Cher filmography

Cher
Cher in the 1970s
Born
Cherilyn Sarkisian

(1946-05-20) May 20, 1946 (age 78)
El Centro, California, U.S.
Years active1965–present

Throughout her acting career, Cher has mainly starred in comedy, drama, and romance films. She has appeared in twenty films, including two as a cameo. She has also appeared in one starring theater role, one video game role, numerous television commercials and directed a piece of the motion picture If These Walls Could Talk in 1996 and some of her music videos of the Geffen-era in late 1980s and in early 1990s. Cher has starred in various international television commercials, as well as high-profile print advertising for Lori Davis (1992). Before she started her film career, she had a couple of hits in the 1960s, as a solo artist, and with her ex-husband Sonny Bono as the couple Sonny & Cher.

Her first appearance as an actress was in 1967 in the American television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. as the model Ramona. That same year, she started her film career with Sonny Bono in the poorly received-film Good Times[1] and later as a solo actress in the low budget feature Chastity. Since then she has starred in numerous independent and Hollywood motion pictures. She made her Broadway debut in Robert Altman's Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean in 1982.[2][3] The play was a critical and commercial success and Cher received strong reviews for her stage work (even Frank Rich called her "ingratiating"[4]) and paved the way for her to be cast in the film version the next year, that garnered her a Golden Globe nomination.[5] She was next cast alongside Meryl Streep and Kurt Russell in the critically hailed drama Silkwood (1983) directed by Mike Nichols, inspired by the true-life story of Karen Silkwood, in which her character was a lesbian who worked at the Kerr-McGee plant in Cimarron, Oklahoma. It was a commercial success and grossed $35 million in the United States alone. Cher then appeared in the drama Mask (1985) directed by Peter Bogdanovich and with Eric Stoltz, Sam Elliott and Laura Dern. The film is based on the life and early death of Roy L. "Rocky" Dennis, a boy who suffered from craniodiaphyseal dysplasia. The film was considered her first critical and commercial success as a leading actress and firmly established her as an actress. For her role as a mother of a severely disfigured boy, Cher won the Best Actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival.[6]

In 1987, she starred in three films: the thriller Suspect, with Dennis Quaid and Liam Neeson; the film has been credited for the high quality of acting despite the severe loopholes of the story. In particular, Cher, in the lead role, has received positive reviews. The fantasy film The Witches of Eastwick, with Jack Nicholson, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer; and the romantic comedy Moonstruck with Nicolas Cage and Olympia Dukakis. Moonstruck is also her most commercial success to date, grossing over $80 million in the United States alone. During 1989–1991, Cher refused many roles, like The War of the Roses, Thelma & Louise and The Addams Family for starring in Richard Benjamin's Mermaids with Bob Hoskins, Winona Ryder, and a then 9-year-old Christina Ricci. The film was a modest success drawing only $35 million in tickets in the U.S. Cher made cameo appearances in the Robert Altman films The Player (1992) and Prêt-à-Porter (1994). She starred in the poorly received film Faithful (1996) with Ryan O'Neal and Chazz Palminteri, in the role of the betrayed wife. Then, in 1999, Cher co-starred in the well-received Franco Zeffirelli film Tea With Mussolini with Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright and Lily Tomlin. Cher had a minor appearance in the Farrelly Brothers comedy Stuck on You (2003) with Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear, in which she plays herself and Honey, a character of a TV series. She also spoofed her own image, appearing in bed with a high school boyfriend (Frankie Muniz). In 2010, Cher appeared alongside pop singer Christina Aguilera in the Steven Antin directed musical film Burlesque, her last major starring movie role to date.

Cher has also contributed music to films, like "Alfie", "After All" "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" and "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me". Cher has received many awards and nominations for her work in films. She was nominated six times for the Golden Globe Awards, winning it three times; in 1974 for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy, in 1983 for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for her role in Silkwood and in 1987 for Best Actress in a Comedy for her role in Moonstruck. She was also nominated twice for the Academy Award, in 1984 for her role in Silkwood, and in 1987, when she won the Best Actress award for her role in Moonstruck.

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1965 Wild on the Beach Herself
1967 Good Times
1969 Chastity Chastity
1982 Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean Sissy
1983 Silkwood Dolly Pelliker
1985 Mask Rusty Dennis
1987 The Witches of Eastwick Alexandra Medford
Suspect Kathleen Riley
Moonstruck Loretta Castorini
1990 Mermaids Rachel Flax
1992 The Player Herself Cameo appearance
1994 Ready to Wear (Prêt-à-Porter)
1996 Faithful Margaret Connor
1999 Tea with Mussolini Elsa Strauss
2003 Stuck on You Herself
2010 Burlesque Tess Scali
2011 Zookeeper Janet the Lioness (voice)
2018 Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Ruby Sheridan
2020 Bobbleheads: The Movie Herself (voice) Cameo appearance
2024 Little Bites — Executive Producer[7]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1967 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Ramona Episode: "The Hot Number Affair"
1968 Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In Herself
1970 The Sonny & Cher Nitty Gritty Hour
1971 Love, American Style Episode: "Love and the Sack"
1971–
1974 		The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour Herself (co-host),
various characters
1972 The New Scooby-Doo Movies Herself (voice) Episode: "The Secret of Shark Island"
1975–
1976 		Cher Herself (host),
various characters
1976–
1977 		The Sonny and Cher Show Herself (co-host),
various characters
1978 Cher... Special Herself (host),
various characters
1979 Cher and Other Fantasies Herself Also Executive Producer
1983 A Celebration at Caesar's Palace
1987 Superstars and their Moms
1990 Cher Extravaganza: Live at the Mirage
1996 If These Walls Could Talk Dr. Beth Thompson Also director (segment "1996")
1998 Sonny & Me: Cher Remembers Herself Also Executive Producer
1999 VH1 Divas Live 2
Cher: Live at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
2000 Will & Grace Episode: "Gypsies, Tramps and Weed"
2002 VH1 Divas Las Vegas
Will & Grace Episode: "A.I.: Artificial Insemination"
2003 Cher: The Farewell Tour Also Executive Producer
2004 Sesame Street Episode: "Cookie Monster writes a story"
2011 Becoming Chaz
2013 TCM Friday Night Spotlight Herself (co-host) 3 episodes titled "A Woman's World: The Defining Era Of Women In Films"
Dear Mom, Love Cher Herself Also Executive Producer
The Voice Herself (special advisor) Season 5
Dancing with the Stars Herself (guest judge) Season 17, Episode 8: "Cher Week"
2017 Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh Chercophonie Voice role, Episode: "Chercophonie"
2021 Cher & the Loneliest Elephant Herself Also Executive Producer
Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?[8] Herself (voice) Episode: "Cher, Scooby, and the Sargasso Sea!"
2023 Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love Herself Television special

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1996 9: The Last Resort Isadora Voice

Commercials

[edit]
Year Company Promoting # Theme Soundtrack Country
1984 Chicago Health & Racquetball Club Gym Club 1 Cher working out Instrumental song United States
1985
1989		 Jack LaLanne Spa Gym Club 3 "If I Could Turn Back Time" United States/Europe
1987
1988		 Parfums Stern Uninhibited 2 Beach and catwalk Instrumental song United States
1992 Equal Sweetener 1 Cher talking about Equal No song United States
1992 Aquasentials Skin Care Beauty line by Cher 1 Cher talking about Aquasentials No song United States
1995 Warner Music Group It's a Man's World 1 Cher singing "One by One"
"Walking In Memphis"		 United States/Europe
2013 Closer to the Truth 2 "Woman's World"
"I Hope You Find It"
2024 UKTV U (streaming service) 1 Cher daydreaming, singing while in several UKTV programmes "I Got You Babe" United Kingdom

Other work

[edit]

Film roles associated with Cher

[edit]
Year Title Notes Status
1967 Bonnie and Clyde Warren Beatty was making a gangster film, and he wanted to test Cher for the part of Bonnie, but later was turned down because Beatty begged Natalie Wood, his girl friend at the time, to play the role.[9] Faye Dunaway got the part
1975 The Fortune When Bette Midler was dropped from the Nicholson-Beatty comedy, Cher auditioned for the role of "Fredrika" but was turned down by Mike Nichols.[10] "There are two kinds of girls in the world: the kind you wanna fuck and the kind you don't." He felt the role called for the latter and for him, Cher wasn't "suitable." "But I'm talented," she yelled. "If you can't see it now, you'll be sorry one day." Nine years later, Nichols cast Cher as Dolly Pelliker in Silkwood.[11] Stockard Channing got the part
1976 King Kong Cher auditioned for the part but was turned down.[12] In an interview she said: "I did the test as a lark. I was pregnant at the time, or else I probably would have done it – just to work."[11] Jessica Lange got the part
A Star is Born Cher was attached to star before Jon Peters and Barbra Streisand took over.[13] replaced by Barbra Streisand
1979 The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh Cher was originally cast as "Mona Mondieu", but she backed out at the last minute because she was unable to fit the shooting into her schedule.[14] replaced by Stockard Channing
1983 Going to the Chapel Cher was supposed to star in the film to Paramount Pictures during the summer of 1983, until she reportedly nixed so many prospective directors that she and the studio came to a parting of the ways.[15] Film never made
Road Show Cher was supposed to have been Jack Nicholson's leading lady in the film, until Nicholson objected to her casting.[15]
1984 Grandview, U.S.A. Cher was offered the role of "Michelle 'Mike' Cody" but she turned down the role in favor of the film Mask. She turned down the role because producers wouldn't cast Eric Stolz as her co-star.[16] About the role she said "I won't do anything for just money, only if I can bring something to it."[17] replaced by Jamie Lee Curtis
Crimes of Passion Cher was reportedly considered for the dual role of "Joanna Crane", aka the hooker "China Blue" in Ken Russell's romantic thriller.[11] Kathleen Turner got the part
1986 Fatal Beauty During the first controversial interview with David Letterman, Cher confirmed that she was working on two films, Suspect and Fatal Beauty,[18] but backed out of the latter.[19] replaced by Whoopi Goldberg
1987 Black Widow Cher was reportedly considered for the lead role, but was later turned down.[20] In an interview she said, "For me, it's about life experiences. Making films and... growth in life is real intertwined."[11] replaced by Theresa Russell
Baby Boom Cher turned down the female lead in the film Baby Boom.[20] Cher said also that Diane Keaton was much better for the role.[20] replaced by Diane Keaton
1988 Midnight Run Production executives suggested that the Mardukas character be changed to a woman and wanted Cher for the role in the hope she would provide some "sexual overtones".[21] But Cher said that "I have to find a character to express who I am – and that's not easy."[11] Charles Grodin got the part
Working Girl Cher was considered for the role of "Tess McGill". She also said, "I act really great but I don't think of myself as an actress. I don't do it for a living."[11] Melanie Griffith got the part
1989 The War of the Roses Cher was originally offered the role that eventually went to Kathleen Turner.[22] Cher did not accept the role for personal reasons: "I knew that was going to be a hit. A great script but... kinda mean. I'd lived it for real. I didn't want to do it for money."[11] Kathleen Turner got the part
She-Devil After winning the Oscar, she spent three years choosing her next film and She-Devil was the one she most wanted.[11] Meryl Streep got the part
1990 The Witches Cher was considered for the role of the "Grand High Witch" in a film adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel The Witches, but the role was eventually given to Anjelica Huston.[23] Anjelica Huston got the part
The Grifters For the role of Lilly, Cher was originally considered but she became too expensive after the success of Moonstruck[24] for UK director Stephen Frears and his producer Martin Scorsese.
1991 Thelma & Louise Cher was offered for the role of "Thelma Yvonne Dickinson", but turned it down.[22] In an interview Cher also said "It was a much rougher when I got it. It probably would've been a good movie to do. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. I'm glad Susan did it."[11] Geena Davis got the part
The Addams Family Cher was considered for the role of "Morticia Addams".[10] Anjelica Huston got the part
1992 Batman Returns Cher was in competition with many other actresses for the role of "Catwoman".[25] Michelle Pfeiffer got the part
Leaving Normal Backed away from director Edward Zwick's second feature (a kind of Thelma & Louise revisited) as the waitress was a cousin of her role in Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.[26] Besides, she was busy with her Aquasentials Skin Care infomercials. Christine Lahti got the part
This Is My Life Fox wanted the Jewish housewife struggling to be a stand-up comic to be Cher, Bette Midler or Michelle Pfeiffer.[11] Julie Kavner got the part
1993 Title unknown In 1993, Cher and Michelle Pfeiffer had a film in development, a black comedy about a film star and a tabloid reporter, but the film never appeared.[27] Project abandoned
1994 Interview with the Vampire Due to Hollywood's homophobia of the time, Anne Rice rewrote the part of Louis, changing his sex to female, specifically to make Louis' and Lestat's relationship heterosexual.[28] At the time, Rice felt it was the only way to get the film made, and Cher was considered for the part.[28] Brad Pitt got the part
1995 The Bridges of Madison County Cher was considered for the role of "Francesca Johnson".[29] Meryl Streep got the part
1996 Evita Cher was proposed to play "Eva Peron" in the movie musical.[30] Madonna got the part
Freaky Deaky In early 1996 Barry Cooper with Monte Hellman made a deal with the Japanese company Shochiku.[31] Part of the deal was that Quentin Tarantino and Lawrence Bender would be executive producers of the pictures that Hellman would direct.[31] One of the film was Freaky Deaky, an adaption of Elmore Leonard's 1988 novel.[31] The cast for the film included Vince Vaughn (as Chris), Cher (as Robin) and Mickey Rourke (as Skip), but due to conflicts the company and the producers team the film never appeared.[31] Project abandoned
2000 Mame ABC in late 2000 confirmed that Cher would star in a TV adaptation of the musical Mame.[32] Film never made
2001 Riding in Cars with Boys When the rights were purchased in 1989 by James L. Brooks, Debra Winger and Cher were considered for the lead.[33] replaced by Drew Barrymore
Heartbreakers Originally, Doug Liman was set to direct, with Cher and Jennifer Aniston playing the roles of "Max" and "Page", a film called The Breakers.[11] However, due to the long pre-production stage, both actresses had to bow out of the film due to scheduling conflicts. replaced by Sigourney Weaver
The Enchanted Cottage Since 1992 Cher had plans to direct and star in a remake of the 1945 John Cromwell film,[34] and in 2001 was announced that she was hoping to play opposite Brendan Fraser, but the film never happened.[35] Film never made
2003 In The Pink In December 2003, during an interview Cher announced that was offered a role in a film called In The Pink.[36] Cher was set to star with Britney Spears, Bette Midler, comic Wanda Sykes and Tim Allen as director.[37] The film was written by Simon Beaufoy, who wrote also The Full Monty, for Revolution Studios. The comedy features Allen playing a Texas playboy wealthy exec who loses his job and is forced to sell Mary Kay cosmetics door to door with a group of women.[38][39] The film was also to start shooting in early 2005, but in March 2005 Midler said that the film had not been put into development.[40]
2008 The Dark Knight Rises In the summer of 2008 was reported that Cher was set to play Catwoman opposite Christian Bale in the third Batman film from British director Christopher Nolan.[41] A studio executive said also that "Cher is Nolan's first choice to play Catwoman. He wants her to portray her like a vamp in her twilight years." and "The new Catwoman will be the absolute opposite of Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry's purring creations."[42] Those rumors were denied on November 3, 2008, when Cher appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[43] Rumours denied
Mamma Mia! In a 2010 red carpet interview at the premiere of Burlesque that she had been offered a part in Mamma Mia! alongside her Silkwood co-star Meryl Streep, but was on the road so could not commit.[44] Eventually, she was cast in its sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Could not commit
2008–11 The Drop Out[43] In a 2008 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Cher told DeGeneres that she was to appear in a film with Johnny Knoxville.[45] This did not materialise in 2010 as expected, but during a red carpet interview at the Burlesque premiere, Cher indicated that she and Knoxville were still keen to make the film.[44] Status unknown

References

[edit]
General
  • "Cher Filmography". Allmovie. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  • "Cher Filmography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2008. Archived from the original on January 31, 2008. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  • "Cher – Rotten Tomatoes Celebrity Profile". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  • "Cher Filmography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
Specific
  1. ^ Lovell, Wesley. "Good Times review". Apolloguide.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2006. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  2. ^ "Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  3. ^ "Cher". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  4. ^ Rich, Frank (February 19, 1982). "Stage: Robert Altman Directs Cher". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "Come Back To The 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean". Golden Globes. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "Cher, awards and nominations". MSN. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  7. ^ "RLJE Films & Shudder Acquire Spider One Horror Film 'Little Bites'". Deadline. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  8. ^ "How 'Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?' Landed That Axl Rose Guest Spot". Rolling Stone. February 25, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  9. ^ Bono, Sonny (1992). "And the Beat Goes on". Pocket. ISBN 0-671-69367-0.
  10. ^ a b Mell, Eila (2005). "Casting Might-Have-Beens". McFarland & Co Inc. ISBN 0-7864-2017-0.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Cher (Cherilyn Sarkesian)". Crawleyscastingcalls.com. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
  12. ^ Morton, Ray (2005). "King Kong: the history of a movie icon from Fay Wray to Peter Jackson". Applause Theatre and Cinema Books. ISBN 1-55783-669-8.
  13. ^ Parish, James Robert; Michael R. Pitts (2003). "Hollywood Songsters: Allyson to Funicello". Routledge. ISBN 0-415-94332-9.
  14. ^ Mehno, John (2007). "The Best Pittsburgh Sports Arguments". Sourcebooks. ISBN 978-1-4022-0967-3.
  15. ^ a b "Cher not getting her share of meaty big-screen roles". The Ledger. August 26, 1983.
  16. ^ "Penthouse Pet tosses athletes to bask in Prince's new glory". The Ledger. August 9, 1984.
  17. ^ Jerome, Jim (June 23, 1984). "Cher Finds a New Life". People. Retrieved October 8, 2009.
  18. ^ TV interview, Late Night with David Letterman, NBC (May 22, 1986)
  19. ^ Nash, Jay Robert (1988). "The Motion Picture Guide 1988 Annual: The Films of 1987". CineBooks. ISBN 0-933997-17-5.
  20. ^ a b c Uricchio, Marylynn (March 19, 1988). "A Talk with Cher". Toledo Blade.
  21. ^ Parker, John (1998). "De Niro". Victor Gollancz. ISBN 0-575-60026-8.
  22. ^ a b Jerome, Jim (May 25, 1998). "Being Cher". People. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  23. ^ "The Witches". Virginmedia.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  24. ^ Johnston, Sheila (January 31, 1991). "The Innocent Abroad". The Independent.
  25. ^ Thompson, Anne (August 9, 1991). "Big-Game Hunting". Entertainment Weekly.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  26. ^ "Cher's next starring won't be "Leaving Normal"". Boca Raton News. February 2, 1991.
  27. ^ Murphy, Ryan (May 21, 1993). "Losing Pitcher". Entertainment Weekly.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2009. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  28. ^ a b Benshoff, Harry M. (1997). "Monsters in the closet: homosexuality and the horror film". Manchester University Press. ISBN 0-7190-4473-1.
  29. ^ Thompson, Anne (May 13, 1994). "Still Building 'Bridges'". Entertainment Weekly.com. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  30. ^ "The Bermudian, Volume 65, Number 7-12, 1994
  31. ^ a b c d Stevens, Brad (2003). "Monte Hellman: his life and films". McFarland & Company. ISBN 0-7864-1434-0.
  32. ^ Rice, Lynette (September 26, 2000). "Auntie Establishment". Entertainment Weekly.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  33. ^ "Riding in Cars with Boys". Entertainment Weekly.com. August 14, 2001. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
  34. ^ TV interview, Going Live!, BBC One (1992)
  35. ^ Mellor, Rupert (September 1, 2001). "Naked talent". The Times. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
  36. ^ Morales, Tatiana (December 17, 2003). "Cher, The One And Only". CBS News. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
  37. ^ Friedman, Roger (January 20, 2004). "Britney Spears Being Lined Up For In The Pink Role". Fox News Channel.
  38. ^ Graser, Marc (April 7, 2003). "Allen pretty in Pink". Daily Variety.
  39. ^ Silverman, Stephen (April 8, 2003). "Tim Allen to Sell Mary Kay Cosmetics". People. Archived from the original on March 19, 2008. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
  40. ^ "Singer Midler blasts miming divas". BBC News. March 30, 2005. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
  41. ^ Salter, Jessica (August 24, 2008). "Cher 'to play Catwoman' in next Batman film". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on August 27, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
  42. ^ Hamilton, Sean (August 24, 2008). "Cher set to play catwoman in next Batman movie". Daily Mirror. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
  43. ^ a b TV interview, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, NBC (October 3, 2008) on YouTube
  44. ^ a b "Cher at Burlesque Premiere". YouTube. November 15, 2010. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  45. ^ "Cher Ellen Show 2". YouTube. November 4, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
[edit]
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