An athletic beauty, Wilson had leading roles in two short-lived series, THE CHEERLEADERS (1976) and THE BEACH GIRLS (1977).
Half Greek (mother) and half Bulgarian (father).
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are furious with a construction company they hired to build their hideaway in Idaho -- The actors were hoping to keep their 10-acre Ketchum home a super secret, and were horrified when Storey Construction revealed all in a $1.9 million suit, which claims Hanks and Wilson owe them $1.9 million for work they completed on the hideaway. (June 21, 2003)
She made her film debut in CHEECH & CHONG'S NEXT MOVIE (1978).
Wilson originally met Tom Hanks in 1981 on the set of BOSOM BUDDIES (1980) when she guest-starred as Peter Scolari's Satan-worshiping girlfriend. But their relationship wouldn't be kindled until they were reunited on the set of VOLUNTEERS (1985).
Convinced Tom Hanks to hire Everett Scott cause she thought Scott was cute for the role in THAT THING YOU DO!. He was initially opposed to hiring Everett Scott because of Scott's strong resemblance to a younger Hanks.
Rita Wilson Detailed Biography
Born Margarita Ibrahimoff, Rita was discovered at the age of 14, by a fashion photographer, and began modelling. She later began her career acting in Los Angeles, landing a recurring role on M*A*S*H as Nurse Lacey. Rita decided to turn her career around, and accepted an invitation to work and train at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. During her time in England, she appeared in numerous stage productions at London's Macowan Theatre. She returned to the US, and met Tom Hanks in 1981 on the set of Bosom Buddies, when she guest-starred as Peter Scolari's Satan-worshiping girlfriend. Rita Wilson captured film-going audiences' hearts with her now classic crying scene in the box-office hit Sleepless in Seattle. Her subsequent feature roles were a study in contrasts-she was seen as every man's fantasy cocktail waitress in That Thing You Do, followed by her portrayal of the perfect suburban wife opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Jingle All the Way. Wilson also had a recurring role as astronaut Frank Borman's wife Susan in the Emmy-Award winning 12-part HBO mini-series From the Earth to the Moon.
In 1999, Wilson appeared in Runaway Bride as Richard Gere's ex-wife and boss. Following that, Wilson co-starred as Michelle Pfeiffer's best friend in The Story of Us, opposite Bruce Willis for director Rob Reiner. Prior to that, Wilson was involved in several projects including a role as a secretary in the highly anticipated remake of Psycho. Alfred Hitchcock's daughter, Pat, played the role in the original film. She also appeared in Invisible Child, a Lifetime original movie directed by Joan Micklin Silver and written by Ron Bass and David Field. Wilson starred opposite Victor Garber as a woman with an imaginary child. Wilson's other feature credits include Now and Then, with Demi Moore, Rosie O'Donnell and Melanie Griffith; Nora Ephron's Mixed Nuts, in which she proved the perfect foil opposite Steve Martin, it also co-starred Madeline Kahn, Juliette Lewis and Adam Sandler; If These Walls Could Talk, Bonfire of the Vanities and Volunteers. On television, Wilson starred in HBO's Barbarians at the Gate, as well several highly lauded guest roles including Frasier and HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. Additionally, Wilson has since donned her producers cap for the charming indie film My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Wilson lives in Los Angeles with her family. She is also on the board of Shakespeare/L.A., a non-profit theater group in Los Angeles.
