Rena Sofer was born in Arcadia, California, to Susan Franzblau, a psychology professor, and Martin Sofer, a Conservative Jewish Rabbi. When her parents divorced, she moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her journey in the entertainment industry began at the age of 15, when she was discovered by a New York talent agent and started modeling. She later transitioned to acting, making her television debut on the soap opera Another World in 1964.
Sofer's breakthrough role came when she played Rockie McKenzie on the soap opera Loving from 1983 to 1986. She then joined the cast of General Hospital in 1988, playing the role of Lois Cerullo, a savvy record promoter. Her portrayal earned her a Daytime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress and even led to consideration for a spin-off series.
During her time on General Hospital, Sofer met her on-screen husband, Wally Kurth, who would later become her real-life husband and the father of her daughter, Rosabel Rosalind Kurth. In the mid-1990s, Sofer made the transition to primetime television, guest-starring in several series before landing a regular role on the soap opera Melrose Place in its final season.
Sofer's exposure expanded with starring and recurring roles on the sitcom Just Shoot Me! and the dramedy Ed. Although she experienced a string of unsuccessful series, including Oh, Grow Up, The Chronicle, Coupling, and Blind Justice, she continued to prove her staying power with roles in films such as Keeping the Faith and Traffic.
After taking a brief hiatus to give birth to her daughter with her second husband, TV director Sanford Bookstaver, Sofer returned to television in 2006 with recurring roles on the hit shows 24 and Heroes. In 2010, she tackled a season-long story arc as Margaret Allison Hart, an attorney with a hidden agenda, on NCIS.
In 2013, Sofer returned to her daytime roots, taking on the role of enigmatic jewelry designer Quinn Fuller on The Bold and the Beautiful, receiving rave reviews for her performance.
