Suzanne Shepherd was an actress, teacher, and stage director who appeared in “The Sopranos,” “Mystic Pizza,” “Uncle Buck,” and “Requiem for a Dream,” and is perhaps best known for playing Karen’s mother in the gangster classic, “GoodFellas.”
- Died: November 17, 2023 (Who else died on November 17?)
- Details of death: Died in New York City at the age of 89.
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Suzanne Shepherd’s legacy
Though Shepherd’s career spanned dozens of films and a wide variety of roles, she is perhaps best known for playing overbearing mothers in films like “GoodFellas” and shows like “The Sopranos.” After graduating from Bennington College, she began teaching actors, something she continued to do until her passing.
On screen, she first appeared in 1988’s “Mystic Pizza,” and had a small but memorable role in 1989’s “Uncle Buck,” where she played a strict school administrator. In 1990, she had what might be her best-known role, playing Karen’s mother in the gangster classic, “GoodFellas.” There, she delivered the memorable line, “The man hasn’t been able to digest a decent meal in six weeks.”
In 2000, she was cast as Carmela’s mother on “The Sopranos,” a show highly influenced by “GoodFellas.” She appeared in 20 episodes over the show’s six-season run. Other work included appearances in such films as “Requiem for a Dream,” and “Jacob’s Ladder,” and such shows as “Law & Order” and “Blue Bloods.”
When not acting, Shepherd directed stage work, including “The Blood Knot” with Danny Glover and “A Lesson from Aloes” with Glover and Joan Allen. She also taught acting for over four decades at Trinity Square Conservatory, Hartman Conservatory, the Berghof Studio, and her own studio in New York City.
Tributes to Suzanne Shepherd
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
