Rena Sofer has built a lasting and financially rewarding career in television, boasting an estimated net worth of $4 million to $5 million. Best known for her decades-long work in daytime soap operas-most notably as Lois Cerullo on ABC’s General Hospital and Quinn Fuller on CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful-Sofer has successfully crossed between daytime serials, primetime hits, and feature films. Alongside her earnings from acting, her wealth is supported by savvy residential real estate investments and entrepreneurial creative ventures.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Rena Sherel Sofer was born on December 2, 1968, in Arcadia, California. Her mother, Susan Franzblau, worked as a psychology professor, while her father, Martin Sofer, served as an Orthodox rabbi. Following her parents’ divorce during her youth, Sofer spent parts of her upbringing in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She lived in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, and later settled in North Bergen, New Jersey, graduating from North Bergen High School after attending the Frisch School in Paramus.
At the age of 15, Sofer was discovered by a talent agent and began working as a model. She appeared in commercials and student films before briefly attending Montclair State College. She ultimately left higher education to pursue acting full-time in New York City, quickly landing her television debut in 1987 on the NBC soap opera Another World as Joyce Abernathy.
Breakthrough Roles and Daytime Television Success
Sofer earned her first substantial television role in 1988, playing Amelia “Rocky” McKenzie on ABC’s Loving until 1991. However, her major career breakthrough came in December 1993 when she debuted as Lois Cerullo on General Hospital. As the confident, outspoken Brooklyn-born music manager who captured the heart of Ned Ashton (played by Wally Kurth), Sofer became an instant fan favorite.
Her performance as Lois earned her critical acclaim and a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1995, along with a Soap Opera Digest Award. She left the regular cast in 1996 but returned decades later for extended guest arcs.
In July 2013, Sofer returned to daytime television as jewelry designer Quinn Fuller on The Bold and the Beautiful. She portrayed the complex, volatile, and fiercely protective character for nine years, anchoring major storylines involving the Forrester and Spencer families before departing in August 2022. She later returned to General Hospital as Lois Cerullo in late 2023, maintaining a recurring presence through October 2025.
Primetime Television and Film Credits
In addition to her daytime success, Sofer established herself as a versatile fixture in primetime television and feature films. Her extensive résumé includes memorable guest-starring and recurring roles across major network series:
- Melrose Place (as Eve Cleary)
- Seinfeld (as Mary Anne in “The Muffin Tops”)
- Friends (as Katie, the saleswoman who catches Ross’s attention)
- Ed (as Bonnie Hane)
- Just Shoot Me! (as Vicki Costa)
- 24 (as Marilyn Bauer)
- Heroes (as Heidi Petrelli)
- NCIS (as attorney Margaret Allison Hart)
- Additional guest appearances on Bones, Two and a Half Men, Ghost Whisperer, and CSI.
Her film credits feature appearances in Steven Soderbergh’s acclaimed crime drama Traffic (2000) and the romantic comedy Keeping the Faith (2000), starring Ben Stiller and Edward Norton.
Real Estate Ventures
Real estate investments have contributed significantly to Sofer’s financial portfolio alongside her husband, television director and producer Sanford Bookstaver. Over the years, the couple bought, renovated, and sold several multimillion-dollar properties in the Los Angeles area:
- Sherman Oaks Home: Purchased in May 2004 for $1.8 million and sold in June 2017 for $2.6 million.
- Valley Village Contemporary Residence: Purchased in May 2019 for $1.895 million following their reconciliation, customized with modern smart-home and solar technology, and sold in August 2025 for $2,555,555.
Following the sale of their Valley Village property, Sofer and Bookstaver permanently relocated to the Rhinebeck area of New York’s Hudson Valley in 2025, concluding nearly 35 years of residency in Southern California.
Personal Life and Creative Pursuits
Sofer’s personal life has frequently intersected with her professional career. She married her General Hospital co-star Wally Kurth in March 1995, welcoming a daughter, Rosabel Rosalind Kurth, before their divorce in 1997. In May 2003, she married television director Sanford Bookstaver, with whom she shares a second daughter, Avalon Leone Bookstaver, born in August 2005. Although the couple divorced in 2017, they reconciled and remarried on May 18, 2024-exactly on what would have been their 21st wedding anniversary.
Outside of acting, Sofer is an accomplished ceramic artist, creating and selling handmade pottery through Rena Sofer Ceramics. She is also a passionate animal advocate heavily involved in rescue work, fostering and adopting dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rena Sofer
What is Rena Sofer’s net worth?
Rena Sofer has an estimated net worth between $4 million and $5 million, earned primarily through her extensive career in television acting, recurring soap opera roles, primetime appearances, and real estate investments.
How old is Rena Sofer?
Rena Sofer was born on December 2, 1968, making her 57 years old.
What are Rena Sofer’s most famous roles?
She is best known for playing Lois Cerullo on ABC’s General Hospital-a role that won her a Daytime Emmy Award-and Quinn Fuller on CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful. She has also appeared in primetime shows like Melrose Place, 24, and NCIS.
Is Rena Sofer married?
Yes, Rena Sofer is married to television director Sanford Bookstaver. The couple originally wed in 2003, divorced in 2017, and remarried on May 18, 2024. She was previously married to actor Wally Kurth.
How many children does Rena Sofer have?
Sofer has two daughters: Rosabel Rosalind Kurth (born with ex-husband Wally Kurth) and Avalon Leone Bookstaver (born with husband Sanford Bookstaver).
Why did Rena Sofer leave The Bold and the Beautiful?
Sofer left The Bold and the Beautiful in August 2022 because her character’s romantic storyline had reached a natural conclusion, prompting her to pursue new creative opportunities rather than stay in a stagnant role.
