Rita Rudner (17 September, 1956– ) is an American comedienne and writer.
She and Bergmann have a daughter, Molly, adopted in 2002.
She and husband Martin are among the writers working on a musical "Natural Woman," based on the music of Carole King and Gerry Goffin.
Her second novel is "Turning the Tables" published by Shaye Areheart Books in 2006.
First big break was being booked on Johnny Carson (I)'s "Tonight Show" in January 1988.
Originally moved to New York from Miami at age 15 to study ballet and pursue a career as a Broadway dancer. She decided to go for comedy because women's stand-up was a less competitive field in 1980.
Kooky, slightly vapid-looking American stand-up comedienne whose specialized brand of neurotic comedy was inspired by idols Jack Benny Woody Allen and Bob Newhart.
Is moving her five-year act at Las Vegas' New York-New York casino to Harrah's on October 6, 2006.
Moved to California in the late 80s and met husband Martin, an Englishman, whom she met when he was producing stand-up comedy shows. Together they wrote the film Peter's Friends (1992) that co-starred then-married Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson (I).
Hoping for her own sitcom like other comedians in the 1980s, Rita did at least a half-dozen pilots but they never came to fruition.
Her first novel "Tickled Pink" was written in 2001. It is a semi-autobiographical tale about a dancer who moves to New york to find success and turns to comedy.
