Aidan Quinn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aidan Quinn
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Quinn at the premiere of Handsome Harry at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival
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| Born | March 8, 1959 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Elizabeth Bracco
(m. 1987) |
| Children | 2 |
Aidan Quinn (born March 8, 1959) is an actor from the United States with Irish roots. He started his movie career in 1984 with the film Reckless. Since then, he has acted in more than 80 movies. Some of his well-known films include Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), The Mission (1986), Legends of the Fall (1994), and Practical Magic (1998). He also played Captain Thomas "Tommy" Gregson in the TV show Elementary from 2012 to 2019.
Aidan Quinn has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards. These nominations were for his roles in the TV movies An Early Frost (1985) and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007). He is also very active in Irish movies. He has been nominated four times for an Irish Film and Television (IFTA) Award. He won one of these awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Film for The Eclipse (2009).
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Early Life and Family
Aidan Quinn was born in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Irish Catholic. He grew up in Chicago and Rockford, Illinois. He also spent time in Dublin and Birr, County Offaly, Ireland. His mother, Teresa, worked as a bookkeeper and in travel. His father, Michael Quinn, was an English literature professor.
When Aidan was 19, he was working as a roofer. It was then that he decided he wanted to become an actor. He trained at the Piven Theatre Workshop. Aidan has three brothers and one sister. His older brother, Declan Quinn, is a cinematographer, who works with cameras for movies. His younger sister, Marian, is an actress, director, and writer. His brother Paul, who was also an actor and director, passed away in 2015.
Aidan Quinn's Acting Career
Aidan Quinn's first important movie role was in Reckless. After that, he became more widely known for his role in Desperately Seeking Susan. In this movie, he played "Dez," a character who was a love interest.
He then starred in the TV movie An Early Frost in 1985. For this role, he received his first Emmy Award nomination. He also had a small but memorable part in The Mission. In 1987, he played an escaped convict in the action comedy Stakeout.
During the 1990s, Aidan Quinn appeared in many popular films. These included Legends of the Fall, Benny & Joon, and Practical Magic. He also acted in Michael Collins and Song for a Raggy Boy. He had a small role as a ship captain in the movie Frankenstein.
In 2000, Quinn played the famous musician Paul McCartney in the TV drama Two of Us. In 2005, he played Kerry Max Cook in the movie The Exonerated. This film told the true stories of people who were wrongly sentenced to death but later freed.
In 2006, Quinn was the main character in the TV show The Book of Daniel. In 2007, he received his second Emmy nomination for the TV movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. He also had a small role in the 2010 French film Sarah's Key, which was set during World War II.
From 2012 to 2019, Aidan Quinn was a main actor in the CBS Television series Elementary. He played Captain Thomas Gregson in this popular show.
Personal Life and Interests
In 1987, Aidan Quinn married Elizabeth Bracco. She was his co-star in the movie Stakeout. Elizabeth is also the sister of actress Lorraine Bracco. Aidan and Elizabeth have two daughters. Their daughter Ava Eileen was born in 1989, and Mia was born in 1998. Ava appeared as a baby in the movie Avalon. Mia played a ghost in The Eclipse.
The Quinn family used to live in Englewood, New Jersey. Now, they live in Palisades, Rockland County, New York. They also have a home in Marbletown in the Catskills region of Ulster County, New York.
Aidan Quinn is a big sports fan. He supports the Chicago Cubs baseball team and the Green Bay Packers football team. He also admires famous athletes like Michael Jordan, Rory McIlroy, and Roger Federer.
Helping Others
Aidan Quinn has taken part in many charity events. He has played in golf events to support the East Lake Foundation. This program helps to improve communities. He also supported Samuel L. Jackson's "One for the Boys" campaign, which raises awareness for health issues.
In 2010, Quinn attended a special movie screening for charity. It was for the International Children's Media Center (ICMC) and The American Ireland Fund (AIF). In 1991, he read a part from a book for MTV's "Books: Feed Your Head" program. This program encouraged people to read more.
Quinn also spoke at a gala event in 2003. This event, called "Night of Too Many Stars", raised money for The Autism Coalition. He was an honorary board member for the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR). This organization later joined with Autism Speaks.
Selected Film and Television Roles
Aidan Quinn has had many roles in both movies and television shows. Here are some of his notable appearances:
Movies
- Reckless (1984) as Johnny Rourke
- Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) as Dez
- The Mission (1986) as Felipe Mendoza
- Stakeout (1987) as Richard 'Stick' Montgomery
- Avalon (1990) as Jules Kaye
- Benny & Joon (1993) as Benjamin 'Benny' Pearl
- Legends of the Fall (1994) as Alfred Ludlow
- Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) as Captain Robert Walton
- Michael Collins (1996) as Harry Boland
- Practical Magic (1998) as Officer Gary Hallet
- Song for a Raggy Boy (2003) as William Franklin
- Wild Child (2008) as Gerry Moore
- The Eclipse (2009) as Nicholas Holden
- Unknown (2011) as Martin B.
- Blacklight (2022) as Gabriel Robinson
Television Shows and Movies
- An Early Frost (1985) as Michael Pierson (TV movie)
- All My Sons (1987) as Chris Keller (TV movie)
- Two of Us (2000) as Paul McCartney (TV movie)
- The Exonerated (2005) as Kerry Max Cook (TV movie)
- The Book of Daniel (2006) as Daniel Webster (8 episodes)
- Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007) as Henry L. Dawes (TV movie)
- Elementary (2012–2019) as Captain Thomas 'Tommy' Gregson (Main role)
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2021-2022) as Burton Lowe (2 episodes)
- Blue Bloods (2024) as Detective Gus Vanderlip (1 episode)
Awards and Recognitions
Aidan Quinn has been recognized for his acting with several awards and nominations:
- In 1986, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his role in An Early Frost.
- He won a Theatre World Award in 1988 for his performance in the play A Streetcar Named Desire.
- In 2000, he received a Sundance Film Festival – Special Jury Prize along with the cast of Songcatcher.
- In 2010, he won an Irish Film & Television Award (IFTA) for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for The Eclipse.
See also
In Spanish: Aidan Quinn para niños
