Laura Innes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Laura Innes
Innes in 2010
Born	(1957-08-16) August 16, 1957 (age 68) Pontiac, Michigan, U.S.
Alma mater	Northwestern University
Occupation	Actress television director
Years active	1978–present
Spouse(s)	David Brisbin ​ (m. 1988)​
Children	2

Laura Innes (born August 16, 1957) is an American actress and a talented television director. She is best known for playing Dr. Kerry Weaver in the popular medical TV show ER. This role earned her two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Awards. She also received another Emmy nomination for directing an episode of the show The West Wing. Laura Innes has appeared in other TV series like The Event and How to Get Away with Murder.

Laura Innes's Journey in Acting and Directing

Early Life and Education

Laura Innes was born and grew up in Pontiac, Michigan. She was the youngest of six children. Her father loved theater and often took the family to the Stratford Festival of Canada. This helped Laura discover her passion for acting. Following her father's advice to "do what you love," she went to Northwestern University. She studied theater and graduated in 1980.

Starting on Stage

After college, Laura began her acting career in Chicago theaters. She performed in plays like A Streetcar Named Desire. She also acted in other important stage productions, including Two Shakespearean Actors and Our Town.

First TV Roles

In 1986, Laura Innes appeared in the TV show The Stiller and Meara Show. She also had roles in the Nickelodeon sitcom Hey Dude in 1989. During the 1990s, she guest-starred in several TV series, such as Party of Five and My So-Called Life. Her first big TV role was in the sitcom Wings from 1991 to 1993.

Becoming Dr. Kerry Weaver on ER

In 1995, Laura Innes joined the cast of the hit medical drama ER. She played Dr. Kerry Weaver, a very skilled but sometimes tough chief of the emergency room. Her character had a physical disability. Laura became a main cast member in the third season. She received two Emmy Award nominations for her acting on ER. She also won three Screen Actors Guild Awards with the rest of the ER cast.

Directing Success

Besides acting, Laura Innes also directed many episodes of ER. She directed episodes for other popular shows too, like Brothers & Sisters, House, and The West Wing. One of her directing jobs for The West Wing earned her an Emmy nomination.

After ER

Laura Innes left ER in 2007, but she returned for two episodes in the show's final season in 2008 and 2009. She was one of the longest-serving cast members on the show. After ER, she appeared in the science fiction film Deep Impact (1998). In 2010, she co-starred in the TV drama The Event. In 2012, she played Police Captain Tricia Harper in the show Awake. More recently, she has appeared in How to Get Away with Murder from 2018 to 2020, where she also directed several episodes.

Laura Innes's Personal Life

Laura Innes married actor David Brisbin in 1988. They have a son named Cal, born in 1990. They also adopted a daughter named Mia from China. Laura is a strong supporter of people with disabilities. She uses her role as a director to help employ disabled individuals in the entertainment industry. She supports the Performers with Disabilities Committee, which works with the Screen Actors Guild.

Laura Innes's Film and TV Appearances

Movies

Television Shows

See also

In Spanish: Laura Innes para niños