Camryn Manheim Bio

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Camryn Manheim (born March 8, 1961) is an American actress known primarily for her roles as attorney Ellenor Frutt on ABC's The Practice and Delia Banks on CBS's Ghost Whisperer.

Camryn Manheim: Biography

Camryn Manheim - Early life

Manheim was born Debra Frances Manheim in Caldwell, New Jersey, but grew up in Peoria, Illinois. She is the daughter of Sylvia, a teacher, and Jerome Manheim, a mathematics professor. Her family is Jewish. Manheim became interested in acting after working at a Renaissance fair in high school. Manheim graduated from UCSC with a BFA degree in 1984 and NYU with an MFA degree in 1987.

Camryn Manheim - Career

Manheim worked for a while as a sign language interpreter at hospitals. Her knowledge of sign language was utilized at times on The Practice, an episode of Law & Order and also for her role as a Child Behavioral Psychologist in the movie Mercury Rising. In 1998, Manheim collected an Emmy for her work on The Practice and exclaimed that "This is for all the fat girls!" She followed up on this statement with an autobiography entitled Wake Up, I'm Fat!. A one-woman show of the same name preceded the book.

In 2005, Manheim earned Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her work in the acclaimed miniseries Elvis, and the following year she joined the cast of Ghost Whisperer. Her other television credits include Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, Family Guy, Will & Grace, Boston Public, Two and a Half Men, The L Word, How I Met Your Mother and Hannah Montana.

In addition, Manheim has several film credits under her belt. These include Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, Happiness (which earned her and her co-stars an NBR Award for Best Ensemble), The Laramie Project, Scary Movie 3, Dark Water and An Unfinished Life.

Camryn Manheim - Personal life

Manheim is an avid human rights activist with a focus on women's rights, fat acceptance, and gay rights. She is known to have made contributions to a variety of charities, notably RAINN. Manheim has also been involved with the Los Angeles based charity, Bet Tzedek Legal Services - The House of Justice, serving as a co-chair for their annual fundraiser, The Justice Ball. She maintains her own official website where she can interact with fans.

She has a son named Milo Jacob who was born on March 6, 2001, just two days before her 40th birthday. Her brother, Karl Manheim, is a law professor at Loyola Law School.