Contemporary Actors Archives - Page 38 of 49

John Glover

John Glover was born in 1944 in Kingston, New York. His films include “White Nights” in 1987, “52-Pick-Up” and “Payback”. He starred with Aidan Quinn, Ben Gazzara and Gena Rowlands in “An Early Frost”.

TCM Overview:

A prolific character actor of stage, screen and TV, John Glover exhibited a knack for playing all manner of smarmy villains; notably a drunken lout in “Julia” (1977), a sleazy pornographer in “52 Pick-Up” (1986), Lee Remick’s ingratiating sidekick in “Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder” (CBS, 1987) and a campy, manipulative heavy in the TV remake of “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” (ABC, 1991). Glover also made an indelible impression in “Annie Hall” (1977), as the actor boyfriend of Diane Keaton who wants her to touch his heart–with her foot!–and as the young man dying of AIDS in “An Early Frost” (NBC, 1985), for which he earned an Emmy nomination.

The Maryland native made his stage debut as Eugene Gant in a 1963 production of “Look Homeward, Angel” at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. He toyed with the idea of becoming an English professor, but decided, instead, to give New York theatre a try and migrated to Manhattan in 1967. Roles in regional theater followed before he made his Off-Broadway debut in “A Scent of Flowers” (1969). Glover won a Drama Desk Award for his work in “The Great God Brown” (1972) and that same year, he made his Broadway debut in “The Selling of the President”. Since then, he has performed on stage in between a busy TV and film career, appearing both in New York and Los Angeles as well as frequently at the Long Wharf Theatre and Yale Rep. In 1994, Glover originated the dual role of John and James Jeckyll, gay twin brothers, one with AIDS, in Terrence McNally’s “Love! Valour! Compassion!”, a role that earned him a Tony Award (and which he recreated in the 1997 film version) Glover was back on the New York stage in the spring of 1996 playing a religious hypocrite in “Tartuff: Born Again” at the Circle in the Square Theatre, an adaptation of the Moliere comedy.

His film career began in 1973 with a small role in “Shamus”. Glover received a lot of attention for his one scene in “Julia”, in which Jane Fonda pushes a table over on top of him after he suggests that she and the title character are lesbian lovers. Since then, Glover has most frequently been cast as cold sons-of-bitches, such as in “52 Pick-Up” (1986). Other similar roles followed: the sly CIA agent in “White Knights” (1985); an opportunistic TV executive in “Scrooged” (1988); a murderous stepfather in “Masquerade” (1988); and an intelligent manipulator in “The Chocolate War” (1989). Even in a comedic turn in “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” (1990), he was a sleazy, greedy real estate baron. Glover was also a hired killer in “Night of the Hit Man” (1994).

TV roles have not offered sweet guys, either. Glover made his TV-movie debut in “The Face of Rage” (ABC, 1983). He displayed his versatility as a man dying of AIDS who befriends Aidan Quinn in “An Early Frost”. While the role was sympathetic, the character also had a vicious, cutting wit. Even as General Charles Lee in the 1984 ABC miniseries “George Washington”, Glover could not be trusted to follow orders. He starred with Corbin Bernsen in “Breaking Point” (TNT, 1989), playing a genius–but a Nazi genius. In perhaps his most psychotic role to date, Glover was Charles Rothenberg, the man who burns his own son practically to death rather than let his mother have him in “David” (ABC, 1988). For Showtime, Glover was a military prosecutor who sets out to prove that an African American West Point cadet tried to harm himself and was not attacked by racist whites in “Assault at West Point” (1994). In 1996, he made a guest appearance on “Remember WENN”, the first sitcom from American Movie Classics. Glover also cut a marvelously sinister presence as the devil in the short-lived Fox drama “Brimstone” (1998-99).

The above TCM overview can also be accessed online here.

Melanie Mayron was born in 1952 in Philadelphia. She was in the 1974 film “Harry and Tonto” and then two years later in “Carwash”. She was part of the cast of the very popular “Thirty Something”.

TCM Overview:

Best-known for her intense portrayal of the free-spirited Melissa in the acclaimed ABC drama series “thirtysomething”, the petite auburn-haired Mayron began her career touring the US in a production of “Godspell”. She made her film debut as a teenage hitchhiker opposite Art Carney in “Harry and Tonto” (1974) and earned acclaim for her realistic portrait of a zaftig Jewish photographer whose roommate leaves to marry in Claudia Weill’s “Girlfriends” (1978). Subsequent film appearances failed to capitalize on her unique appeal and, except for Costa-Gavras’ “Missing” (1982), she was virtually wasted. Mayron joined director-screenwriter Catlin Adams to create HighTop Films, for which she produced the 1988 feature “Sticky Fingers”, which failed to find an audience or strong critical response, and the 1988 award-winning short “Little Shiny Shoes”.

Mayron found her biggest success on TV. Beginning with her portrayal of a prostitute in “Hustling” (ABC, 1975), she gave a series of sharply etched performances, notably “Playing for Time” (CBS, 1980) and “Wallenberg: A Hero’s Story” (NBC, 1985). Beginning in 1990, Mayron turned her considerable talents behind the camera, helming two episodes of “thirtysomething”. She went on to direct episodes of “Tribeca” (Fox, 1993), “Sirens” (ABC, 1993) and “Winnetka Road” (NBC, 1994) as well as the TV remake of “Freaky Friday” (ABC, 1995), which she also scripted. Mayron made her feature film directing debut with the underrated “The Baby-Sitters Club” (1995).

The above TCM overview can also be accessed online here.

Judy Parfitt. IMDB

Judy Parfitt was born in Sheffield in 1935. Primarily a stage actress until the 1980’s. she played in “Maurice” in 1987. She played a sterling performance opposite Kathy Bates in “Dolores Claibourne” in 1995. She also starred in “The Girl With a Pearl Earring” with Colin Firth and Cillian Murphy. In 1984 she played Mildred Layton in the epic miniseries “The Jewel in the Crown”. She is currently starring in the popular BBC television series “Call The Midwife”.

Gary Brumburgh’s entry:

Of regal bearing and imposing stance, British classical actress Judy Parfitt is the possessor of the chilliest blue orbs in all of London and has used them to her advantage over the years with her portrayals of haughty, bossy, scheming and deliciously malevolent patricians. Born in Yorkshire, she was originally trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) and made her stage debut with “Fools Rush In” in 1954, continuing to impress with such pieces as “Things Remembered” (1955) and “A Likely Talk” (1956). It wasn’t until mid-career in the late 1960s that she drew the type of widespread attention she deserved.

Original Cinema Quad Poster – Movie Film Posters

Judy earned critical acclaim for her Gertrude in the 1969 stage production of “Hamlet”, which starred Nicol Williamson in the title role and Anthony Hopkins as Claudius, with the inspiring casting of Marianne Faithfull (yes, the Brit pop singer) as Ophelia. Judy transferred her role to film in the same year and met with equal success. From then on, she graced a number of TV adaptations of literary classics including Pride and Prejudice(1980) and The Jewel in the Crown (1984), while continuing to receive applause for her theatre work in productions of “The Duchess of Malfi” (1971); “Vivat! Vivat Regina!” (1971) as Mary, Queen of Scots; “The Apple Cart” (1973); “The Cherry Orchard” (1978) and “An Inspector Calls” (1993).

More recently, she co-starred with Matthew Broderick in a Broadway revival of “Night Must Fall” (1999). She made a belated Hollywood film debut in the gloomy-styled thriller Dolores Claiborne (1995) and nearly stole the thunder right out from under star Kathy Bates with her electric portrayal of Kathy Bates‘ wealthy, dictatorial employer. Her clever and utterly gripping performance was shamefully overlooked come Oscar time. Judy was long married to actor Tony Steedman, who made a guest appearance on her short-lived sitcom The Charmings (1987) in the late 1980s. He died in February of 2001. Since then she has ventured on, an always glowing character presence in elegant and period settings.

– IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net

John Mahoney was born in 1940 in Blackpool. He emigrated to the U.S. when a young man and pursued his acting career there. He is best remembered for his role as the fater in “Frasier” one of the most popular sitcoms. His films include “Betrayal” in 1988, “In the Line of Fire”, “The American President” and “Barton Fink”.

IMDB entry:
John Mahoney is an award-winning American actor who was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. The seventh of eight children, Mahoney’s family had been evacuated to the sea-side resort to avoid the Nazi bombing of their native Manchester. The Mancunian Mahoneys eventually returned to Manchester during the war. Visiting the States to see his older sister, a “war bride” who had married an American, the young Mahoney decided to emigrate and was sponsored by his sister. He eventually won his citizenship by serving in the U.S. Army.

Long interested in acting, Mahoney didn’t actually make the transition to his craft until he was almost 40 years old. Mahoney took acting classes at the St. Nicholas Theater and finally built up the courage to quit his day job and pursue acting full time, John Malkovich, one of the founders of the Second City’s distinguished Steppenwolf Theatre, encouraged Mahoney to join Steppenwolf. In 1986, Mahoney won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in John Guare‘s American Playhouse: The House of Blue Leaves (1987).

Mahoney made his feature film debut in 1980, but he is best known for playing the role of the father of the eponymous character Frasier (1993) from 1993 until 2004. He is concentrating on stage work back in Chicago and has appeared on Broadway in 2007 in a revival of Prelude to a Kiss (1992).

– IMDb Mini Biography By: Jon C. Hopwood

The above entry can also be accessed online here.

Kirk Acevedo was born in 1971 in Brooklyn, New York. He came to fame as Miquel Alvarez in the long running TV series “Oz”.His films include “Boiler Room” and “The Visit”. TCM overview: Armed with good looks and a palpable intensity, Kirk Acevedo garnered praise on several acclaimed television projects, working with some of the most respected actors and directors in the industry. Acevedo’s breakthrough role came in the form of conflicted gang member Miguel Alvarez, an inmate housed within the walls of the brutal state prison, “Oz” (HBO, 1997-2003). One of the few characters to survive the vaunted series’ entire run, Acevedo was given time off to make a notable appearance in filmmaker Terrence Malick’s WWII drama “The Thin Red Line” (1998), as well as the Steven Spielberg-produced miniseries “Band of Brothers” (HBO, 2001). Life after “Oz” saw Acevedo taking on prime roles on the police procedural spin-off series “Law & Order: Trial by Jury” (NBC, 2005-06), followed by a part on the Irish mob drama “The Black Donnellys” (NBC, 2007), neither of which lasted more than a season. The actor had somewhat better luck with a recurring character on the J.J. Abrams-created sci-fi series “Fringe” (Fox, 2008- ) before jumping ship to co-star on another cop drama, “Prime Suspect” (NBC, 2011- ). Adept at playing men of action, honor and complexity, Acevedo continued to excel in roles on some of the best dramas television had to offer. Born on Nov. 27, 1974 in Brooklyn, NY, Acevedo was raised in the Bronx and attended LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, then received his BFA from Purchase College, State University of New York, the alma mater of several fellow “Oz” actors including Edie Falco, Robert Clohessy and Seth Gilliam. There he also met up with Shea Wigham, with whom he would found The Rorschach Group, a New York theater company. Guest work on the NYC-filmed dramas “New York Undercover” (Fox, 1994-98) and “Law & Order” (NBC, 1990-2010) marked the actor’s entry into television work. The big screen called soon after, and turns in such independents as “Arresting Gena” (1997) and “Kirk and Kerry” (1997) resulted in a respectable amount of buzz. That same year, Acevedo earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for his intense turn in the revival of Sam Shepard’s edgy “Tooth of Crime,” then began his run on the brutal prison drama, “Oz” (HBO, 1997-2003) as Miguel Alvarez, a young street tough from a long line of incarcerated men whose vanity played a great role in his downfall. Mentally troubled as a result of his imprisonment and the death of his infant son, Alvarez cut his own face, though the long scar on his face detracted only slightly from his good looks. Internal battles within the drug-running Latino prison gang and personal conflicts with the warden (Ernie Hudson) culminated in a prison break for Alvarez, which was ultimately a time-off from the series, during which the actor filmed his part in the 2001 HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers.” Before long, however, his Alvarez was back behind bars again. A deeply disturbed and remarkably compelling character, Alvarez was given life by Acevedo with a consistently courageous and emotionally true performance. Acevedo’s supporting role in Terrence Malick’s lyrical World War II drama “The Thin Red Line” (1998) earned him critical notice and a 1999 Alma Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor. In 2000, Acevedo increases his exposure with several roles, including a small part in the stock market drama “Boiler Room”, a turn in the prison-set feature “The Visit” and a featured supporting role in the Jamie Foxx action vehicle “Bait.” The following year would see Acevedo return to World War II with his work in “Band of Brothers,” a miniseries produced by “Saving Private Ryan” vets Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. He also had roles in two restaurant-centered independents. The straight-to-video romantic comedy “In the Weeds” (1999) featured the actor as a psycho chef, while “Dinner Rush” (2001) co-starred Acevedo as the black sheep son whose gambling debts threaten to ruin his restaurant owner father’s plans for expansion. Returning to television, Acevedo made appearances in episodes of “Third Watch” (NBC, 1999-2005), “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC, 1999- ) and “24” (Fox, 2001-2010) before reprising his “SVU” character District Attorney Investigator Hector Salazar on the surprisingly short-lived “Law & Order: Trial By Jury” (NBC, 2005-06). After a not-so-prominent role as an anonymous sentry in “The New World” (2005) and an appearance on the hit series “Numbers” (CBS, 2004-2010), Acevedo returned to regular series work with “The Black Donnellys” (NBC, 2007), writer-director Paul Haggis’ look at four Irish brothers (Jonathan Tucker, Thomas Guiry, Billy Lush and Michael Stahl David) rising up the ranks of the mob in NYC’s Hell’s Kitchen. Acevedo played an aspiring rival mobster who is not afraid of putting his own interests above his loyalties. After the early demise of “Black Donnellys,” Acevedo was brought on to the sci-fi adventure series “Fringe” (Fox, 2008- ) as FBI special agent Charlie Francis, second-in-command of the Fringe unit – a covert division dedicated to investigating unexplained mysteries. Although killed at the beginning of season two, Acevedo returned in the third season as an “alternate” version of Det. Francis, living in a parallel world. Sticking with sci-fi material, he later starred as a disgraced scientist trying to prevent the planet Mercury from destroying the world in the made-for-TV disaster flick “Collision Earth” (Syfy, 2011). From his stint on “Fringe,” Acevedo went on to a regular series role as NYPD homicide detective Luisito Calderon on the ratings-challenged police procedural “Prime Suspect” (NBC, 2011- ), a remake of the U.K. series of the same name, starring Maria Bello as a tough-as-nails New York cop. By Bryce Coleman The TCM overview can be accessed also here.

Pat O’Brien was born in 1899 in Wisconsin. He made films in the 1930’s at Warner Brothers Studios where he struck up a friendship with James Cagney with whom he made nine films including “Angels with Dirty Faces” in 1938 and “Ragtime” in 1981. He died in 1983.

TCM Overview:

A veteran Irish-American lead and character player, Pat O’Brien is best known as one of the cynical reporters in the sterling first screen version of the Broadway play, “The Front Page” (1931), the title role (opposite Ronald Reagan) in “Knute Rockne–All American” (1940) and as Jimmy Cagney’s clerical confidante in “Angels With Dirty Faces” (1938).A sharp, wisecracking type in the early 1930s, O’Brien found his star persona becoming increasingly sentimentalized after the Production Code crackdown of 1934, but occasionally returned memorably to his earlier type, as in “Torrid Zone” (1940), opposite Cagney and Ann Sheridan. He remained a popular star through the 40s, often in stalwart roles such as not only his Rockne but also “The Iron Major” (1943). A childhood friend of Spencer Tracy, O’Brien acted with Tracy in “The People Against O’Hara” (1951) and in John Ford’s sentimental roundup of veteran character players, “The Last Hurrah” (1958). Billy Wilder also put his iconic value to good use as an Irish cop on the tail of both the gangsters and the cross-dressing heroes on the run in the director’s hilarious “Some Like It Hot” (1959).

The above TCM overview can be accessed online here.

David Duchovny was born in 1960 in New York City. His film ebut came in 1988 in “Working Girl” with Melanie Griffith. His other early work included “Chaplin” and the television series “Twin Peaks”. He starred in the hughly popular TV series “The X Files” from 1993 until 2002. Since then he has been in such films as “Trust the Ma” and “The Joneses”.

IMDB entry:

David William Duchovny was born on August 7, 1960, in New York City, New York, USA. His mother was a school teacher, his father a writer and publicist who worked for the American Jewish Committee. David has a sister, Laurie and an older brother namedDaniel Ducovny, an award winning director of commercials, as well as a director of photography.

David attended Yale University where he undertook a Master’s Degree in English Literature. A keen poet and writer, David’s work was well recognized by his peers and teachers while he was in attendance at Yale. He was even nominated for a college prize by the Academy of American Poets for his outstanding work within the literary field.

Like any actor or celebrity, David began his career on the bottom, by acting in numerous commercials in the late-eighties. He crossed over into films with bit parts in low key films such as New Year’s Day (1989) and Bad Influence (1990). Although these parts were small and somewhat insignificant, it was a start and David was able to get his foot in the door.

In 1991, David got offered the role of DEA Dennis Bryson on the acclaimed TV series,Twin Peaks (1990). He only appeared in three episodes, but at that early stage, it was his biggest claim to fame yet, as Twin Peaks (1990) was watched by millions of people worldwide. Needless to say, David’s talents as an actor would finally be recognized and he would get the acknowledgment that he so richly deserved.

In the early 1990s, he got more bit parts in films, this time, however, the films weren’t “low key”, but hits, such as Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (1991) and the family favorite comedy, Beethoven (1992). David’s role in Beethoven (1992) was small, but it was hard to forget the poor guy who was dragged across the lawn by the giant St. Bernard!

A year later, in 1993, David got the lead role in the independent film Kalifornia (1993). The film also starred another up-and-coming young actor, Brad Pitt. In Kalifornia (1993), David played a journalist who goes on a cross-country tour of famous murder sites with his girlfriend as research for a book he is writing about serial killers. He takes Pitt’s character along to help pay the bills, unaware that Pitt’s character is in fact a serial killer himself. Although it did not do much business at the box office, it is still a great film and has become somewhat of a cult favorite among fans.

That same year, David was offered the role of FBI Agent Fox “Spooky” Mulder on the long-running TV series The X-Files (1993). The show was a tremendous international success and propelled David (and his co-star Gillian Anderson) into super-stardom. His character of Mulder has become somewhat of a pop culture legend and is renowned the world over for his satirical wit and dry sense of humor. Fans loved the fact that he could keep a straight face and still crack and joke in the face of extreme danger. David improvised a lot of his own lines of dialogue while on the show and even penned and directed a few episodes. The series ended in 2002 and still has a strong, dedicated following. To date, David has reprised his role of Fox Mulder in two “X Files” feature films: The X Files (1998) and The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008).

During the initial run of The X-Files (1993), David kept busy and made several films, such as: Return to Me (2000), alongside actress Minnie Driver and the comedy favoriteEvolution (2001), with Julianne Moore, Seann William Scott and Orlando Jones. He even had a hysterical cameo as a self-obsessed, simple-minded hand model in the comedy-smash Zoolander (2001).

In 2007, after a few years out of the limelight, David struck gold again after landing the plum role of Hank Moody in Californication (2007). The raunchy series follows the life of womanizing writer Hank Moody (Duchovny) as he tries to juggle his career and his relationship with his daughter and his ex-girlfriend. The show has become a hit for its off-the-wall humor and Duchovny’s ability to always turn in a brilliant performance.

It may have taken a while, but David has worked his way to the top and notched up an impressive resume along the way. We can expect to see a lot more of him in the future.

– IMDb Mini Biography By: cryofry

The above IMDB enty can also be accessed online here.

Ian McNeice was born in Basingtoke in 1950. He is one of Britains best and most profilic of character actors. His films include “84 Charing Crfoss Road”, “The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne” with Maggie Smith and “Day of the Dead”. In 1995 he went to Hollywood to make “Ace Ventura Pet Detective”. Recent films have included “Oliver Twist” and “The Black Dahlia”.

TCM Overview:

Ian McNeice was born in the town of Basingstoke (in Hamsphire, England) on October 2, 1950. He studied acting at the Taunton School in Somerset and the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts, followed by four years with the Royal Shakespeare Company. McNeice began appearing regularly on television in the early â¿¿80s, notably on the 1982 mini-series “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.” In ’85, he was cast in a recurring role on the series “Edge of Darkness.” In addition to his TV work, McNeice appeared in the films “84 Charing Cross Road” (’87),” “The Raggedy Rawney” (’88), “The Russia House” (’90), “Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls” (’95), and “From Hell” (’01). Some of McNeiceâ¿¿s most memorable roles include the villainous Baron Vladimir Harkonnen on the mini-series “Frank Herbertâ¿¿s Dune” (’00) and “The Children of Dune” (’03), the bibulous sous-chef Gustave on the British sitcom “Chef!,” and the newsreader on the HBO mini-series “Rome.” He also took the role of Winston Churchill on an episode of the British sci-fi series “Doctor Who”; the part was something of an encore for McNeice, having previously played Churchill in an ’08 stage play.

Glenne Headly was born in 1955 in Connecticut. She joined the reknowned Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago and acted in such plays as “Waiting for Lefty” and “Loose Ends”. On film she was featured in such films as “Mr Holland’s Opus” and “2 Days in the Valley”.

TCM Overview:

A versatile presence in features and television since the late 1980s, actress Glenne Headly moved from broad comedies like “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (1989) to action epics like “Dick Tracy” (1990) and character-driven fare like “Mortal Thoughts” (1992) with effortless believability that netted her two Emmy nominations over the course of a multi-decade career on screen. An acclaimed stage actress in Chicago, she won praise and awards for her work on and off-Broadway before segueing into movies and television, with her big break coming in 1989 and 1990 with “Scoundrels,” “Dick Tracy” and an Emmy nod for “Lonesome Dove” (CBS, 1989). Headly was best used in sympathetic character parts, where her soft voice and expressive features drew audiencesâ¿¿ attention in projects like “Bastard Out of Carolina” (Showtime, 1996) and “On Golden Pond” (CBS, 2001). The birth of her son in 1997 slowed her output somewhat, but she remained a reliable presence in independent films and television for the next decade, which preserved her status as one of the most dependable character talents in the business.

Born Glenne Aimee Headly in New London, CT on March 13, 1955, she spent her first years shuttling between her motherâ¿¿s home in San Francisco and her maternal grandmother in Pennsylvania. Headly eventually settled with her mother in Greenwich Village during her elementary school years, which were filled with introductions to the arts and classes for gifted students. Acting took prominence among her many interests, and she soon graduated with honors from the High School of Performing Arts. Rather than immediately devote herself to a four-year drama program in college, Headly traveled to Switzerland to study at an American College to study literature and art history while gaining valuable life experience. After graduation, she relocated to New York City to study drama at the Herbert Berghof Studios, but a chance trip to Chicago introduced her to the cityâ¿¿s thriving theater scene. Headly joined the New Works Ensemble at the St. Nicholas Theatre before joining the famed Steppenwolf Theatre Company for a production of Sam Shepardâ¿¿s “Curse of the Starving Class.” Her co-star was actor John Malkovich, whom she would marry in 1982. While in Chicago, she would earn four Joseph Jefferson Awards for performances between 1980 and 1985 while earning her Actors Equity Card. In 1981, she landed her first screen role in Arthur Pennâ¿¿s low-key character drama “Four Friends.”

In 1985, she returned with Malkovich to New York, where she appeared in several well-regarded productions, including revivals of “The Philanthropist,” which earned her a Theatre World Award, and “Balm in Gilead” with Steppenwolf. Her film and television career soon expanded from bit roles in Woody Allenâ¿¿s “The Purple Rose of Cairo” (1985) to sympathetic character turns in “Seize the Day” (PBS, 1987) opposite Robin Williams and Susan Seidelmanâ¿¿s “Making Mr. Right” (1987) with Malkovich. A steady stream of supporting roles preceded her breakout part in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (1989), a wry remake of “Bedtime Story” (1964), with Steve Martin and Michael Caine as international con men who meet their match in Hedleyâ¿¿s seemingly naÃ¯ve heiress. That same year, she earned an Emmy nomination as Elmira Johnson, the cold-hearted wife of Chris Cooperâ¿¿s ill-fated sheriff, in the miniseries “Lonesome Dove” (CBS, 1989).

Her knack for both sly comedy and convincing drama attracted the attention of director Warren Beatty, who cast her as Tess Trueheart, long-suffering girlfriend to comic strip hero Dick Tracy, in his big-budget 1990 film adaptation. The heights of the filmâ¿¿s success were somewhat dampened by her divorce from Malkovich that same year, though she quickly rebounded with a co-starring turn opposite Demi Moore in Alan Rudolphâ¿¿s thriller “Mortal Thoughts,” as an abused wife who allegedly conspired to dispatch her abusive husband (Bruce Willis) with the help of a friend (Willisâ¿¿ then-spouse, Demi Moore). After playing real-life physician and scientist Mary Guinan, who was an integral part of early research into AIDS, in the HBO drama “And the Band Played On” (1993), Headly met her second husband, electrical grip and editor Byron McCulloch, on the set of the Canadian drama “Ordinary Magic.”

Headly would enjoy a long spate of appearances in features like “Mr. Hollandâ¿¿s Opus” (1995), as Richard Dreyfussâ¿¿ faithful wife, and Anjelica Huston’s “Bastard Out of Carolina” (Showtime, 1996), which earned her a second Emmy nomination as the kindly aunt of an abused child. During this period, she also appeared in the third season of “ER” (NBC, 1994-2009) as pediatrician Dr. Abby Keaton. In 1997, she gave birth to a son, who became the focus of Headly’s life; projects were chosen based on whether they were filmed near the familyâ¿¿s home, or if they took place during summer vacations or school breaks. Though her appearances were fewer, they remained substantive. She was a thinly veiled version of actress and saloon owner Texas Guinan, who funneled Broadway gossip to columnist Walter Winchell (Stanley Tucci), in the HBO biopic “Winchell” (1998), then returned to the stage after a 10-year absence to co-star with Miranda Richardson in a London production of “Aunt Dan and Lemon” in 1999. Because she was a fan of the TV series, she also made an uncredited cameo as a bartender who cuts off Agent Mulder (David Duchovny) in the successful film adaptation of “The X-Files: Fight the Future” (1998).

On television, she played Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrewsâ¿¿ daughter in a live adaptation of “On Golden Pond.” There were also brief stints as a series regular on “Encore! Encore” (NBC, 1998) as the sister of vain opera star Nathan Lane, and a recurring turn as Tony Shalhoubâ¿¿s environmentally conscious ex-wife on “Monk” (USA, 2002-09). In 2003, she starred with David Hyde Pierce in a Los Angeles production of “The Guys,” then traveled that same year to Ireland to appear in the one-woman play, “My Brilliant Divorce.” Headly soon balanced regular work as maternal figures in Hollywood product like “Confessions of a Teenaged Drama Queen” (2004) and “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” (2008) with edgier work in independent features like “The Amateurs” (2005), Mira Nairâ¿¿s “The Namesake” (2007) and “The Joneses” (2010), which reunited her with her “Mortal Thoughts” co-star, Demi Moore.

IMDB entry:

For the past fourteen years, she has said that family has been the most important thing to her and she has set most of her time aside to be a “present” mother to her son. Movies, plays and television are chosen, for the most part, when they occur in town or on a school break. She has taken the current year to homeschool her son for his seventh grade. But it wasn’t always this way. She was raised in New York City and wanted to be an actress from the time she was a child, graduating with acting honors from the High School of Performing Arts. She chose to opt out of studying acting in college and attended a small college in Europe, majoring in art history and literature, knowing that acting would take up a great deal of her life and that her college years would be her only real time to learn about something else. Upon graduation, she returned to New York City but a chance trip to Chicago inspired her to move there and become a part of its budding theatre community. It was in a production of “Curse of The Starving Class”, directed byRobert Falls and co-starring John Malkovich, that she was first seen by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and, subsequently, asked to join their troupe. She did and learned what it really was to be an actress on her feet, performing in all kinds of roles in both comedy and drama. During this time, she won four Joseph Jefferson awards for best supporting actress.

With a return move to New York, she received a Theatre World Award for “best newcomer” for her role in “the Philanthropist” at the Manhattan Theatre Club and appeared in “Extremities” with Susan Sarandon. This was followed by her appearance in the very successful Steppenwolf production in New York of “Balm in Gilead”. She then starred on Broadway opposite Kevin Kline and Raul Julia in “Arms & the Man”, directed byJohn Malkovich, her husband at the time. She was cast in several smaller films includingNadine (1987), Making Mr. Right (1987) and Paperhouse (1988) as well as Lonesome Dove (1989) for television for which she received her first of two Emmy nominations for best supporting actress. But her breakout film performance was in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), in which she played the cunning “victim”, who gets the best of con artists Michael Caine and Steve Martin. This led to her being cast in the blockbuster comic strip parody, Dick Tracy (1990), in which she portrayed the girlfriend, “Tess Trueheart”, to Warren Beatty‘s lead.

She went on to appear in the films Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995) opposite Richard Dreyfuss,Mortal Thoughts (1991) opposite Demi Moore, 2 Days in the Valley (1996), What’s the Worst That Could Happen? (2001), Breakfast of Champions (1999), Around the Bend(2004) and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004).

On television, she had a recurring part on ER (1994) and Monk (2002) and was in the short-lived sit-com Encore! Encore! (1998) with Nathan Lane and Joan Plowright. She was in the live theatrical presentation of “On Golden Pond” as the troubled daughter ofChristopher Plummer and Julie Andrews and also appeared in the telefilms Women vs. Men (2002), My Own Country (1998) and Pronto (1997), among others. She received her second Emmy nomination for best supporting actress for Bastard Out of Carolina (1996), directed by Anjelica Huston.

Her most recent appearances were in the films The Amateurs (2005) (aka “The Amateurs”), The Namesake (2006), Comeback Season (2006), Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008) and The Joneses (2009).

– IMDb Mini Biography By: Tony Trujillo

The above IMDB entry can also be accessed online here.

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