Suzanne Shepherd

Suzanne Shepherd is an American actress and theater director known for her roles in various films and television series. She studied acting with Sanford Meisner and became the first woman to teach Meisner's program of acting study. Shepherd was a founding member of the Compass Players, alongside Alan Alda and Alan Arkin. Some of her notable film appearances include Aunt Tweedy in Mystic Pizza, Karen's overbearing mother in Goodfellas, Mrs. Scarlini in Requiem for a Dream, and Big Ethel in A Dirty Shame. On television, she portrayed Carmela Soprano's mother Mary DeAngelis in The Sopranos and played Lucille Abetemarco in the CBS series Blue Bloods. Shepherd's contributions to the entertainment industry have made her a respected figure in the acting world.