Cheryl Hines

Discover Cheryl Hines (born September 21, 1965) — American actress and comedian best known for her role on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Explore her biography, career highlights, advocacy work, and quotes.

Introduction

Cheryl Ruth Hines (born September 21, 1965) is an American actress and comedian widely known for portraying Cheryl David in the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm. Over her decades in entertainment, she has worked in television, film, voice acting, and directing, while also engaging in advocacy work.

Her sharp comedic timing, improvisational skills, and versatility have made her a recognizable and respected figure in modern U.S. comedy and television.

Early Life and Education

• Birth & family background: Hines was born in Miami Beach, Florida, to James Hines and Rosemary (Graham).

• Childhood & youth: She spent much of her formative years in Tallahassee, Florida. Young Actors Theatre in Tallahassee, nurturing her interest in performance.

• Education: Hines attended Lively Technical Center and Tallahassee State College. University of Central Florida in 1990.

Even before Hollywood, she was determined and scrappy—she once said she didn’t have her own bed until after high school.

Career & Achievements

Early Career & Comedy Training

After moving to Los Angeles, Hines trained in improvisational comedy at The Groundlings Theater. Swamp Thing and Unsolved Mysteries.

Her improvisation and sketch training provided the foundation that would later shine in her signature roles.

Breakthrough: Curb Your Enthusiasm

Hines’s most iconic role is Cheryl David on Curb Your Enthusiasm, where she plays the long-suffering, often exasperated yet grounded wife of Larry David. Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Her role leveraged her comedic instincts and spontaneity, making her an essential part of the show’s dynamic and helping it remain a long-running critical and popular success.

Film, Television & Directing

Beyond Curb, Hines has had a diverse career:

• She starred as Dallas Royce in the ABC sitcom Suburgatory (2011–2014).

• She made her feature directorial debut with Serious Moonlight (2009), starring Meg Ryan.

• She’s appeared in films such as RV, Waitress, Along Came Polly, and has done voice work in animated projects.

• On TV, she’s made guest appearances in many series (e.g. Brothers & Sisters, The Middle), and is a panelist on I Can See Your Voice.

She also delved into producing, voice acting, and episodic directing (for example in Curb Yourself Enthusiasm).

Her body of work demonstrates that she is not limited to one medium or genre; she blends comedy, drama, voice, and direction with ease.

Advocacy & Public Life

Hines has been involved in advocacy, particularly with United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), inspired by having a nephew diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

She balances her career with public visibility, but also has spoken about boundaries: as Britannica notes, though she supports her husband (Robert F. Kennedy Jr.), in a 2023 profile she said, “I don’t feel the need to go to every political event, because I do have my own career.”

Personal Life

• Former marriage & daughter: Hines married Paul Young (founder of Principato-Young) on December 30, 2002. Catherine Rose Young, born March 8, 2004.

• Marriage to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Hines began dating Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in late 2011 (they were reportedly introduced by Larry David) and married on August 2, 2014, at the Kennedy family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

• The marriage has sometimes drawn media attention due to her husband's public positions and controversies, but as noted above, Hines also sets boundaries about her own engagement with his politics.

Memorable Quotes

Here are a few quotes attributed to Cheryl Hines, reflecting her perspective and wit:

“Until Curb, I’d done small roles, really small roles. They wanted to cast an unknown actress. It worked in my favor that I hadn’t done anything. It changed my life.”

On balancing her own career and her marriage:
“I don’t feel the need to go to every political event, because I do have my own career.”

Her voice tends to be measured, self-reflective, and focused on the artistic side of her life rather than sensationalism.

Lessons from Cheryl Hines

From her life and career, several lessons stand out:

1. Commit to craft and improv training. Her time at The Groundlings (and early improvisation) became a strong foundation for her comedic instincts.

2. Be versatile. She hasn’t limited herself to one medium or kind of role; she acts, voices, directs, and produces.

3. Maintain boundaries. Even while aligned with a high-profile spouse, Hines has articulated her own identity and career path.

4. Use personal experience for advocacy. Her family connection to cerebral palsy has turned into long-term support for disability rights and awareness.

5. Stay open to change. Her career didn’t skyrocket overnight; she built steadily, embraced opportunities, and adapted.