Laura Innes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Laura Innes
Laura Innes in 2010
Born	(1957-08-16) August 16, 1957 (age 67) 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 television director. She is well-known for playing Dr. Kerry Weaver in the popular medical TV show ER from 1995 to 2009. Her work on ER earned her two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Awards. She also received an Emmy nomination for directing an episode of the political drama The West Wing. Laura Innes has also appeared in other TV shows like The Event (2010–2011) and How to Get Away with Murder (2018–2020).

Laura Innes' Acting Career

Laura Innes first became interested in theater because her father often took their family to the Stratford Festival of Canada. She followed his advice to "do what you love" and studied theater at Northwestern University, graduating in 1980.

Early Stage and TV Roles

Laura Innes started her acting career in Chicago. She performed in plays at the Goodman Theatre and Wisdom Bridge Theatre. One of her notable early roles was playing Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire.

In 1986, she co-starred in a TV show called The Stiller and Meara Show. Later, in 1989, she appeared in the Nickelodeon sitcom Hey Dude in two episodes. During the 1990s, Laura Innes also had guest roles in popular TV series such as Party of Five, My So-Called Life, and Brooklyn Bridge. She also appeared in the TV movie And the Band Played On. From 1991 to 1993, she had a recurring role as Bunny in the NBC sitcom Wings.

Becoming Dr. Kerry Weaver on ER

In 1995, Laura Innes joined the cast of the hit NBC medical drama ER. She played Dr. Kerry Weaver, a very skilled but sometimes tough chief of the emergency room. Her character also had a physical disability. She became a main cast member in the show's third season.

Laura Innes received two Emmy Award nominations for her role as Dr. Weaver. She also won three Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of the ER cast. Besides acting, she directed many episodes of ER. She also directed episodes for other TV shows like Brothers & Sisters, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, House, and The West Wing. One of her directing jobs for The West Wing earned her an Emmy nomination.

Laura Innes left ER in 2007, but she returned for two episodes in the show's final season in 2008 and 2009. Her films include the science fiction movie Deep Impact (1998) and the comedy Can't Stop Dancing (1999).

Recent TV Work

In 2010, Laura Innes co-starred in the science fiction thriller The Event as Sophia. In 2012, she played Police Captain Tricia Harper in the TV drama Awake. She has continued to direct episodes for various TV series, including Sneaky Pete, Mr. Mercedes, and How to Get Away with Murder.

Laura Innes' Personal Life

Laura Innes was born and grew up in Pontiac, Michigan. She is the youngest of six children. Her parents are Laurette and Robert Innes.

She married actor David Brisbin in 1988. In 1990, they had a son named Cal. Later, they adopted a daughter named Mia from China.

Interestingly, playing Dr. Weaver on ER for ten years, who had a limp, actually started to affect Laura Innes' own spine. The show's producers then created a storyline where Dr. Weaver's condition was fixed with surgery.

Charity Work

Laura Innes 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 also supports the Performers with Disabilities Committee, which is part of the Screen Actors Guild.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

See also

In Spanish: Laura Innes para niños