Dinah Manoff

Dinah Manoff began her career as a voice performer in the animated independent film Everybody Rides the Carousel in 1975. She made her television debut in the PBS production of The Stronger in 1976, followed by appearances on Welcome Back, Kotter and Visions. In 1977, she appeared in the television film Raid on Entebbe, and in 1978 she appeared on Family and joined the cast of the ABC sitcom Soap as Elaine Dallas. That same year, she made her film debut as Marty Maraschino in Grease.

In 1980, she made her Broadway debut as Libby Tucker in Neil Simon's I Ought to Be in Pictures, winning the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play and the Theatre World Award. She reprised the role in the 1982 film adaptation. She also appeared in Ordinary People in 1980. In 1985, she portrayed songwriter Ellie Greenwich in the Broadway musical Leader of the Pack. She appeared in Child's Play in 1988 and in Bloodhounds of Broadway and Staying Together in 1989.

From 1988 to 1995, she starred as Carol Weston on the NBC sitcom Empty Nest, appearing in every episode. She also reprised the character on The Golden Girls. During the 1990s, her television credits included Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael, Blossom, Babies, Maid for Each Other, Touched by an Angel, Cybill and George and Leo. She also directed two episodes of Empty Nest and directed the 1999 Sabrina the Teenage Witch episode "Prelude to a Kiss."

In 2000, she appeared in the television film The Lost Child. Her film credits in 2001 included The Amati Girls and Zigs, and she co-starred in the television series State of Grace from 2001 to 2002. In 2003, she appeared as Aunt Marla in A Carol Christmas. She also appeared in the documentary Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde in 2004.

After a four-year break from film, she appeared in Bart Got a Room in 2009. In 2010, she participated in the re-release of Grease as a sing-along and appeared at the Seattle International Film Festival.