Taggart, Rita 1949- (Rita Taggert)

PERSONAL

Born December 19, 1949, in Salinas, CA; married Haskell Wexler (a cinematographer, director, and actor), 1989. Education: Studied special education at San Francisco State College (now San Francisco State University); studied acting with Ray Reinhardt at the American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco, CA.

Career:

Actress. Worked as a teacher, cocktail waitress, and masseuse.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Carol Schue, Straight Time, Warner Bros., 1978.

Johnson, Coming Home (also known as Hemkomsten), United Artists, 1978.

Reporter, 1941, Universal, 1979.

Rita Jacovich, The China Syndrome, Columbia, 1979.

Thelma, Die Laughing, Warner Bros., 1980.

Woman in bed, Used Cars, Columbia, 1980.

Rita, Torchlight, Film Ventures International, 1984.

Lillian Bingington, Weeds, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1987.

Donna McCarthy, The Horror Show (also known as Horror House, House 3, and House III: The Horror Show), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1989.

Betty Libner, Coupe de Ville, Universal, 1990.

Kate Golden, Crossing the Bridge, Buena Vista, 1992.

Autumn McBride, Steal Big, Steal Little, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1995.

Lou, Limbo, Screen Gems, 1999.

Voice of M.A.D. nurse, Inspector Gadget: Gadget's Greatest Gadgets (animated; consists of episodes of the television series Inspector Gadget; also known as Gadget's Gadgets), Buena Vista, 1999.

Linney James, Mulholland Dr. (also known as Mulholland Drive), Universal, 2001.

Bookstore coworker, The Big Empty, Opposable Thumbs/Section Eight, 2005.

Herself, Special Thanks to Roy London (documentary), 2005.

Herself, Who Needs Sleep? (documentary), 2006.

Nurse Green, A Quiet Little Marriage, Quiet Little Films, 2008.

Professor, Circle, Redwire Pictures/Shoot Productions, 2008.

Film Work:

Cinematographer, Who Needs Sleep? (documentary), 2006.

Television Appearances; Series:

Blanche, Steambath, Showtime, beginning c. 1983.

Diane, Eye to Eye, ABC, 1985.

Joan Foley, Almost Grown, CBS, 1988-89.

Ruthanne, Coach, ABC, 1994-95.

Television Appearances; Movies:

(Uncredited) James Dean (also known as The Legend), NBC, 1976.

Amy Morrison, Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case, CBS, 1980.

Nina, Seizure: The Story of Kathy Morris, CBS, 1980.

Janet Carlson, Born to Be Sold, NBC, 1981.

Janice, The Other Victim, CBS, 1981.

Salt, Inmates: A Love Story, ABC, 1981.

Sally, Mae West, ABC, 1982.

Mrs. Walt Johnson, Wait Till Your Mother Gets Home!, NBC, 1983.

Monica, The Cartier Affair, NBC, 1984.

Fern Hooten, "Splash, Too," The Disney Sunday Movie (also known as Disneyland, Disneylandia, Disney's Wonderful World, The Magical World of Disney, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Presents, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, and The Wonderful World of Disney), ABC, 1988.

Kay Joyner, Terror on Highway 91, CBS, 1989.

(Uncredited) Mrs. Staplin, "Columbo: Agenda for Murder," ABC Saturday Mystery, ABC, 1990.

Emma Webber (some sources cite Rhonda Smaters), At Home with the Webbers (also known as The Webbers and Webber's World), 1993.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Farkis, "Miss Lonelyhearts," American Playhouse, PBS, 1983.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Groovy girl, "Somebody Down There Likes Him," Rhoda, CBS, 1975.

Vivian Harrow, "Paper Marriage," Taxi, ABC, 1978.

"Nightwork," David Cassidy—Man Undercover, NBC, 1979.

Marie Roscini, "Love around the Corner," Hello, Larry, NBC, 1980.

Carla B., "All You Need Is Love," Night Court, NBC, 1981.

Carla B., "Harry on Trial," Night Court, NBC, 1981.

Carla B., "Once in Love with Harry," Night Court, NBC, 1981.

Carla B., "Santa Goes Downtown," Night Court, NBC, 1981.

Lady Lou, "The Shaming of the Shrew," Enos, CBS, 1981.

Rose, "Moments of Truth," Knots Landing, CBS, 1981.

Joy, "Hot Line," Cagney & Lacey, CBS, 1982.

Nurse Losef, "Legionnaires: Part 1," St. Elsewhere, NBC, 1982.

Gloria Lomax, "Murder is the Key," Tucker's Witch, CBS, 1983.

Rochelle Zimmer, "Thank God It's Monday," Cagney & Lacey, CBS, 1984.

Andrea Burden, "Case X," Hunter, NBC, 1985.

Rita Holden, "A Little Sex, a Little Scandal," Scarecrow and Mrs. King, CBS, 1985.

Rosie McDonough, "Blues in the Night," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1985.

Sylvia, "Make Mine Mink," Kate & Allie, CBS, 1985.

Voice of crying woman, "Busy Signal," Inspector Gadget (animated; also known as Inspecteur Gadget), syndicated, 1985.

Voice of M.A.D. nurse, "Gadget's Gadgets," Inspector Gadget (animated; also known as Inspecteur Gadget), syndicated, 1985.

Voice of Thelma Popkins, "Tyrannosaurus Gadget," Inspector Gadget (animated; also known as Inspecteur Gadget), syndicated, 1985.

Voice of woman in Indian costume, "Ghost Catchers," Inspector Gadget (animated; also known as Inspecteur Gadget), syndicated, 1985.

Brenda, "Double Jeopardy," The Colbys (also known as Dynasty II: The Colbys), ABC, 1986.

Sheila Jessup, "Scapegoats," Hotel (also known as Arthur Hailey's "Hotel"), ABC, 1986.

Voice of Thelma Popkins, "Gadget's Clean Sweep," Inspector Gadget (animated; also known as Inspecteur Gadget), syndicated, 1986.

Voices of Thelma Popkins and librarian, "Gadget's Roma," Inspector Gadget (animated; also known as Inspecteur Gadget), syndicated, 1986.

Darla Stadler, "Aftermath," DEA, Fox, 1990, series later known as DEA: Special Task Force.

Marsha, "Southern Comforts—August 4, 1961," Quantum Leap, NBC, 1991.

Edna Hancock, "Democracy in America," Northern Exposure, CBS, 1992.

Janine Foster, "The Classic Murder," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1992.

Edna Hancock, "Northern Hospitality," Northern Exposure, CBS, 1994.

Edna Hancock, "Una volta in l'inverno," Northern Exposure, CBS, 1994.

"Maternity," Strong Medicine, Lifetime, 2001.

(As Rita Taggert) Voice, "Not Yet Begun to Fight," Liberty's Kids: Est. 1776 (animated), PBS, 2002.

(As Rita Taggert) Voice, "The Turtle," Liberty's Kids: Est. 1776 (animated), PBS, 2002.

"Lonely Hearts," For the People (also known as Para la gente), Lifetime, 2002.

Dr. Kathryn Metters, "Mother & Child Reunion," Line of Fire (also known as Lines of Duty), ABC, 2004.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Geri Ballin, Every Stray Dog and Kid, NBC, 1981.

Joan Foley, Almost Grown, CBS, 1988.

Television Additional Voices; Animated Series:

Inspector Gadget, syndicated, c. 1985.

Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Fox, c. 1994-97, Fox Family Channel, 1998-99, also broadcast by PAX TV and syndicated.

Stage Appearances:

Molly O'Keefe, The Killing of Michael Malloy, Tiffany Theater, West Hollywood, CA, beginning 1993.

Appeared in Hungry Hearts, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Los Angeles; also appeared in other productions.