Lisa Cuddy is House’s boss during most of House M.D. She serves as the dean of medicine and administrator of Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, making her responsible for managing the institution and supervising its difficult diagnostic department head.
Cuddy is played by Lisa Edelstein. Her professional relationship with House combines authority, frustration, and respect. She frequently has to contain his rule-breaking, unauthorized tests, and clashes with patients or colleagues while still relying on his unusually strong diagnostic results.
Cuddy’s position differs from that of House’s immediate team members. Cameron, Chase, and Foreman work as fellows or doctors on the diagnostic service, whereas Cuddy oversees the hospital at an administrative level. That distinction is why she can discipline House, approve or reject requests, and intervene in broader hospital matters.
Cuddy leaves Princeton-Plainsboro near the end of season seven after a series of personal and professional events. The character remains one of the show’s most important recurring figures even though she is absent from the final season.