# Dedee Pfeiffer
**Dedee Pfeiffer** (born 1964) is an American film and television actress, the younger sister of actress [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://www.edgepedia.org/michelle-pfeiffer), best known for series regular roles as Rachel on the CBS comedy *[Cybill](https://www.edgepedia.org/cybill)* and as Denise Brisbane on the ABC drama *[Big Sky](https://www.edgepedia.org/big-sky-american-tv-series)*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/) • [2](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504) Her birth name is Dorothy Diane Pfeiffer, and she was born in Midway City, California.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1964, Midway City, California; birth name Dorothy Diane Pfeiffer[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/) |
| Family | Younger sister of Michelle Pfeiffer; older sister of actress Lori Pfeiffer; also a brother, Rick[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/) |
| First screen role | A small part as a hooker in *Into the Night* (1985), cast by director John Landis while visiting her sister on set[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/dedee-pfeiffer/) |
| Signature TV roles | Rachel Blanders on *Cybill* (CBS, 1995–98); lead in *For Your Love* (NBC 1998, then The WB, 1998–2002); Denise Brisbane on *Big Sky* (ABC, 2020)[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/dedee-pfeiffer/) • [2](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504) |
| Notable films | *Vamp* (1986) with Grace Jones, *Falling Down* (1993), *Frankie and Johnny* (1991), *Up Close & Personal* (1996)[2](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504) • [4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/deedee_pfeiffer) |
| Education during hiatus | Bachelor's degree in psychology (Pierce College, Valley College, California State University Northridge); Master of Social Work from UCLA[2](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504) |
| Marriages | Gregory Fein (1996–2001), Santiago A. Gomez (2001–2006, two children), Kevin Ryan (2009–2012)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/) |
## Early life and first roles
Pfeiffer grew up in Midway City, California, the daughter of a heating and air conditioning contractor and a homemaker.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/) She studied with acting coaches including Peggy Feury, Roy London, and Ivana Chubbuck.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/)
Her first break came on the set of *Into the Night* (1985), which she was visiting while her older sister Michelle starred in the film; director [John Landis](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-landis) noticed her and gave her the small role of a hooker.[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/dedee-pfeiffer/) Her first television appearance was in the series *Simon & Simon*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/) She then starred opposite [Grace Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/grace-jones) in the horror comedy *Vamp* (1986), which ABC's cast biography describes as an indie cult film.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/) • [2](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504)
By 1992 she had been acting for ten years. That year she appeared in her second stage role, in M.L. Kessler's *The Strains of Affection* at the Court Theatre in Los Angeles, playing a Boston librarian; she told the *Los Angeles Times* that the downsides of a famous sibling were "the constant comparisons and expectations."
[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-21-ca-535-story.html)
## Film work
Pfeiffer's film credits include a small role in her sister's hit *Frankie and Johnny* (1991), the lead opposite Miles O'Keeffe in *Shoot* (1992), and a part in [Joel Schumacher](https://www.edgepedia.org/joel-schumacher)'s *Falling Down* (1993) with [Michael Douglas](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-douglas).[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/dedee-pfeiffer/) ABC's biography also lists *Red Surf* opposite [George Clooney](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-clooney) and *Tune in Tomorrow* with Keanu Reeves.[2](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504) She appeared with Michelle Pfeiffer in *Up Close & Personal* (1996), playing sisters on screen; the sisters also appeared together in *Frankie and Johnny* as cousins.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/)
Later film work was largely in independent productions, including *Hoboken Hollow* (2005), *A Killer Within* (2004), *Journey to the Center of the Earth* (2008), and *Fix* (2008).[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/deedee_pfeiffer) She also appeared in the award-winning film *L.A., I Hate You* (2011).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/)
## Television career
Television is where Pfeiffer's career fared best. After her TV movie debut in *Toughlove* (CBS, 1995), a fact-based drama about parents coping with rebellious teens, she made guest appearances on *Dream On*, *Midnight Caller*, *Murder, She Wrote*, and *Seinfeld*, on which she played Victoria.[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/dedee-pfeiffer/) • [6](https://www.metacritic.com/person/dedee-pfeiffer/)
**Series regular roles.** In 1995 she was cast as Rachel, Cybill Shepherd's seemingly always pregnant oldest daughter, on the CBS comedy *Cybill* (1995–98).[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/dedee-pfeiffer/) The show received close to thirty-six awards and nominations in total, among them three [Primetime Emmy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/primetime-emmy-awards) and a Golden Globe for best television series, musical or comedy; according to IMDb, Pfeiffer and her fellow cast members were SAG Award nominees for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series, though a cast biography on ABC's site says the series took home a SAG Award for Outstanding Ensemble Series.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/) • [2](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504) She then starred as one of the leads in *For Your Love*, which began on NBC in 1998 and moved to The WB through 2002, alongside [Holly Robinson Peete](https://www.edgepedia.org/holly-robinson-peete), Tamala Jones, and [James Lesure](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-lesure).[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/dedee-pfeiffer/) • [2](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504)
Her guest credits across the same decades include *Ellen*, *Friends*, *ER*, *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*, *CSI: NY*, *Without a Trace*, *The Dead Zone*, *Supernatural*, and *Burn Notice*.[2](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504) • [6](https://www.metacritic.com/person/dedee-pfeiffer/)
## Producing and the Playboy appearance
Pfeiffer won awards and nominations as actor and producer on her short films *The Tub* (2009) and *Laredo* (2009); *The Tub*, which she starred in and produced, won multiple awards including a festival Best Actress Award.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/) • [2](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504) She also produced the indie award-winning film *Loredo*.[2](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504)
In February 2002 she appeared on the cover of *Playboy* in a pictorial that showed her nude with a BIPOC male model and displayed her tattoo art, which IMDb's biography describes as a rule-breaking appearance for a mainstream female star in the magazine at the time.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/)
## Hiatus, social work, and return
Pfeiffer took a 10-year break from Hollywood, during which she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology at Pierce College, Valley College, and California State University Northridge, and a [Master of Social Work](https://www.edgepedia.org/master-of-social-work) degree from UCLA, concentrating on mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/) • [2](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504) She returned to acting as a series regular playing Denise Brisbane on *Big Sky*, a [David E. Kelley](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-e-kelley) drama that premiered on ABC in fall 2020, set in rural Montana where private detectives search for two sisters kidnapped by a truck driver.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/) • [2](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504)
She has since spoken publicly about recovery from addiction; the Hollywood Disclosure Alliance describes her as six years sober and passionate about "recovering out loud," and she launched the second season of her podcast *Down With Dedee* in 2025 on Margie Kay's The UnX Paranormal Network.[7](https://www.hollywooddisclosurealliance.org/dedee-pfeiffer) A 2026 podcast interview with her covered her step away from Hollywood, her struggles with alcohol, and her return to school for the social work degree.[8](https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/53fa443b-a396-4735-a476-68e879674141/episodes/d6d1a5e2-3cd0-411a-ab40-f200d27a40e0/the-ghostly-gallery-podcast-dedee-pfeiffer-her-journey-from-recovery-to-advocacy)
## References
1. [Dedee Pfeiffer – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0679410/bio/)
2. [Dedee Pfeiffer as Denise Brisbane – Big Sky cast biography, ABC](https://abc.com/cast/158a0738-4c28-4e40-9866-b976b2a24504)
3. [DeDee Pfeiffer – Actress, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/dedee-pfeiffer/)
4. [DeDee Pfeiffer Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/deedee_pfeiffer)
5. [Stage Vs. TV and Film Isn't the Only Comparison Facing Dedee Pfeiffer, Los Angeles Times (November 21, 1992)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-21-ca-535-story.html)
6. [Dedee Pfeiffer, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/dedee-pfeiffer/)
7. [Dedee Pfeiffer, Hollywood Disclosure Alliance](https://www.hollywooddisclosurealliance.org/dedee-pfeiffer)
8. [Dedee Pfeiffer: Her Journey from Recovery to Advocacy, The Ghostly Gallery Podcast](https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/53fa443b-a396-4735-a476-68e879674141/episodes/d6d1a5e2-3cd0-411a-ab40-f200d27a40e0/the-ghostly-gallery-podcast-dedee-pfeiffer-her-journey-from-recovery-to-advocacy)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Pe to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license