Biography
Dr. Cheryl Arutt (born May 13, 1966) is an American clinical and forensic psychologist as well as a media consultant. Prior to 1991, she worked as a commercial, print, television, and film actress.
She served as a co-host and regular panelist on HLN's show Dr. Drew On Call, contributing as a behavioral expert, and has appeared as a psychological specialist on ABC, Fox News Channel, HLN, and In Session.
Her television debut came at age three in a Sara Lee cake commercial, followed by hundreds of commercials and a role in A.R. Gurney's teleplay adaptation of John Cheever's short story O Youth and Beauty. Arutt began her film and video acting career at the age of four.
She acted in soap operas including Secret Storm, Guiding Light, All My Children, and As the World Turns. She also modeled for Seventeen magazine’s cover. In her teenage years, she earned the nickname "queen of the After School Specials" due to her numerous roles in TV movies within that genre. She received a Youth in Film Award nomination for her lead role as an Amish girl in Bobby and Sarah, in the category of Best Young Actress in a Family Film Made for TV.
After relocating to Los Angeles, Arutt appeared in shows such as Murder, She Wrote, Kay O'Brien, and Charles in Charge. She played young Ory Palmer, Davy Crockett’s love interest, in the NBC/Disney two-hour Movie of the Week pilot Davy Crockett: Rainbow in the Thunder.
Following over two decades of acting in New York and Hollywood, Arutt retired to pursue a career supporting creative artists. She attended UCLA on scholarships from both the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, graduating summa cum laude and earning election to Phi Beta Kappa.
She earned her Doctor of Psychology degree from the California School of Professional Psychology, where she created "Healing Together," a program designed to help couples recovering from posttraumatic stress disorder. She now practices as a clinical and forensic psychologist, focusing on creative professionals such as actors, writers, directors, cinematographers, studio executives, and others in the entertainment industry.
Dr. Arutt has appeared as a psychological expert on local, national, and international television programs. Her insights have been featured on live broadcasts, documentaries, and as an expert commentator on truTV, Fox News, and HLN. She has also served as a psychological consultant for 60 Minutes (Australia) and works as an expert witness and media consultant.
