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Dinah Manoff

Dinah Manoff

Actor, also producer and writer · Born January 25, 1956 (70) · New York City, New York, USA

Dinah Manoff is an American stage, film, and television actress and television director. She is best known for her roles as Carol Weston on Empty Nest, Elaine Lefkowitz on Soap, Marty Maraschino in the film Grease, and Libby Tucker in both the stage and film adaptations of I Ought to Be in Pictures, for which she won a Tony Award.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 25, 1956 (70)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and writer
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 51 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 41% in 30 days

What are Dinah Manoff's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
32%
Self
28%
Survival
20%
Morality
11%
Society
6%
Power
3%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 10 · Serious 2 · Dark 6

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 14 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 7 · Intense 6

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 10 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 3

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 4 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 4
Shapeshifter
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
10
Tense
7
Melancholic
7
Joyful
5
Hopeful
5
Other
9

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous3
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Dinah Manoff's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Dinah Manoff's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

51 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Grease Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Marty Maraschino

  • Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Marty Maraschino (archive footage)

  • Bart Got a Room(2008)

    as Mrs. Goodson

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • A Carol Christmas(2003)

    as Aunt Marla

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • State of Grace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 39 episodes · as Evelyn Rayburn

  • Zigs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Marge

  • The Amati Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Denise

  • The lost child(2000)

    as Helen

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Movie Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Brother's Keeper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • George & Leo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Minor Adjustments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Cybill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Amy Fitzpatrick

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Callie Martin

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Sister, Sister(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • The John Larroquette Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Kelly

  • Maid for Each Other(1992)

    Executive Producer · Story · as Tibby Bloom

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael(1990)

    as Evelyn Whittacher

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Laura

  • Blossom(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Dinah Manoff

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Staying Together(1989)

    as Lois Cook

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Bloodhounds of Broadway(1989)

    as Maud Milligan

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Cover Girl and the Cop(1989)

    as Denise Danielovitch

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Child's Play(1988)

    as Maggie Peterson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Empty Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 170 episodes · Director · as Carol Weston

  • Backfire(1987)

    as Jill

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Classified Love(1986)

    as Theresa Leonetti

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Carol Weston

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Jenny Coopersmith

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Hot Pursuit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac(1984)

    as Priscilla Tirado

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Celebrity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 3 episodes · as Missy Craymore

  • The Seduction of Gina(1984)

    as Mary

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Night Court(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Sara Williams

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • A Matter of Sex(1984)

    as Glennis Rasmussen

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Table Settings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • I Ought to Be in Pictures(1982)

    as Libby Tucker

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Maud Milligan

  • For Ladies Only (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Mary Louise

  • Ordinary People(1980)

    as Karen

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • $weepstake$ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Maggie

  • Grease(1978)

    as Marty

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Soap(1977)

    Show 9 episodes · as Elaine Lefkowitz · as Elaine Lefkowitz Dallas

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Possessed(1977)

    as Celia

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Night Drive(1977)

    as Attendant's Girlfriend

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Raid on Entebbe(1976)

    as Rachel Sager

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Everybody Rides the Carousel(1976)

    as Stage 7 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Stronger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Helen

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 51 titles from 1951 to 2017; peak year 1989.

Biggest box office

Grease (1978)

$396M worldwide

Highest rated

Ordinary People (1980)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Child's Play (1988)

Film career

19512017

Peak 1989 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1976Screen debut· Raid on Entebbe

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting46 of 51: 44 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score47thDirecting6 of 51: 5 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 51: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 51: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1970s8 · acting1980s21 · 21 acting · 1 crew1990s13 · 8 acting · 6 crew2000s6 · acting2010s2 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 8 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Dinah Manoff's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 21; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 30 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 30 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor

Classified Love (1986)

81st percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Ordinary People (1980)

Midcredits 96th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Dinah Manoff's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 28 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 53 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 32 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 58 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Dinah Manoff work with?

People who share at least 2 of Dinah Manoff's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Lee Grant shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers