1 / 11
Rita Wilson, born Margarita Ibrahimoff, was raised in Hollywood, California. As a first-generation American, she went on to become a successful actress, producer, director, writer, and pop singer. Rita Wilson's father, Hassan Halilov Ibrahimoff (1920–2009), was Bulgarian and fluent in five languages. Born in Oraio, Greece, he changed his name to Allan Wilson in 1960. Her mother, Dorothea Wilson (born Alice Agopova Aleksaneva Markaryan), was raised in Albania, near the Greek border.
2 / 11
Rita Wilson started her career in 1972 with a guest role on 'The Brady Bunch'. She played "Pat Conway", a character competing against "Marcia Brady" for head cheerleader in the episode 'Greg's Triangle.'
3 / 11
Rita Wilson also appeared twice on 'M*A*S*H' in 1982 as "Nurse Lacey", and had roles on sitcoms like 'Three's Company' and 'Bosom Buddies' starring her future husband Tom Hanks,. She also played "Hester Rose Crane", the late mother of "Frasier Crane", on 'Frasier'.
4 / 11
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson crossed paths again in 1985 on the set of Volunteers. At the time, Tom was married to his first wife, Samantha Lewes, whom he married in 1978 and had two children with—Colin and Elizabeth. However, when he met Rita, he felt there was something special about her. The couple married on April 30, 1988, after Tom's divorce.
5 / 11
Wilson has starred in numerous films, including 'Barbarians at the Gate', 'The Bonfire of the Vanities', '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'.
6 / 11
On television, Rita Wilson portrayed "Susan Borman", the wife of astronaut "Frank Borman", in the HBO miniseries 'From the Earth to the Moon'. She also guest-starred in several shows, including Frasier, Curb Your Enthusiasm, 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit', and 'Body of Proof'. Additionally, she had recurring roles on 'The Good Wife and Girls'.
7 / 11
Rita Wilson played a key role in helping actress-playwright Nia Vardalos secure the movie deal for 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding', which went on to become the highest-grossing independent film of all time. Wilson served as a producer for the film and had also produced two stage productions of the play during its development. In 2016, she co-produced the sequel, 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2', and also appeared in a supporting role.
8 / 11
Rita teamed up with producer Fred Mollin to record her album AM/FM. For her second album, songwriter and producer Kara DioGuardi helped her write the first two songs. Since then, Rita has collaborated with many talented songwriters on her music.
9 / 11
"I’d always dreamed of being a singer," Rita shared. Passionate about music, she sang in a church folk group as a teenager and later took a job as a ticket-taker at a concert venue just to watch the performances. In 2005, her agent encouraged her to audition for the role of "Roxie Hart" in the 'Broadway revival of Chicago'. Landing the role was life-changing, inspiring her to start planning for her own music album.
10 / 11
For more than 20 years, Rita Wilson and her husband, Tom Hanks, have been honorary co-chairs of the Women's Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), along with Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw. They work to raise money for women's cancers. In 2016, WCRF teamed up with Evelyn Lauder's Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Rita also helped the Moffitt Cancer Center by donating "True Hearts" jewelry made of sterling silver and 14k gold.
Take a look at Rita Wilson’s journey, from her early acting roles to becoming a successful producer and singer.
This gallery shows her memorable moments on screen, on the red carpet, and in her music career. See how she’s grown and made her mark in entertainment over the years!