Actress Lisa Rieffel has been cast as Emily, the third Weston daughter, on the hit comedy series “Empty Nest,” it was announced by the show’s Executive Producers Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen.

“When we were looking for Emily, we were searching for someone who, as the youngest of the three daughters, could melt her father’s heart with beguiling charm and at the same time induce heartburn with her capricious, unconventional ways,” explained Freeman. Cohen continued, “When Lisa read for the part we knew we had our Emily. Not only did she look like she could be a Weston, but she had the exact kind of spontaneity and adventurous spirit that we wanted.”

Rieffel will be introduced in the “Empty Nest” episode appropriately titled “Emily,” written by Robert S. LaZebnik and directed by Steve Zuckerman, in which Emily returns to the nest to figure out what to do with her life after erratically attending college and travelling abroad for several years. The Emily character, although never previously seen, has been referred to onscreen since the show’s debut.

Lisa Rieffel was most recently seen on the network series “The Trials of Rosie O’Neill” where she played Kim Ginty, Sharon Gless’ stepdaughter. She also plays the role of a young drug-addicted mother in the upcoming television movie, “Sad Inheritance,” starring Susan Dey. Rieffel was also featured as an FBI agent’s daughter in the highly rated NBC television movie “FBI: In the Line of Duty.” Her first major television feature role was that of Lucy Oliver, the suger-and-spice daughter of Ann Jillian on “The Ann Jillian Show.” Rieffel was also seen in the recurring guest role of Susan, Vanessa’s wild friend on “The Cosby Show.”

In the series, Rieffel joins “Empty Nest” stars Richard Mulligan, Dinah Manoff, Kristy McNichol, Park Overall, David Leisure, Paul Provenza and Bear, the loveable family dog Dreyfuss.

“Empty Nest” is a Witt/Thomas/Harris Production in association with Touchstone Television. Paul Witt, Tony Thomas, Susan Harris, Fred Freeman, Lawrence J. Cohen, Arnie Kogen and Robert S. LaZebnik are the executive producers. Roger Garrett is the co-executive producer and Susan Harris is creator.

Touchstone Television is part of Walt Disney Pictures and Television.

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Official production company press release.