Jessica Hecht
Jessica Hecht (born June 28, 1965) is an American actress known for her roles as Gretchen Schwartz on Breaking Bad, Susan Bunch on Friends, Carol Mannheim on The Boys, and Karen on Special, for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. She is also known for her work on Broadway, earning Tony Award nominations for her roles in A View from the Bridge (2010), Summer, 1976 (2023), and Eureka Day (2025).
Jessica Hecht

The Make It Fair Project · #makeitfair · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Jessica Hecht
- Born
- 28 June 1965
- Birthplace
- Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.
- Occupation
- Actress
- Spouse
- Adam Bernstein
- Education
- Connecticut College New York University (BFA)
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q439163 · wikipedia · Jessica Hecht
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The documentary record
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Institutions cited
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Not stated by the sources cited: nationality
Complete reading chain (JSON)In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Jessica Hecht • Born — 28 June 1965 • Birthplace — Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1990–present • Spouse — Adam Bernstein • Children — 2 • Education — Connecticut College New York University (BFA)
Documentary record
Jessica Hecht appears in the authority records of the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek as an actress.
Early life and education
Early life and education
Hecht was born in Princeton, New Jersey. When she was three, she moved with her parents and sister to Bloomfield, Connecticut. After her parents divorced, her mother married psychiatrist Howard Iger, and they raised Jessica and her sisters Elizabeth and Andrea, and her brother, Russell. Hecht attended Connecticut College for a year and a half before graduating from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts in 1987 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama. Hecht was raised in a culturally Jewish family, with a secular socialist father, but nonetheless expressed interest in religion and had a bat mitzvah. She has stated that she is Reconstructionist Jewish and "fairly spiritual".
Career
Career
Hecht has appeared in numerous television series, including Dickinson, Bored to Death, Red Oaks, Jessica Jones, The Loudest Voice, and Succession. In 2020 she played Sonya Barzel on The Sinner, and was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Series in 2019 for her role as Karen in the Netflix series Special. She is known for her roles as Gretchen Schwartz on Breaking Bad (5 episodes) and Susan Bunch, the wife of Ross Geller's ex-wife Carol Willick, on Friends (12 episodes). She was also a featured cast member in the Jonathan Silverman sitcom The Single Guy. Hecht had the supporting role of Amy Burns in the comedy drama film Dan in Real Life (2007), with Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche. She also appeared in Whatever Works, Sideways, and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. • Illustration — Hecht in 2023 outside the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway At the 2010 Tony Awards, she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, for her role in A View from the Bridge. In 2012, she performed on Broadway with Jim Parsons in Harvey. In 2016, she played Golde in the 2015 Bartlett Sher-directed revival of Fiddler on the Roof at the Broadway Theatre, and was in The Price with Mark Ruffalo, in 2017. At the 2018 Obie Awards for Off-Broadway productions, she won the Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress for her performance in Admissions at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. At the 2023 Tony Awards, she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role in Summer, 1976. At the 2025 Tony Awards, she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role in Eureka Day. In 2017, she and producer Jenny Gersten founded The Campfire Project, a theatre-based wellness project that creates plays in refugee camps.
Personal life
Personal life
Hecht has been married to director Adam Bernstein since August 1995. They have two children together, Stella and Carlo, who were both teenagers as of 2013.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1994 — Lois & Clark — Female Staffer — Episode: "Madame Ex" • Seinfeld — Lindsay — Episodes: "The Couch", "The Gymnast" • Party of Five — Amanda — Episode: "Something Out of Nothing" • 1994–2000 — Friends — Susan Bunch — 12 episodes • 1995 — The — Agent Johnson — Episode: "First Class" • The — Chloe — Television film • Aphrodisia — Rachel's Friend — Episode: "Dominatrix" • 1995–1996 — The — Janeane Percy-Parker — Main role; 22 episodes • 1996 — Harvey — Miss Ruth Kelly — Television film • The — Sister Mary — Television film • Intimate Betrayal — Katie — Television film • 1997 — Promised Land — Marie — Episode: "Independence Day" • Early Edition — Abby — Episode: "A Bris Is Just a Bris" • 1999 — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Miss Kreutzer — Episode: "Uncivilized" • Homicide: Life on the Street — Sister Mary Catherine — Episode: "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" • 2001 — What About Joan? — Betsy Morgan — Main role; 13 episodes • 2003 — Law & Order: Criminal Intent — Meredith Breen — Episode: "Undaunted Mettle" • 2004 — Century City — Rose Krell — Episode: "A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Lose" • The — Mrs. Sheridan — Episode: "Three Boys and a Gun" • 2005 — ER — Stephanie Lowenstein — 2 episodes • 2006 — 3 lbs — Rebecca Ellis — Episode: "Heart Stopping" • 2008 — Eleventh Hour — Mrs. Beatrice Brown — Episode: "Cardiac" • 2008–2013 — Breaking Bad — Gretchen Schwartz — 5 episodes • 2009 — Law & Order — Miriam Johnson — Episode: "Chattel" • Jesse Stone: Thin Ice — Stephanie Morton — Television film • U.S. Attorney — Dr. Amy Webber — Unaired pilot • 2010 — The — Carla Browning — Episode: "Infamy" • Medium — Judy Bennette — Episode: "The Match Game" • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — Carly Beck — Episode: "Cold Blooded" • Bored to Death — Dr. Donna Kenwood — 3 episodes • 2011 — Nurse Jackie — Mimi — Episode: "Enough Rope" • Spring/Fall — Unknown — Unaired pilot • 2012 — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Jillian Webster — Episode: "Vanity's Bonfire" • 2013 — Elementary — Patricia Ennis — Episode: "The Deductionist" • 2013–2015 — Person of Interest — Beth Bridges / Psychiatrist — 3 episodes • 2014 — Manhattan — Miriam Rubins — Episode: "The Second Coming" • 2015 — Limitless — Ubient Worker — Episode: "Side Effects May Include..." • Jessica Jones — Audrey Eastman — Episode: "AKA 99 Friends" • 2016 — The Interestings — Lois Jacobson — Television film • Falling Water — Miranda — 2 episodes • 2016–2017 — Red Oaks — Rebecca Horowitz — 10 episodes • 2017 — Madam Secretary — Julia MacDonald — Episode: "Persona Non Grata" • Blindspot — Dr. Margaret Palmer — Episode: "Fix My Present Havoc" • The Tap — Sophie Butler — Unaired pilot • 2018 — High Maintenance — Laurie — Episode: "Ghost" • Quantico — Elizabeth Nutting — Episode: "The Blood of Romeo" • 2019 — The Loudest Voice — Nancy Erika Smith — 2 episodes • Succession — Michelle Pantsil — 2 episodes • The Affair — Carolina — Episode: "505" • 2019–2021 — Dickinson — Aunt Lavinia — 4 episodes • Special — Karen Hayes — Main role; 16 episodes • 2020 — Little America — Professor — Episode: "The Cowboy" • High Fidelity — Rob's Mom — Episode: "Fun Rob" • The Boys — Carol Mannheim — 5 episodes • 2020–2021 — The Sinner — Sonya Barzel — Main role; 12 episodes • 2021 — Younger — Susan Abbott — Episode: "Fallout" • Hudson Falls — Laura Walsh — Episode #1.1 • 10 Days — Cheryl Miles — Main role • 2022 — Super Pumped — Amy Gurley — 3 episodes • 2022–2024 — Tokyo Vice — Willa Adelstein — 6 episodes • 2026 — American Classic — Polly — 5 episodes
Stage
Stage
• Year — Title — Role — Venue • 1990 — Othello — Bianca — Classic Stage Company, Off-Broadway • 1997 — Plunge — Val Nyquist — Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway • The Last Night of Ballyhoo — Lala Levy — Helen Hayes Theatre, Broadway • 1998 — Stop Kiss — Callie — The Public Theater, Off-Broadway • The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told — Mabel — Williamstown Theatre Festival • 1999 — Lobster Alice — Alice Horowitz — Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway • 2000 — Light Up the Sky — Irene Livingston — Williamstown Theatre Festival • 2002 — The Fourth Sister — Wiera — Vineyard Theater, Off-Broadway • Flesh and Blood — Susan — New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway • 2004 — After the Fall — Louise — Roundabout Theatre Company, Broadway • 2006 — The House in Town — Amy Hammer — Lincoln Center Theater, Off-Broadway • 2005 — Julius Caesar — Portia — Belasco Theater, Broadway • Top Girls — Marlene — Williamstown Theatre Festival • 2007 — Howard Katz — Jess — Roundabout Theatre Company, Off-Broadway • Blithe Spirit — Ruth Condomine — Williamstown Theatre Festival • The Autumn Garden — Nina Denery — Williamstown Theatre Festival • 2008 — Three Sisters — Olga Prozorov — Williamstown Theatre Festival • 2009 — Make Me — Connie — Atlantic Theater Company, Off-Broadway • The Torch-Bearers — Mrs. Ritter — Williamstown Theatre Festival • Brighton Beach Memoirs — Blanche Morton — Nederlander Theater, Broadway • 2010 — A View from the Bridge — Beatrice — Cort Theater, Broadway • Our Town — Mrs. Webb — Williamstown Theatre Festival • 2011 — Three Sisters — Olga Prozorov — Classic Stage Company, Off-Broadway • A Streetcar Named Desire — Blanche DuBois — Williamstown Theatre Festival • 2012 — Harvey — Veta Louise Simmons — Roundabout Theatre Company, Broadway • 2013 — The Assembled Parties — Julie Bascov — Manhattan Theatre Club, Broadway • 2014 — Stage Kiss — She — Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway • King Lear — Regan — The Public Theater, Off-Broadway • 2015 — Legacy — Suzanne Kind — Williamstown Theatre Festival • Fiddler on the Roof — Golde — Broadway Theatre (53rd Street), Broadway • 2017 — The Price — Esther Franz — Roundabout Theatre Company, Broadway • The Clean House — Virginia — Williamstown Theatre Festival • 2018 — Admissions — Sherri Rosen-Mason — Lincoln Center Theater, Off-Broadway • The Closet — Patricia Pennebarry — Williamstown Theatre Festival • 2022 — The Orchard — Lyubov Ranevskaya — Baryshnikov Arts Center, Off-Broadway • 2023 — Letters From Max — Sarah Ruhl — Signature Theatre Company, Off-Broadway • Summer, 1976 — Alice — Manhattan Theatre Club, Broadway • 2024 — Eureka Day — Suzanne — Manhattan Theatre Club, Broadway • 2025 — A Mother — Jess/Pelagea/Pearl — Baryshnikov Arts Center, Off-Broadway • 2026 — Dog Day Afternoon — Colleen — August Wilson Theatre, Broadway
Video games
Video games
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1995 — Terror T.R.A.X.: Track of the Vampire — Wendolyn • The Dark Eye — Unknown
Audiobook narration
Audiobook narration
• Year — Title — Author — Notes • 2010 — Full Dark, No Stars — Stephen King • 2011 — The Dovekeepers — Alice Hoffman • 2023 — Summer, 1976 — David Auburn
Identity
Identity
Jessica Hecht is recorded as actress and singer.
Activity and practice
Jessica Hecht is recorded as having studied at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Bloomfield High School and Stella Adler Studio of Acting.

American actress Jessica Hecht in the Make It Fair video, circa 00:24, cropped, brightened.
The Make It Fair Project · #makeitfair
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1995 — Joe's Rotten World — Annie • 1995 — Kicking and Screaming — Airline ticket saleswoman • 1998 — Anarchy TV — Natalie • 1999 — Jump — Carol • 2004 — Saving Face — Randi • Sideways — Victoria Cortland • The — Eliot • 2005 — At Last — Laura • 2006 — Rabbits — Wife — Short film • 2007 — Starting Out in the Evening — Sandra Bennett • Dan in Real Life — Amy Burns • 2008 — Quid Pro Quo — Edie • Calling It Quits — Cynthia • 2009 — The — Stacey • Reunion — Beth • Whatever Works — Helena • 2010 — Helena from the Wedding — Lynn • Fair Game — Sue • My Soul to Take — May Hellerman • 2011 — J. Edgar — Emma Goldman • The — Sandy Griffith • 2012 — The — Mrs. Bearmush — Short film • The — Karen Loop • The — Piccolo Player — Short film • Good Sister — Helene Shuster — Short film • 2013 — Northern Borders — Liz Kittredge • Space Cadet — Linda Agnello • The — Principal Trudie Slocum • 2014 — Le Refuge — Gemma — Short film • The — Sue Parris • 2015 — Anesthesia — Jill • 2018 — Write When You Get Work — Ellen Hazard • Banana Split — Susan • 2019 — The Sunlit Night — Mirela • A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood — Lila Vogel • 2020 — The Atlantic City Story — Jane • 2025 — Eleanor the Great — Lisa Morgenstein • The Home — Sylvia • 2026 — Primetime
Awards and nominations
• Year — Associations — Category — Project — Result — Ref. Reference(s) • 2010 — Tony Award — Best Featured Actress in a Play — A View from the Bridge • Drama League Award — Distinguished Performance • 2013 — Harvey • 2014 — Outer Critics Circle Award — Outstanding Actress in a Play — Stage Kiss • 2018 — Admissions • Obie Award — Distinguished Performance • 2019 — Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series — Special • 2023 — Tony Award — Best Actress in a Play — Summer, 1976 • 2025 — Best Featured Actress in a Play — Eureka Day • Dorian Award — Outstanding Featured Performance in a Broadway Play • 2026 — Outer Critics Circle Award — Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play — Dog Day Afternoon • Dorian Award — Outstanding Featured Performance in a Broadway Play
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Jessica Hecht, revision 1373800442 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Almanac: [All editions]. Newsday. A3. June 28, 1998.
- 2.Keveney, Bill. A Single Goes Double. Hartford Courant. January 17, 1996.
- 3.Lefkowitz, David. Playbill On-Line's Brief Encounter with Jessica Hecht. Playbill. January 18, 2000.
- 4.Elkin, Michael. 'Bridge' Works. The Jewish Exponent. 2010-01-14.
- 5.Schleier, Curt. Jessica Hecht Talks Broadway vs. Hollywood. The Jewish Daily Forward. 2013-04-16.
- 6.Jessica Hecht on Broadway's 'The Assembled Parties'. The Wall Street Journal. 2013-04-17.
- 7.Schaffstall, Katherine. Emmys: 46 of This Year's First-Time Nominees. The Hollywood Reporter. 2019-08-30.
- 8.Jessica Hecht Buys Flat in Landmark Building. The New York Times. 2010-05-20.
- 9.Kolson, Ann. Up & Coming: Jessica Hecht; Working All the Time Is Her Idea of Fun. The New York Times. 1997-09-28.
- 10.Isherwood, Charles. Hope Is a Thing With Long, Fuzzy Ears. The New York Times. June 14, 2012.
- 11.American Theatre Wing. 2018 Obies Winners and Performances. obieawards.com. 2018-05-19.
- 12.Rubin, Rebecca. Tony Award Nominations 2023: Some Like It Hot Dominates, Followed by & Juliet, Shucked, New York, New York. Variety. 2023-05-02.
- 13.Culwell-Block, Logan. 2025 Tony Award Nominations: Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, Maybe Happy Ending Lead the Pack. Playbill. May 1, 2025.
- 14.The Campfire Project. campfire-project.org.
- 15.Jessica Hecht Says Dog Day Afternoon Isn’t Nostalgia, It’s Now. Broadway.com.
- 16.Drama League 2010 Award Winners. New York Theatre Guide.
- 17.2013 Drama League Award Winners. New York Theatre Guide.
- 18.Gans, Andrew. 64th Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; Gentleman's Guide Wins Four Awards. Playbill. May 12, 2014.
- 19.2013–2014 Awards. Outer Critics Circle.
- 20.Abourizk, Michael. ‘John Proctor Is the Villain’ leads winners of Dorian Theater Awards. Broadway News. 2025-06-03.
- 21.Culwell-Block, Logan The Lost Boys Leads 2026 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations; Read the Full List Playbill, April 21, 2026
- 22.Mandell, Jonathan. 2026 Dorian Theater Award Nominations: Schmigadoon, Lost Boys lead. New York Theater. May 13, 2026.
- 23.Mandell, Jonathan. 2026 Dorian Theater Award winners: Schmigadoon. Prince Faggot. Ragtime: Joshua. Junior. Quincy. Qween. New York Theater. June 1, 2026.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Jessica Hecht studied at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Bloomfield High School and Stella Adler Studio of Acting.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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