Suzanne Shepherd, the actress in Goodfellas who played the role of the mother of Karen Hill (played by Lorraine Bracck), passed away at the age of 89. It was confirmed by her agent to Variety, a US-based media outlet, that the actress died at her home in New York City on Friday.
She was born on October 31, 1934. Her debut in the acting career was made through the rom-com Mystic Pizza in 1988. Suzanne Shepherd was not a celebrated actor who had played multiple roles in some famous movies and shows, but she was a director.
She had directed in theatres across the U.S., and apart from that, she was an acting coach for over four decades at her own studio in New York. She had married David Shepheard but divorced him later
Shephard was very hard-working and dedicated to her career. She has been enthusiastic about acting, which makes her one of the most outstanding actresses with phenomenal acting skills in the industry.
She had played many strong, maternal roles in some of the most iconic productions, like the role of Carmela Soprano’s mother, Mary De Angelis, in the HBO series “The Sopranos” and Karen Hill’s mother in “Goodfellas.”
The works of Suzanne Shepherd
Shepherd’s first acting debut was made in the 1988 rom-com Mystic Pizza, starring Julia Roberts. Later on, she appeared in films like Working Girl, Uncle Beck, and Second Sight. These works brought her fame, which helped her gain bigger work and popularity.
The most recent appearance she made was as Tess in the 2023 movie The Performance. Alas, she won’t be there to watch her upcoming documentary, “A Gift of Fire,” which chronicles her career as an acting teacher.
She was cast in a drama series like “The Sopranos,” an HBO crime drama series, as the mother of Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco). In 1990, she played the role of the mother of Karen Hill (Lorraine Bracco) in Goodfellas. Shepherd’s tremendous performance in the role of mother got her the title of “go-to mother actress” by her fans.
In her decade-long career, Shepherd has played many other roles in movies, including Jacob’s Ladder (1990), Tress Lounge (1996), Lolita (1997), American Cuisine (1998), Living Out Loud (1998), Requiem for a Dream (2000), A Dirty Shame (2004), Harold (2008), and The Week Of (2018). She also made an appearance in Law & Order and Blue Bloods.
Shepherd has always added more depth to her character, which makes it more appealing to viewers and critics. It has been said that she has learned it from the legends of the industry: Sanford Meisner, Herbert Berghof, and Larry Arrick.
Beloved “go-to-mother actress” is no more
The news of the death of Suzanne Shepherd has hit the industry with a shockwave, as she was one of the most celebrated actresses of the decade. Many roles have been played by her, and all of them were perfectly blended, which made the viewers fall in love with her and the role as well.
When the news hit the industry, many stars expressed the sadness this news had caused them, one of which was Ray Abruzzo (Carmine Lupertazzi Jr.), her co-star from Sopranos.
He posted a picture of her and wrote in the caption, “Sad to hear of the passing of Suzanne Shepherd. A force of nature. Actress, teacher. I played Carmella’s mother on Sopranos and Karen’s mother on Goodfellas.
A few fan posts were also witnessed on Instagram, where the fans expressed their emotions by saying, “She was in so many things I love” and “She will not be forgotten; what an icon.” A fan also repeated her iconic dialogue: “Your father never stayed out all night without calling!”. All this is proof that she has won hearts and left behind her unforgettable works.
Suzanne Shepherd has left behind a legacy of her remarkable performance and is survived by her daughter Kate Shepherd, Miles McManus (son-in-law), and Isabelle Shepherd (granddaughter).
