Judith Light (born Judith Ellen Licht on February 9, 1949 in Trenton, New Jersey) is an American actress, best known for her role as Angela Bower on ABC's sitcom Who's the Boss?. She currently has a recurring role on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, where she plays Elizabeth Donnelly, who once served as a New York City Executive Assistant District Attorney, and now regularly appears as a superior court judge. Light first found fame on television after being recast in the role of Karen Wolek on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. (The Karen Wolek role had previously been portrayed by actresses Kathryn Breech and Julia Duffy.)
This role was quite lucrative for Light and spawned one of the show's most-remembered storylines; Light's character became a prostitute after she became bored with her life as a housewife. On trial, Karen saved her friend Viki Lord from being convicted of killing her pimp by admitting that she had been a prostitute to the entire town, including her faithful husband. Light won Daytime Emmy Awards in 1980 and 1981.
This star power allowed her to snag a lead role on the ABC sitcom Who's the Boss?. She played the role of the assertive advertising executive Angela Bower from 1984 to 1992. She often played the comic foil to Tony Danza's character, Tony Micelli. The series is currently in syndication on channels such as Nick at Nite.
Light has become a gay rights activist after helping former Who's the Boss? co-star Danny Pintauro cope with his sexuality. Light has done work for many LGBT charities and spoke at the 1993 March on Washington. She is also a prominent AIDS activist. Light played Ryan White's mother in a 1989 TV-movie on his life (one of many acclaimed movies-for-television she has made).
Light is married to Italian-American television actor Robert Desiderio. They met when they were both on One Life to Live.
Light was also the spokesperson for an anti-acne product, Proactiv Solution.
