Amy Carlson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amy Carlson
Carlson in 2015
Born	Amy Lynn Carlson (1968-07-07) July 7, 1968 (age 56) Elmhurst, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Knox College
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1992–present
Spouse(s)	Syd Butler ​ (m. 2004)​
Children	2

Amy Lynn Carlson, born on July 7, 1968, is an American actress. She is well-known for playing Linda Reagan in the TV show Blue Bloods. She also starred as Alex Taylor in Third Watch and Josie Watts in Another World.

Early Life

Amy Carlson was born in Elmhurst, Illinois, near Chicago. She grew up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Her parents, Barbara Jane and Robert Eugene Carlson, were both schoolteachers. Amy has Swedish family roots from a place called Småland.

Acting Career

College and First Roles (1986–1992)

Amy Carlson's first acting job was a small background role. It was in the movie Lucas, which starred Charlie Sheen and Winona Ryder. Later, she went to Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. While in college, Amy was very active in the school's theater group. She performed in many plays, like Fifth of July and Noises Off. In her last year, she even directed a play called Aunt Dan and Lemon. Amy graduated with honors, studying East Asian Studies and focusing on theater.

After college, Carlson moved to Chicago. There, she learned improv comedy at the Harold ImprovOlympic. She also took acting classes to improve her skills. Amy appeared in some small theater shows. She also had roles in a few TV series, including The Untouchables and Missing Persons. She also acted in a TV movie called Legacy of Lies.

TV Success and Helping Others (1993–2003)

Carlson in 2002

In late 1993, Carlson got a big role as Josie Watts. She moved to New York to join the soap opera Another World. During her first year on the show, she traveled to Rwanda with World Vision. She helped raise awareness after a war there.

In 1998, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. This award recognized her great acting in Another World. After leaving the show, she appeared in Thanks of a Grateful Nation. This show was about health issues faced by soldiers after the Persian Gulf War.

Carlson moved to Los Angeles in 1998. She made guest appearances on popular shows like NYPD Blue. She also had a recurring role on Get Real, which featured Anne Hathaway. Amy also filmed If These Walls Could Talk 2. She later starred in the CBS TV series Falcone. From 2000 to 2003, she played Alex Taylor in the show Third Watch.

Prime Time Roles and Family Life (2004–2017)

After Third Watch, Carlson starred in Peacemakers. This show was like a detective story set in the late 1800s. She worked alongside Tom Berenger. When that show ended, she appeared in other TV shows and films. She was in an episode of Law & Order. Soon after, she joined Law & Order: Trial by Jury as a main character.

Carlson continued to take on various roles. She guest-starred on Criminal Minds and Fringe. In 2010, she got the role of Linda Reagan on Blue Bloods. She played Linda, a nurse, for seven seasons. During breaks from Blue Bloods, she acted in the TV movie Too Big to Fail. She also appeared in the movie Hits. After seven years, her contract for Blue Bloods ended. In the first episode of the eighth season, it was shown that her character, Linda, had died.

Recent Work (2018–Present)

Carlson in 2014

After Blue Bloods, Carlson had recurring roles on The Society and The Village. She also filmed movies like Sunny Daze and A Bread Factory Part One. Before the COVID-19 shutdowns, Carlson co-wrote, directed, and starred in a short film called The Letter. Her work on this film won her awards for best director and actor at film festivals.

During the 2020 pandemic, Carlson and her husband, Syd Butler, worked on music. With his bandmate Seth Jabour, they formed a band called Office Romance. They released their second album, Holidays of Love. In 2021, Carlson began a recurring role on FBI: Most Wanted. She acted alongside her friend and former co-star from Another World, Julian McMahon.

Personal Life

Amy Carlson lives in New York City with her husband, Syd Butler. They have two children. Their daughter, Lyla, was born in 2006, and their son, Nigel, was born in 2009.

Awards

In 2018, Amy Carlson received the Muhammad Ali Award for Gender Equality. In 2021, she won a Knox College Alumni Achievement Award from her old college.

Filmography

Film

Television

See Also

In Spanish: Amy Carlson para niños