Rena Sofer


Rena Sherel Sofer is an American actress, known for her appearances in daytime television, episodic guest appearances, and made-for-television movies. In 1995, Sofer received a Daytime Emmy Award for her portrayal of Lois Cerullo in the soap opera General Hospital. She reprised the role of Lois in October 2023. From 2013 to 2022, she played Quinn Fuller on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.

Early life

Sofer was born in Arcadia, California, the daughter of Susan Sofer, a psychology professor, and Martin Sofer, an Orthodox rabbi.
She moved with her father and brother David to Teaneck, New Jersey, in 1970. However, when Sofer was 5 years old, they resided in Western Pennsylvania. They lived in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, where her father led Beth Samuels Jewish Center.
She later attended the Frisch School, a coeducational Modern Orthodox Jewish high school in Paramus, New Jersey. Sofer lived in North Bergen, New Jersey, where her father was rabbi of synagogue Temple Beth El. She graduated from North Bergen High School, then attended classes at Montclair State College.

Career

Daytime television

Sofer first played Lois Marie Cerullo on General Hospital. Her first appearance was in 1993 as a band manager. However, her first high-profile role was as Rocky McKenzie on the daytime soap opera Loving.
Sofer is perhaps best known for her role as Lois Cerullo on General Hospital. She later returned as a guest star. Her portrayal of the outrageous Lois won Sofer a Daytime Emmy Award in 1995 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
In May 2013, it was announced that Sofer would join the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, in a newly created role of Quinn Fuller; her first episode aired on July 12. After nine years on the canvas, Sofer opted to end her run in the role of Quinn; she last aired on August 29, 2022.
On September 14, 2023, People announced Sofer would reprise the role of Lois on General Hospital after a 26-year absence.
On October 24, 2025, it was announced that Sofer had ended her run on General Hospital as Cerullo.

Primetime television

Sofer has appeared in several high-profile prime time television series in a guest star/supporting cast member roles: Seinfeld, Melrose Place, The Chronicle, Ed, Friends, Spin City, Blind Justice, Ghost Whisperer, 24, NCIS, and Two and a Half Men.
Sofer briefly joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me!, playing the character Vicky Costa. The network later cast Sofer in the short-lived US remake of the UK series Coupling.
In recent years, Rena Sofer has appeared in the NBC TV series Heroes as the recurring character Heidi Petrelli, wife of aspiring politician Nathan Petrelli. She appeared on Two and a Half Men in 2008, as a former girlfriend of the character Charlie Harper. Rena also has guest starred on Dirty Sexy Money playing an intrepid reporter and played a ghost on Ghost Whisperer. In early 2010, Sofer began a recurring role on NCIS as attorney Margaret Allison Hart, a potential love interest for the character Leroy Jethro Gibbs. She had a brief guest role on Bones as a love interest for the character Seeley Booth.
In 2013, Sofer had a publicized appearance on Once Upon a Time, playing Snow White's mother.

Film

In film, she appeared as a love interest of Ben Stiller's character in the film Keeping the Faith, starring Jenna Elfman, Stiller and Edward Norton. She also played a bride to-be with Melanie Griffith in Sidney Lumet's movie A Stranger Among Us and in Penelope Buitenhuis's movie The Secret of Hidden Lake.
She played the P.E. teacher Ms. Desjarden in the television film adaptation of Carrie in 2002. She starred in the television movie Always and Forever which aired October 24, 2009, on the Hallmark Channel. She has been doing TV movies since 1992, when she starred as Andrea Larson in the television movie Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style.

Personal life

Sofer and her General Hospital co-star Wally Kurth, who played her onscreen love interest, became involved as their characters' storyline progressed. In 1995, the actors were married and had a daughter. In 1997, Sofer and Kurth divorced.
Sofer married television director and producer Sanford Bookstaver in 2003. On August 5, 2005, Sofer gave birth to her second daughter, her first with Bookstaver, in Los Angeles. Sofer and Bookstaver eventually divorced in 2017. In 2019, Sofer announced they had reconciled and in April announced their engagement, and they later remarried in 2024.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes
1987Another WorldJoyce Abernathy9 episodes
1988–91LovingAmelia "Rocky" McKenzie Domeq34 episodes
1992Freshman DormVeronica2 episodes
1992Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian StyleAndrea LarsonMade-for-TV movie directed by Don Barnhart
1993Herman's HeadStephanieEpisode: "When Hermy Met Crawford's Girlfriend"
1993–97
2023-25		General HospitalLois CerulloContract role held from December 15, 1993 to September 24, 1996; recurring role held from February 7, 1997 to October 2, 1997, and October 10, 2023 to October 24, 2025
1996Hostile Advances: The Kerry Ellison StoryKerry EllisonMade-for-TV movie directed by Allan Kroeker
1996Caroline in the CityRisa GlickmanEpisode: "Caroline and the Nice Jewish Boy"
1997SeinfeldMary AnneEpisode: "The Muffin Tops"
1997'Darcy Canfield RayMade-for-TV movie directed by Charles Correll
1998EllenJeanEpisode: "Womyn Fest"
1998Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza PlaceLauren HendersonEpisode: "Two Guys, a Girl, and a Recovery"
1998TimecopDr. Carrie Ann TrentEpisode: "D.O.A."
1998Glory, GloryElizabethMade-for-TV movie directed by Robert Butler
1998–99Melrose PlaceEve ClearyMain role 25 episodes
1999Oh, Grow UpSuzanne VandermeerContract role held from September 22 to December 28, 1999
2000Opposite SexMs. GibsonEpisode: "Pilot"
2000Spin CitySamEpisode: "Lost and Found"
2001The Weber ShowDawn CheswickEpisode: "Dog Eat Dog"
2001EdBonnie Hane7 episodes
2001–02'Grace Hall22 episodes
2002FriendsKatieEpisode: "The One with the Cooking Class"
2002CarrieMiss DesjardenrMade-for-TV movie directed by David Carson
2002–03Just Shoot Me!Vicki Costa14 episodes
2003CSI: MiamiAlisonEpisode: "Grave Young Men"
2003CouplingSusan FreemanMain role
2005Blind JusticeChristie DunbarMain role
2006–07HeroesHeidi Petrelli5 episodes
2006'Maggie DolanMade-for-TV movie directed by Penelope Buitenhuis
200724Marilyn Bauer12 episodes
2008Ghost WhispererTammyEpisode: "Ball & Chain"
2008–10Two and a Half MenChrissy2 episodes
2009Dirty Sexy MoneyNews ReporterEpisode: "The Facts"
2009MonkKim KellyEpisode: "Mr. Monk's Favorite Show"
2009Always & ForeverGrace HollandMade-for-TV movie directed by Kevin Connor
2009Criminal MindsErika SilvermanEpisode: "The Slave of Duty"
2010BonesDr. Catherine BryarEpisode: "The Predator in the Pool"
2010NCISMargaret Allison Hart6 episodes
2010'JoanMade-for-TV movie directed by Norma Bailey
2010Royal PainsAJEpisode: "Open Up Your Yenta Mouth and Say Ah"
2010MediumDr. Natalie SalemEpisode: "Native Tongue"
2011Another Man's WifeHadley WarnerMade-for-TV movie directed by Anthony Lefresne
2011–12Covert AffairsGeena3 episodes
2012HouseMarlene ReeseEpisode: "Man of the House"
2012Alexis CaneEpisode: "Old Times"
2012Beauty & the BeastSabrina MeyerEpisode: "Bridesmaid Up!"
2013Once Upon a TimeQueen EvaEpisode: "The Queen is Dead"
2013–22The Bold and the BeautifulQuinn FullerContract role held from July 12, 2013 to August 29, 2022
2014Chicago P.D.DoctorEpisode: "Chin Check"
2017Jeopardy!Herself/Clue giverSeason 3:Ep 88