the health of all Oklahomans, not members of one party. They're scaring physicians and residents away from the state. Physicians involved in obstetrics and emergency room care are afraid to practice here because they might cross the wrong side of the line in our abortion laws. Many rural counties are now obstetric deserts. But in addition to being a health issue, it's also an economic development issue because of the brain drain from states with abortion bans like Oklahoma. This article has been edited for length and clarity. William C. Wertz is deputy Viewpoints editor. You can reach him with comments and story ideas at wwertz@ Send him a note if you have any suggestions about others in the community our readers should "get to know." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma abortion law doesn't reflect majority opinion, advocate says
