Ellen Muth
Introduction
Ellen Anna Muth (born March 6, 1981) is an American actress, best known for her lead role as Georgia “George” Lass in the Showtime television series Dead Like Me (2003–2004).
Early Life & Background
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Ellen Muth was born in Milford, Connecticut to Erich (sometimes spelled “Eric / Erich”) and Rachel Muth.
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Her father was a military veteran.
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From a young age, she was academically gifted: she is a member of Mensa and Intertel, high-IQ societies.
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She studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City.
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She also attended the Skip Barber Racing School (a driving/racing school) during her years of interest in diverse skills.
Career & Achievements
Early Roles & Film Work
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Her screen debut came in Dolores Claiborne (1995), in which she played the young Selena St. George. She shared the Best Supporting Actress award at the 1995 Tokyo International Film Festival for that role.
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In 1999 she starred in The Young Girl and the Monsoon as Constance, earning the AFI Best Actress Award for that performance.
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Other film roles included Rain (2001), A Gentleman’s Game (2002), and later appearances in Margarine Wars (2012) and Mark of the Beast (2012).
Television & Dead Like Me
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Muth made various television appearances including Law & Order (1997), Only Love (1998), The Beat (2000), Law & Order: SVU (2000), The Truth About Jane (2000), and Cora Unashamed (2000).
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Her breakout and most iconic role was Georgia “George” Lass in Dead Like Me (29 episodes, 2003–2004).
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She reprised the role in the direct-to-video film Dead Like Me: Life After Death (2009).
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Later, in 2013, she had a guest role in Hannibal playing Georgia Madchen (a nod to her Dead Like Me character).
Awards & Nominations
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Tokyo International Film Festival, 1995 – Best Supporting Actress, shared, for Dolores Claiborne.
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AFI Best Actress (1999) – for The Young Girl and the Monsoon.
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Dead Like Me brought her nominations in 2004 for a Saturn Award (Best Actress in a TV series) and a Satellite Award (Best Actress, Drama)
Later Years & Current Life
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After her Hannibal appearance in 2013, she largely stepped away from acting.
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In interviews, she has said she “hit the pause button on acting for now.”
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Outside of acting, she has pursued entrepreneurial interests: she launched a coffee business and reportedly a cat-breeding business in recent years.
Artistic Identity & Legacy
Ellen Muth is remembered primarily for her emotionally grounded performances and her iconic role in Dead Like Me, which has achieved cult status among fans of genre television.
Her combination of early intellectual gifts (Mensa) and acting training gave her a unique presence—capable of nuanced vulnerability and depth even in genre roles.
Though her acting career is on hiatus, her work continues to be discovered by audiences revisiting Dead Like Me and her film roles.