Lorraine Bracco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lorraine Bracco
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Bracco in 2007
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| Born | October 2, 1954 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Partner(s) | Harvey Keitel (1982–1993) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Elizabeth Bracco (sister) |
Lorraine Bracco (born October 2, 1954) is an American actress. She is well-known for playing Dr. Jennifer Melfi, a psychiatrist, in the TV show The Sopranos (1999–2007). She also had a famous role as Karen Hill in the movie Goodfellas (1990), directed by Martin Scorsese.
Lorraine started her career as a model in France. In the 1980s, she acted in movies made in Italian. Her first English-language movie was The Pick-up Artist in 1987. She has been nominated for many awards, including an Academy Award and Emmy Awards.
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Early Life and Beginnings
Lorraine Bracco was born on October 2, 1954, in Bay Ridge, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Her parents were Eileen and Salvatore S. Bracco Sr. She has a sister, Elizabeth Bracco, who is also an actress, and a brother, Salvatore Jr.
Her father was from Italy, and her mother was born in England. Her parents met during World War II and moved to the United States. Lorraine grew up in Hicksville, New York, on Long Island, from fourth grade. She finished Hicksville High School in 1972.
Career Journey
Starting in France
In 1974, Lorraine Bracco moved to France. There, she became a fashion model for Jean-Paul Gaultier. She lived in France for about ten years. While modeling, she was asked to act in a movie called Duos sur canapé (1979).
At first, Lorraine didn't think she could be an actress and said no. She eventually made the movie but found it "boring." Later, she took acting classes and started to enjoy it more. In the 1980s, she also worked as a disc jockey for Radio Luxembourg.
Big Roles in Movies and TV
Lorraine Bracco got a big chance when she was cast as Karen Hill in the crime drama Goodfellas (1990). This movie was directed by Martin Scorsese. Her acting in Goodfellas earned her a nomination for an Academy Award. She also won awards from film critics for this role.
Other movies she appeared in include Someone to Watch Over Me (1987), Switch (1991), and Hackers (1995).
Later, Lorraine auditioned for the TV show The Sopranos. The show's creator, David Chase, wanted her to play Carmela Soprano. However, Lorraine really wanted to play Dr. Jennifer Melfi, a smart psychiatrist. She convinced David Chase to let her try for the role of Dr. Melfi.
Playing Dr. Melfi brought her many nominations for Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. She was nominated three times for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Recent Work
Since 2008, Lorraine Bracco has continued to act in many projects. She even started her own wine company, Bracco Wines. Her wines were shown on the TV show Top Chef. She also appeared as a guest judge on the show.
From 2010 to 2016, Lorraine co-starred in the TV crime drama Rizzoli & Isles. She played Angela Rizzoli, the mother of the main character, Jane Rizzoli. She was in all 105 episodes of the show. She also had a role in the TV series Blue Bloods from 2017 to 2018.
In 2020, Lorraine starred in an HGTV show called My Big Italian Adventure. In this show, she bought an old house in Sambuca di Sicilia, Italy, for just €1 and renovated it. In 2022, she voiced Sofia the Seagull in the movie Pinocchio. In 2023, she starred in the film Jacir.
Personal Life
Lorraine Bracco was married to Daniel Guerard from 1979 to 1982. They have a daughter named Margaux Guerard.
She was also in a long relationship with actor Harvey Keitel. They have a daughter named Stella Keitel, born in 1985. Lorraine and Harvey had a legal dispute over Stella, which was a difficult time for her.
Her second marriage was to actor Edward James Olmos in 1994. They divorced in 2002.
Lorraine Bracco practices Shotokan Karate. In 2015, she wrote a self-help book called To the Fullest: The Clean Up Your Act Plan to Lose Weight, Rejuvenate, and Be the Best You Can Be.
Selected Film and Television Roles
Here are some of Lorraine Bracco's notable roles:
- 1990: Goodfellas as Karen Friedman Hill
- 1991: Switch as Sheila Faxton
- 1992: Medicine Man as Dr. Rae Crane
- 1995: The Basketball Diaries as Mrs. Carroll
- 1995: Hackers as Margo Wallace
- 1999–2007: The Sopranos as Jennifer Melfi (Main role)
- 2001: Riding in Cars with Boys as Teresa Donofrio
- 2010–2016: Rizzoli & Isles as Angela Rizzoli (Main role)
- 2017–2018: Blue Bloods as Mayor Margaret Dutton
- 2020: My Big Italian Adventure as Herself/host
- 2022: Disney's Pinocchio as Sofia the Seagull (voice)
- 2023: JACIR جاسر as Meryl
Awards and Recognitions
Lorraine Bracco has received many awards and nominations throughout her career.
- Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Goodfellas (1990).
- Golden Globe Awards: Nominated for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for Goodfellas (1990). Also nominated multiple times for Best Actress – Television Series Drama for The Sopranos.
- Primetime Emmy Awards: Nominated multiple times for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for The Sopranos.
- Screen Actors Guild Awards: Won Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series twice with the cast of The Sopranos (1999, 2007). She was also nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.
- Film Critics Awards: Won Best Supporting Actress from the Chicago Film Critics Association and Los Angeles Film Critics Association for Goodfellas (1990).
See also
In Spanish: Lorraine Bracco para niños
