Rosina Isobel Fernhoff Inlender

Rosina Fernhoff (Inlender) April 13, 1931 - March 13, 2026 - New York City, New York
Rosina Fernhoff, an award-winning actress and beloved mother, grandmother, friend, and creative spirit, died on March 13, 2026, in New York City, with her loving daughters by her side. She was 94 years old. Her remarkable career spanned more than seven decades across stage, film, and solo performance, leaving an enduring imprint on audiences.
Born on April 13, 1931, in New York City to Dr. William and Tola Fernhoff, Austrian-Jewish immigrants, Rosina embodied resilience, intellect, and artistic depth. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University and pursued further study at Bank Street College of Education. She refined her craft under the legendary Lee Strasberg, developing a performance style rooted in emotional truth, rigor, and profound humanism. Rosina began her lifelong dedication to theater in repertory and stock companies, ultimately performing Off-Broadway, internationally, including at the Cameri Theater of Tel Aviv, and in acclaimed solo productions. Her early career was distinguished in 1959: she received two Obie Awards for Best Actress for her performances in Fashion and The Geranium Hat, establishing her as one of the most compelling Off-Broadway performers of that time. Other starring roles included The Glass Menagerie, Come Back, Little Sheba, Hamlet, The Piano Teacher, and The Quickening.
In the years that followed, Rosina became especially known for her powerful one-woman shows and her collaboration with her late husband, artist, writer, and director Avraham "Av" Inlender. Together, they created deeply moving theatrical works including Jerusalem Story, Mrs. Davidson's Story, Shadows, and Snow People. These works explored themes of identity, survival, moral courage, and Jewish history, they were performed widely in theaters, universities, and houses of worship throughout the United States, Europe, and Israel.
Some later achievements included Rosina's 2006 performance of Snow People at Colorado State University's Holocaust Awareness Week and her portrayal of Alice B. Toklas in Carol Polcovar's, The Conversion of Alice B. Toklas at New York's Fresh Fruit Festival both were especially celebrated. As a member of Carnival Girls Productions, Rosina enjoyed the innovative ensemble work of Christie Perfetti Williams. In 2014, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from University Settlement's Speyer Hall in New York City, in recognition of her lasting contributions to the arts and her powerful voice in socially conscious theater. Some recent groups of which Rosina has been a member: P.A.G.E.S. with Don Loftus and company, D.S. Burrows Productions, Saturday Readings, Times Square Playwrights & Co amongst others. Rosina's talent was showcased in film and television, including T.K. Reilly's Bobby Dogs (2007), the Cannes-screened short film by writers, filmmakers Yosuki Hosoi and Peter Lee, Man of the House (2011); Brane & Nemanja Bala's Love Hunter (2013), and acclaimed Webseries, with David Beck, Spring Street (2017).
Fluent in German and Hebrew, Rosina carried a deep awareness of history and a moral sensitivity shaped by personal and collective loss. Her work reflected an unwavering commitment to truth, and human dignity. Her compassion and artistic integrity left a lasting impact on colleagues, students, and audiences alike.
Rosina was predeceased by her beloved husband, Avraham "Av" Inlender (2003). She is survived by her devoted daughters, Tracy and Willa, their spouses, her cherished grandsons, and a wide circle of extended family, dear friends, and creative collaborators who will forever treasure her warmth, wit, and fierce dedication to both art and life.
Donations to: https://entertainmentcommunity.org/honor-loved-one; https://www.nyfa.org
A celebration in honor of Rosina's life and work will be held in New York City at a later date.