Melina Kanakaredes
| Melina Kanakaredes | |
|---|---|
| Born | Melina Eleni Kanakaredes April 23, 1967 Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse | Peter Constantinides (September 6, 1992–present) |
Melina Eleni Kanakaredes Constantinides (Greek: Μελίνα Ελένη Κανακαρίδου Κωνσταντινiδου;[1] born April 23, 1967) is an American actress. She is widely known for two starring roles on U.S. prime-time television drama series; playing Detective Stella Bonasera in CSI: NY and portraying Dr. Sydney Hansen in Providence.
CBS confirmed in July 2010 that Kanakaredes would not be returning for the seventh season of CSI: NY.[2]
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[edit] Early life
Kanakaredes was born in Akron, Ohio, the daughter of Connie (née Temo; b. 1936), a candy company owner, and Harry Kanakaredes (b. 1928), an insurance salesman.[3][4] She is a second-generation Greek-American and speaks Greek.[5][6] Her two maternal uncles own and run a candy store in Akron called "Temo's Candy Company," a chocolate store established in its current location by Kanakaredes' grandfather, Christ Temo.[7] She has two sisters: Cornelia "Lia" (b. 1961) and Aretta Kanakaredes (b. 1962).
At age 8, Kanakaredes made her stage debut in a production of "Tom Sawyer" at Weathervane Playhouse in Akron, Ohio.[8] She graduated from the Firestone High School in Akron.[6] She attended Ohio State University for a short time, and then transferred to Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she performed roles in the professional theatre scene there, including the role of Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar at Pittsburgh Musical Theater.[9] She graduated from Point Park in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater arts.[10]
[edit] Career
[edit] Television
Kanakaredes' first television role was on the daytime drama Guiding Light, originating the role of Eleni Andros Spaulding Cooper from 1991 to 1995. She was nominated twice for a Daytime Emmy Award for her portrayal of Eleni.
Her most high-profile roles on television were as the series protagonist Dr. Sydney Hansen on Providence, which ran for five seasons between 1999 and 2002, and as Det. Stella Bonasera on the CBS drama series CSI: NY. Kanakaredes left CSI: NY in 2010, after six seasons on the program.[2]
Her other television credits include NYPD Blue (in a recurring role as reporter Benita Alden during that show's second season), Northern Exposure, Due South, Oz, The Practice, MTV's The Ben Stiller Show, and a Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation of the Anne Tyler novel Saint Maybe.
[edit] Film
Kanakaredes' film appearances include The Long Kiss Goodnight as Trin and 15 Minutes as Nicolette Karas, the girlfriend of Robert De Niro's character. She was considered for the lead role in My Big Fat Greek Wedding but had to turn it down due to her pregnancy.[11] She played the role of the Greek Goddess Athena in Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
[edit] Personal life
Kanakaredes married Peter Constantinides[12] on September 6, 1992.[13][14] Together, they have two daughters: Zoe (b. May 23, 2000) and Karina Eleni (b. January 25, 2003).[12] She and her husband, a former restaurant consultant,[12] owned the "Tria Greek Kuzina" in Powell, Ohio, but it has since closed.[15] When she was once asked why she doesn't use her husband's last name professionally, she stated, "It's even more difficult to pronounce than my maiden name."
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–95 | The Guiding Light | Eleni Andros Cooper | 47 episodes Nominated for a Soap Opera Digest award Nominated for a Daytime Emmy award (Twice) Won a PFSCA award |
| 1994 | Bleeding Hearts | Daphne | |
| 1995 | Due South | Victoria Metcalfe | Three episodes |
| 1995 | New York News | Angelina Villanova | |
| 1995 | NYPD Blue | Benita Alden | Five episodes |
| 1996 | The Long Kiss Goodnight | Trin | |
| 1997 | Leaving L.A. | Libby Galante | Six episodes |
| 1997 | The Practice | Andrea Wexler | Two episodes |
| 1998 | Dangerous Beauty | Livia | |
| 1998 | Rounders | Barbara | |
| 1998 | Saint Maybe | Rita | |
| 1999–2002 | Providence | Dr. Sydney Hansen | All 96 episodes Won a TV Guide Award Nominated for a TV Guide Award (2000) |
| 2001 | 15 minutes | Nicolette Karas | |
| 2004 | CSI: Miami | Detective Stella Bonasera | One episode |
| 2004–2010 | CSI: NY | Detective Stella Bonasera | 140 episodes Won a Scream Award (2006) Nominated for a Scream Award (2007) |
| 2005 | Into the Fire | Catrina/Sabrina Hampton | |
| 2010 | Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief | Athena |
See also Famous Greek Americans
[edit] References
- ^ "Cavaliers: The Optimist". NBA. October 2, 2009. http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/features/akron_winegold_091002.html.
- ^ a b "US: Melina Kanakaredes leaves CSI: NY". The Spy Report (Media Spy). July 13, 2010. http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/07/13/us-melina-kanakaredes-leaves-csi-ny/. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ Melina Kanakaredes Biography (1967-)
- ^ "ACTOR LOSES GUIDING LIGHT, SOAP STAGE GOES DARK FOR FIRESTONE GRAD AFTER 22 YEARS IN ROLE". Akron Beacon Journal. 2009-09-13. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AK&s_site=ohio&p_multi=AK&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=12AC814C534C4308&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
- ^ Whitfield, Fredricka (2002-10-02). "Interview with Melina Kanakaredes". CNN. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0210/04/lt.09.html. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
- ^ a b Profile from "Women in Akron History" from a University of Akron website
- ^ Temo's candy is an Easter tradition in Akron, a March 2007 Akron Beacon Journal article via Topix.net
- ^ Akron native Melina Kanakaredes leaving 'CSI: NY'
- ^ http://designinghomelifestyles.com/07spring_athomewith.php
- ^ Past Distinguished Alumni from the Point Park University website
- ^ Pierce, Scott D. (2003-02-16). "Mega-hit 'Wedding' had inauspicious beginning". Deseret News (Salt Lake City. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20030216/ai_n11378238. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
- ^ a b c Kanakaredes savors her married life from USA Today
- ^ "Melina Kanakaredes on TV.com, Biography". TV.com. http://www.tv.com/melina-kanakaredes/person/1643/biography.html. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
- ^ "The Melina Kanakaredes Picture Pages". SuperiorPics.com. http://www.superiorpics.com/melina_kanakaredes/. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
- ^ Official website for Tria Greek Kuzina
