Rita Wilson

Rita Wilson
Wilson in October 2012
Born	Margarita Ibrahimoff (1956-10-26) October 26, 1956 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, producer
Years active	1972–present
Spouse(s)	Tom Hanks (1988–present)
Children	2
Relatives	Colin Hanks (stepson)

Rita Wilson (born Margarita Ibrahimoff; October 26, 1956)^[2] is an American actress, singer, and producer.

Early life

Wilson was born Margarita Ibrahimoff^[2] (Bulgarian: Маргарита Ибрахимова; Greek: Μαργαρίτα Ιμπραΐμοβ) in Los Angeles, California. Her mother was born and raised in an ethnic Greek village (Sotirë) in present-day Albania.^[3] Her father, born Hassan Halilov Ibrahimoff (March 21, 1920 – March 6, 2009), worked at a race track; he was a Bulgarian Muslim (Pomak), born in Брещене (Breshtene), Western Thrace, and lived in Bulgaria, where his half brother Ferhat still lives. Subsequently, ^{[fn 1][1][4][5]}he moved to the United States on May 4, 1949.^[4] Wilson's father changed his name from Hassan Ibrahimoff to Allan Wilson in 1960,^[4] "Wilson" being the name of a local street in Southern California. Rita was raised Greek Orthodox.^[6]

Career

Wilson and Tom Hanks

Wilson's career began with a guest appearance on The Brady Bunch in the 1972 episode "Greg's Triangle". She also twice appeared on M*A*S*H in 1982 as Nurse Lacey as well as the sitcoms Three's Company and Bosom Buddies starring her future husband Tom Hanks.

She has appeared in several movies, including Volunteers, Teen Witch, The Bonfire of the Vanities, Barbarians at the Gate, Mixed Nuts, Sleepless in Seattle, Now and Then, That Thing You Do!, Jingle All the Way, Runaway Bride, Invisible Child, The Story of Us, Raise Your Voice, It's Complicated, and Larry Crowne. She played Susan Borman, wife of astronaut Frank Borman, in the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon. On television, she guest starred in many television series, including Frasier, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Good Wife, Body of Proof, and Girls.

Wilson has performed on Broadway, where she performed the role of Roxie Hart from June–August 2006 in the revival of Chicago.

She is often credited with being the driving force behind Nia Vardalos's movie deal for My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which became the highest-grossing independent film of all time, and for which she served as a producer.^[7]

Wilson's long-standing interest in singing led her to record a debut solo album, AM/FM, which she released May 8, 2012, on the Decca Records label. The album featured classics from the 60s and 70s, including a cover of "Wichita Lineman" that she performed with the song's writer-composer, Jimmy Webb.^[8][9]

Personal life

She has been married to actor Tom Hanks since April 1988, and the couple have two sons, Chester (born 4 August 1990) and Truman Theodore (born 26 December 1995). She also has two stepchildren from Tom Hanks' previous marriage, Colin and Elizabeth Ann.

She contributed to the Moffitt Cancer Center by donating "True Hearts" jewelry made of sterling silver and 14k gold. The proceeds will benefit several charities. Wilson credits good friend Rosie O'Donnell as inspiration for her charitable work, particularly with cancer and children's charities.^[10] She is a devout member of the Greek Orthodox Church.^[11]

Filmography

As a producer

Discography

• 2012: AM/FM (Audio CD: May 8, 2012)^[12]

Track listing

1. "All I Have to Do is Dream"
2. "Never My Love"
3. "Come See About Me"
4. "Angel of the Morning"
5. "Walking in the Rain"
6. "Wichita Lineman"
7. "Cherish"
8. "You Were on My Mind"
9. "Good Times Charlie"
10. "Love has No Pride"
11. "Please Come to Boston"
12. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"
13. "Faithless Love"
14. "River"

Notes

References

External links

• Rita Wilson at the Internet Movie Database
• Rita Wilson at the Internet Broadway Database
• Rita Wilson at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
• Rita Wilson on Twitter