Laura Innes
Laura Innes | |
|---|---|
| Born | Laura Elizabeth Innes |
| Occupation | Actress/Director |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse | David Brisbin (1988–present) 2 children |
Laura Elizabeth Innes (born August 16, 1957)[1] is an American actress and director, probably best known for her role as Dr. Kerry Weaver on ER.
Career
Innes was introduced to professional theater by her father, who frequently took the family to the Stratford Festival of Canada in Stratford, Ontario. Following his advice to "do what you love", she attended Northwestern University where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and earned a degree in theater.
Her first stage credits were in Chicago at the renowned Goodman Theatre, where among other roles she played Stella opposite John Malkovich's Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire. Other major stage credits include Two Shakespearean Actors with Eric Stoltz at Lincoln Center, Our Town at the Seattle Repertory Theatre, and Three Sisters at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego.
In 1986, Innes played the young daughter of Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara in the short-lived television sitcom The Stiller and Meara Show, but the series was canceled within a few weeks. In the 1990s, Innes guest-starred on television series such as Party of Five, My So-Called Life, and Brooklyn Bridge and appeared in the Emmy-winning cable movie And the Band Played On before being cast in her first major TV role as Thomas Haden Church's promiscuous ex-wife Bunny on the NBC comedy series Wings from 1991-1993.
In the fall of 1995, she joined the hit NBC medical drama ER in its second season, where she was cast as the skilled but abrasive Dr. Kerry Weaver. Her recurring role led her to become a series regular at the start of the 3rd season. In 2001, her character, who had a physical disability, came out of the closet. She received two Emmy Award nominations for her portrayal, as well as three Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of the “ER” ensemble, and has received five nominations for Best Supporting Actress from Viewers For Quality Television. Innes also directed several episodes of the series, as well as episodes of Brothers & Sisters, House, The West Wing, one of which earned her an Emmy nomination for directing.
In January 2007, Innes left ER after twelve seasons, becoming the longest serving cast member in the show's history (Noah Wyle, however, appeared in slightly more episodes). However, in 2008-2009, Innes returned to ER for two episodes (including the series finale) during its 15th and final season. In film, Innes has co-starred in the blockbuster film Deep Impact and with ER castmate Noah Wyle in Can't Stop Dancing.
On May 7, 2010, NBC announced Innes would be appearing in the new action drama The Event as Sophia, "the leader of a mysterious group of detainees".[2]
Personal life
Innes was born in Pontiac, Michigan, the daughter of Laurette and Robert Innes, a tool and die company executive.[3] Her first fiance was murdered in the early eighties. A few years after the tragedy, she married actor David Brisbin and gave birth to their son, Cal in 1990. They have since adopted another child, Mia, from China.
Laura is close friends with Megan Mullally and former ER co-star Maura Tierney.
References
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005041/bio
- ^ "NBC Picks Up Three New Series for 2010-11 Season with "The Event", "Outsourced" and "Love Bites"". The Futon Critic. May 7, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ Laura is a graduate of Birmingham Seaholm High School. Laura Innes Biography (1959?-)