Amy Brenneman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amy Brenneman
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Brenneman in 2009
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| Born |
Amy Frederica Brenneman
June 22, 1964 New London, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Education | Harvard University (BA) |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Brad Silberling
(m. 1995) |
| Children | 2 |
Amy Frederica Brenneman (born June 22, 1964) is an American actress and producer. She is best known for starring in popular television shows. Her first major role was as Detective Janice Licalsi in the police drama NYPD Blue.
Later, she co-created and starred in the TV series Judging Amy. For these roles, she was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards. Brenneman also starred as Dr. Violet Turner in the medical drama Private Practice and as Laurie Garvey in the drama The Leftovers. She has also appeared in many movies, including Heat (1995), Daylight (1996), and The Jane Austen Book Club (2007).
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Early Life and School
Amy Brenneman was born in New London, Connecticut. Her mother, Frederica, was a judge in the Connecticut State Superior Court. Her father, Russell, was an environmental lawyer.
Brenneman grew up in Glastonbury, Connecticut. As a teenager, she loved acting. She performed in plays at Glastonbury High School and with a local theater group. After high school, she went to Harvard University and studied comparative religion. She graduated in 1987. While at Harvard, she helped start the Cornerstone Theatre Company and toured with them for several years.
Acting Career
Breakthrough on Television
Brenneman's career began in 1992 with a role in the TV series Middle Ages. Her big break came the next year when she was cast as Officer Janice Licalsi in the police show NYPD Blue. Her character's story was a major part of the first season. For her performance, she was nominated for two Emmy Awards.
After leaving NYPD Blue, Brenneman began acting in movies. In 1995, she appeared in the crime film Heat and the family movie Casper. The next year, she starred with Sylvester Stallone in the action movie Daylight and in the thriller Fear.
Creating and Starring in Judging Amy
In 1999, Brenneman created and produced her own TV show, Judging Amy. She also played the main character, Amy Gray. The show was about a single mother who works as a Family Court Judge in Hartford, Connecticut.
The idea for the show came from her own mother's life. Her mother, Frederica, was one of the first women to graduate from Harvard Law School. She became a judge when Amy was a child. Amy said, "I play my mother's job, not my mother."
Judging Amy was very successful. It was on CBS for six seasons, from 1999 to 2005. For her work on the show, Brenneman was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and three Emmy Awards.
Later Roles in TV and Film
After Judging Amy ended, Brenneman continued to act in both movies and television. In 2007, she starred in the movie The Jane Austen Book Club.
In 2007, she joined the cast of the medical drama Private Practice, a spin-off of Grey's Anatomy. She played psychiatrist Dr. Violet Turner for all six seasons of the show. From 2014 to 2017, she starred in the HBO series The Leftovers. She also had a recurring role as the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots in the historical drama Reign.
Personal Life
In 1995, Brenneman married director Brad Silberling. They met on the set of NYPD Blue. They have two children, a daughter named Charlotte and a son named Bodhi. The family lives in Pasadena, California.
Brenneman is also known for supporting causes she believes in. She has worked with groups that promote peace and safety. In 2009, she hosted an event for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a group that works to make gun laws more restrictive.
See also
In Spanish: Amy Brenneman para niños
