Rochelle Oliver


Rochelle Oliver was an American acting coach and actress.

Early life and career

Oliver studied acting with Uta Hagen. Her stage appearances include The Brothers Karamazov, The Cave Dwellers, The Diary of Anne Frank and Toys in the Attic, the latter of which earned her a Clarence Derwent Award in 1960.
In 1958, she appeared on television in the "Saw My Baby There" episode of Naked City. In 1963, she played the part of Jean Lowell in the episode "The Noose" from The Defenders. In 1970, she had a recurring role as Barbara Lamont in the series The [Best of Everything (TV series)|The Best of Everything]. In 1976, she played the part of Dr. Marsha in Paul Mazursky's Next Stop, Greenwich Village. From 1993 to 2003, she appeared as Judge Grace Larkin in Law & Order.
Oliver had been teaching acting since the 1970s. She was on the faculty of HB Studio in New York City until her death in 2024.

Personal life and death

Oliver was Jewish. In 1959, she married actor James Patterson, with whom she had a son. They remained together until his death in 1972. In 1997, Oliver married actor Fritz Weaver. They remained together until Weaver's death in 2016.
Oliver died in New York City on April 13, 2024, two days before her 87th birthday.

Filmography

TitleEpisodeRoleDirectorYear / Air dateNotes
Naked City"Four Sweet Corners"Cora GaryStuart RosenbergApril 28, 1959
Naked City"Saw My Baby There "Katie HarrisStuart RosenbergJune 9, 1959
The United States Steel Hour"Little Lost Sheep"Ernest KinoyNovember 1, 1961
The Defenders"The Noose"Jean LowellStuart RosenbergApril 27, 1963
The Nurses"Credo"Sally EllisStuart RosenbergJanuary 9, 1964
The Defenders"The Objector"Anne WendelLeonard HornFebruary 11, 1965
The Best of EverythingBarbara LamontEpisode #1.1March 30, 1970Writer: James Lipton
Producer: Jacqueline Babbin
The Best of EverythingBarbara LamontEpisode #1.112Dennis KaneSeptember 7, 1970
The Best of EverythingBarbara LamontEpisode #1.114Alan PultzSeptember 9, 1970
Ryan's HopeEpisode #1.838Jeri JeromeLela SwiftSeptember 25, 1978
ABC Afterschool SpecialsMrs. York"Amy & the Angel"Ralph RosenblumSeptember 22, 1982
Tribeca"The Hopeless Romantic"BlancheBarry PrimusApril 6, 1993
Law & Order"Manhood"Judge Grace LarkinEd SherinMay 12, 1993
Law & Order"Big Bang"Judge Grace LarkinDann FlorekMarch 2, 1994
Law & Order"Competence"Judge Grace LarkinFred GerberNovember 2, 1994
All My ChildrenEpisode dated 20 June 1995Alice HartJune 20, 1995
Law & Order"Paranoia"Judge Grace LarkinFred GerberNovember 15, 1995
Law & Order"Family Business "Judge Grace LarkinLewis GouldNovember 20, 1996
Law & Order"Faccia a Faccia"Judge Grace LarkinMartha MitchellFebruary 25, 1998
Law & Order"Ill-Conceived"Judge Grace LarkinDavid PlattDecember 3, 2003