Lily Rabe

Biography

Lily Rabe was born June 29, 1982 in New York City. She grew up in Bedford, New York, the daughter of playwright David Rabe and actress Jill Clayburgh. She studied at the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut and earned a Bachelor of Science in Theatre from Northwestern University, graduating in 2004. Early in her career she performed in local theater and one-act plays, then made her Broadway debut in 2005 in Steel Magnolias. Lily is best known for her many roles in the anthology horror series American Horror Story, playing characters ranging from a ghostly socialite to a witch to a nun, over several seasons. Her stage work has also earned her Tony and Drama Desk nominations, especially for her performance as Portia in The Merchant of Venice. In film she has appeared in Miss Stevens, Pawn Sacrifice, Vice, The Tender Bar, among others. She is also a producer, co-founder of Kill Claudio Productions. Over the years she’s balanced theater, TV, and film work with a consistent presence in genre drama, and she continues to take on diverse roles that show her versatility as an actress.