Deirdre O'Connell
Photos: ROMEO & JULIET Opens From The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park (Jun 12, 2026)
Photos: LaChanze, Francis Jue and More Free Shakespeare in the Park's ROMEO & JULIET (May 29, 2026)
Photos: Francis Jue, LaChanze and More in Free Shakespeare in the Park's ROMEO & JULIET Rehearsals (May 4, 2026)
BIO
O'Connell began her career at Stage One, an experimental theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts. She made her Broadway debut in the 1986 revival of The Front Page, and was nominated for the 1991 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in the off-Broadway production Love and Anger. She is the recipient of two Drama-Logue Awards and a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for her stage work in Los Angeles.
O'Connell made her screen debut in Tin Men. Additional film credits include State of Grace, Straight Talk, Leaving Normal, Fearless, City of Angels, Hearts in Atlantis, Imaginary Heroes, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Wendy and Lucy, What Happens in Vegas, Secondhand Lions, and Synecdoche, New York.
She was a regular on L.A. Doctors and has made numerous guest appearances on series such as Kate & Allie, Chicago Hope, The Practice, Six Feet Under, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Nurse Jackie. From 1994 to 2010, O'Connell appeared on six episodes of Law & Order, four of them as Dr. Valerie Knight, Anita Van Buren's oncologist in Season 20. In 2024, she portrayed Francis Cobb in the HBO series The Penguin.
Photos
STAGE CREDITS
Movies
[ 1987 ] Assistant #2
[ 1987 ] Nellie
[ 1988 ] Shanda Gage
[ 1989 ] Ella
[ 1990 ] Inez Brice
[ 1990 ] Irene
[ 1990 ] Mrs. Halsey
[ 1992 ] Ellen Dierdre O Connell
[ 1992 ] Isabelle Malley
[ 1992 ] Lily
[ 1992 ] Sally Cutler
[ 1992 ] Shelly
[ 1993 ] Nan Gordon
[ 1995 ] Sue the Waitress
[ 1996 ] Dr. Gracia Scott
[ 1998 ] Mrs. Balford
[ 1999 ] Mrs. Braverman, Lenny's Teacher
[ 2001 ] Mrs. Gerber
[ 2001 ] Phyllis
[ 2002 ] Gwyn
[ 2003 ] Helen
[ 2004 ] Hollis
[ 2004 ] Marge Dwyer
[ 2005 ] Cosmo
[ 2005 ] Deirdre
[ 2006 ] Jane
[ 2007 ] Cynthia
[ 2007 ] Hospital Staff
[ 2008 ] Deb
[ 2008 ] Ellen's Mother
[ 2008 ] Mrs. Fuller
[ 2009 ] Donna Brady
[ 2009 ] Joyce
[ 2014 ] Ina
[ 2014 ] Kathleen Lembo
[ 2014 ] Linda
[ 2014 ] Meredith
[ 2016 ] Beth
[ 2016 ] Woman
[ 2017 ] Amy
[ 2018 ] Donna
[ 2018 ] Rose
[ 2020 ] Nancy
[ 2022 ] Anne
[ 2025 ] Dawn Bodkin
TV Shows
Suzanne Blum
Dr. Valerie Knight, Joanna Wilder, Jane Schuman
Shirley Crockmeyer
Athena Bailey
Gab, Gab Armstrong
[ 2022-2024 ] Patricia Tillerson
Francis Cobb
Francis Cobb
[ 2022-2024 ] Patricia Tillerson
[ 2025-2025 ] Debbie Macintosh
Awards and Nominations
Deirdre O'Connell, Glass. Kill. What If If Only. Imp.
Deirdre O'Connell, Dana H
winner
Deirdre O'Connell, Dana H.
Deirdre O'Connell, Dana H
Deirdre O'Connell, Dana H
winner
Deirdre O'Connell, Dana H.
winner
Deirdre O'Connell, Dana H.
Deirdre O'Connell, Fulfillment Center
Deirdre O'Connell, Fulfillment Center
Deirdre O'Connell, By the Water
Deirdre O'Connell, In the Wake
Deirdre O'Connell, Love and Anger
Videos
STAGE TUBE: Behind the Scenes with Roundabout's LITTLE CHILDREN DREAM OF GOD
by Stage Tube - 2015-01-29 22:13:11
TV: First Look at Highlights of Steppenwolf's World Premiere of THE WAY WEST
by Christina Mancuso - 2014-04-21 13:55:47
News
by Jennifer Broski - Jun 12, 2026
The Public Theater's Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Romeo & Juliet has officially opened. Learn more and check out photos from opening night here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 29, 2026
You can now get a first look at The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park production of ROMEO & JULIET, directed by Associate Artistic Director/Resident Director Saheem Ali.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 4, 2026
You can now get a first look inside rehearsals for The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Romeo & Juliet, directed by Associate Artistic Director/Resident Director Saheem Ali.
by Jennifer Broski - May 4, 2026
The 41st Annual Lucille Lortel Awards – the only New York theatre award to exclusively honor Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway – were presented at the annual ceremony at NYU Skirball. See photos from the red carpet here!
by Josh Sharpe - Sep 15, 2025
Walk the red carpet at the 77th Emmy Awards with Sarah Paulson, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Deirdre O'Connell, Michael Cyril Creighton, Kathy Bates, and more!
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - Jun 2, 2025
Debra Messing and Tituss Burgess hosted the 69th Annual Drama Desk Awards at 7:30pm ET at NYU Skirball. See photos from the red carpet here! Learn more about the awards here!
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 17, 2025
The Public Theater just celebrated opening night of GLASS. KILL. WHAT IF IF ONLY. IMP., a quartet of inventive new plays written by the groundbreaking playwright Caryl Churchill and directed by Obie Award winner James Macdonald. Let's see what the critics are saying about the production...
by Jennifer Broski - Apr 17, 2025
The Public Theater just celebrated opening night of GLASS. KILL. WHAT IF IF ONLY. IMP., a quartet of inventive new plays written by the groundbreaking playwright Caryl Churchill and directed by Obie Award winner James Macdonald. BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and you can check out photos here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 8, 2025
The Public Theater is presenting GLASS. KILL. WHAT IF IF ONLY. IMP., a quartet of inventive new plays written by the groundbreaking playwright Caryl Churchill and directed by Obie Award winner James Macdonald. See photos here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 17, 2025
You can now get a first look inside rehearsals for The Public Theater’s production of GLASS. KILL. WHAT IF IF ONLY. IMP. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.
by Josh Sharpe - Nov 11, 2024
On Sunday, November 10, Colin Farrell, Tony-nominee Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Tony-winner Deirdre O’Connell, Lauren LeFranc, and Dylan Clark took took to the stage in a wide-ranging Q&A for HBO's The Penguin. Take a look at photos from the event here!
by Bruce Glikas - Nov 10, 2024
Amy Berryman’s play, WALDEN, starring Emmy Rossum, Zoe Winters, and Motell Foster, and directed by Whitney White, opened at Second Stage Theater and BroadwayWorld was there to capture the festivities. Check out the photos here!
by Bruce Glikas - Aug 5, 2024
Job, the new play by Max Wolf Friedlich, opened just last week at the Hayes Theatre on Broadway and BroadwayWorld was on hand for the celebration. Check out photos from the star-studded arrivals here!
by Bruce Glikas - Feb 28, 2024
Vineyard's Annual Gala, honoring Tony Award-winning actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson, was held Monday, February 26, 2024 at the Edison Ballroom. BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos from the big night here!
by Bruce Glikas - Jan 10, 2024
The Manhattan Theatre Club production of Prayer for the French Republic has officially opened on Broadway! The play opened last night, January 9, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. BroadwayWorld is taking you on the red carpet at the production's opening with Donna Murphy, Tyne Daly, LaChanze and more. Check out photos below!
by Bruce Glikas - Dec 2, 2023
Check out opening night red carpet photos of Second Stage Theater's production of Spain, starring Marin Ireland, Andrew Burnap, and more!
by Bruce Glikas - Feb 14, 2023
See photos from inside the Vineyard Theatre's 40th Anniversary gala honoring Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor Billy Crudup!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 5, 2022
See photos from opening night of Becky Nurse of Salem, a new play by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Rebecca Taichman, now playing at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater.
by Team BWW - Nov 28, 2022
Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, November 28, 2022.
by Team BWW - Nov 21, 2022
Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, November 21, 2022.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Deirdre O'Connell has appeared on Broadway in 2 shows.
Deirdre O'Connell has not appeared in the West End.
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play (The Lortels) for Glass. Kill. What If If Only. Imp., Distinguished Performance Awards (Drama League Awards) for Dana H, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Dana H., Outstanding Solo Performance (Drama Desk Awards) for Dana H, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Dana H, Performance Award (Obie Awards) for Dana H., Outstanding Solo Performance (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Dana H., Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Fulfillment Center, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Fulfillment Center, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (The Lortels) for By the Water, Outstanding Featured Actress (The Lortels) for In the Wake and Outstanding Featured Actress - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Love and Anger.
Deirdre O'Connell has won the following awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Dana H., Performance Award (Obie Awards) for Dana H., and Outstanding Solo Performance (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Dana H.
Videos
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