Trivia

Her father was of German and Irish descent and her mother was of Cuban and Irish ancestry.

Gave birth to her first child at age 28, a son Christopher Robert Ruehl in April 1976. Child's father is unknown to the public and Ruehl subsequently gave her son up for adoption. Reunited in the late 90s when he was 21 and became godfather to his half-brother, Jake Xavier Ruehl Geiser, born May 1997, adopted at 11-years old by Ruehl and Geiser.

Her brother, American-Australian columnist and humorist Peter Ruehl, passed away suddenly on April 12, 2011. A respected journalist/columnist for the Australian Financial Review, the 64 year-old was survived by his Australian wife, and three children: Mercedes, John, and Tom.

In 1991, Mercedes won an Oscar for The Fisher King (1991) and a Tony for "Lost in Yonkers". Mercedes is one of five actresses to win the Tony and the Oscar in the same year. The others are Shirley Booth, Audrey Hepburn, Ellen Burstyn and Judi Dench.

Her husband, David Geiser, is an abstract expressionist painter.

Won an Obie Award for her performance in Promenade Theatre's one-woman play, 'Woman Before a Glass' (2005). Ruehl portrayed wealthy New Yorker and art dealer, Peggy Guggenheim.

Studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City. Ruehl is a member of the Studio's faculty and teaches a variety of advanced acting courses.

Ruehl and Geiser separated but remained close from 2017.

Is an Associate Artist at the Bay Street Theatre, Sag Harbor, NY.

Graduated in English from the College of New Rochelle, New York (1969). Recipient of the College's 2014 Women of Leadership Award (2014).

Lives with her husband in East Hampton, Long Island, NY.

Ruehl and Geiser sold their house in 2017.

Daughter of Vincent Edward (1920-2003) and Mercedes Ruehl (1914-2000). Paternal granddaughter of William Edward Ruehl (1889-1956) and Kathleen Viola Tobin (1894-1964). Paternal great granddaughter of William Ruehl (1859-1923) and Catherine Downing (1867-1932). Paternal great granddaughter of William Ruehl (1859-1923) and Catherine Downing (1867-1932).